Graduate Story: Olivia Lanes '14, IBM Quantum Engineering
Olivia Lanes sets up a dilution refrigerator with a quantum chip inside it for experimentation and measurement. The white cylinder in the foreground is the refrigerator, cooling down to 10mK (millikelvin) temperatures. Photo courtesy of Olivia Lanes.
"I have never valued a liberal-arts approach to education more in my life than I do today. Even though my background is in STEM, I believe I became successful in my career because of the broad knowledge I gained and the diverse skills I acquired. Skills like learning how to write and communicate effectively, and how to listen and discuss with an open mind, were emphasized at Dickinson and, I believe, were what has set me apart in my career." —Olivia Lanes '14
You might have caught the article Olivia Lanes ’14 wrote for Science.org over the summer, called “Falling Out of Love With My Astronomy Career Dream Led to Something Even Better.” In it, she talks about a career pivot from astronomy to quantum engineering. Now, the former physics major is the North American lead for the IBM quantum community, and she’s pretty sure the pivot was the right move.
Tell us a little about your position.
IBM is one of the largest companies in the quantum computing space, and I manage a team of researchers who work on a variety of different projects related to quantum computing adoption. We produce educational content to upskill professionals and teach students about quantum computing, and also work on open-source research collaborations with external researchers at universities.
What was your Dickinson experience like?
I think what my Dickinson experience boiled down to was the unique and special relationships I was able to form with my friends and professors. Both the size of the school and the dedication of the teachers allowed me to receive mentorship that gave me the confidence to go on to pursue a Ph.D. in physics [at the University of Pittsburgh], which wasn’t something I was confident I could accomplish. The friends I met through my sorority turned out to be lifelong friends (as they always promise you during rush but seems a little fishy at the time). I talk to them every day and am extremely grateful to have shared memories from our time at Dickinson.
How did Dickinson help prepare you for where you are today?
I have never valued a liberal-arts approach to education more in my life than I do today. Even though my background is in STEM, I believe I became successful in my career because of the broad knowledge I gained and the diverse skills I acquired. Skills like learning how to write and communicate effectively, and how to listen and discuss with an open mind, were emphasized at Dickinson and, I believe, were what has set me apart in my career. Dickinson also instilled in me a love of teaching, and even though I work in a corporate setting, I get a lot of outreach and mentorship opportunities that are some of the most rewarding parts of my job.
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Published December 30, 2022