From Curiosity to Quantum Information Science: Building Skills, Community, and Practical Projects - Claudia Zendejas Morales

Claudia Zendejas Morales BioClaudia Zendejas-Morales is a physicist and computer engineer. Her work and community involvement have been internationally recognized, as she was selected for UNESCO's Quantum 100 list within the framework of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ 2025). She has completed two MicroMasters in Quantum Technologies at Purdue University and is a certified Qiskit developer and Qiskit Advocate. She is actively involved with QWorld, where she has served as an instructor and teaching assistant, coordinated the QClass23/24 program, and currently co-coordinates the QEducation department. She is pursuing postgraduate studies in Quantum Information Science at the University of Copenhagen. Her research interests focus on theoretical quantum information and the mathematical foundations of quantum computing. TITLE: From Curiosity to Quantum Information Science: Building Skills, Community, and Practical Projects Abstract: In this keynote, I will share my path into quantum technologies and how it led me to focus my work on Quantum Information Science in Denmark. I will discuss how I approach learning and research in a fast-moving field by combining strong fundamentals, hands-on practice, and open collaboration through community-driven initiatives. To ground the talk, I will highlight two ongoing projects: "Local and Multi-Scale Strategies to Mitigate Exponential Concentration in Quantum Kernels" and "Compact Single-Qubit Gate Decomposition via Lie-Aware Solovay–Kitaev Recursion". I will close with practical lessons on choosing meaningful projects, finding supportive communities, and building a sustainable roadmap toward real opportunities in quantum.