Women in Quantum: Meet Jennifer Lilieholm, Quantum Hardware Engineer at planqc

Jennifer, what is your full name, current role, and your connection to planqc? 

My name is Jennifer Lilieholm, and I am a quantum hardware engineer at planqc. This means that I work hands-on with the quantum computer we’re building, both running and constructing it.

Can you tell us briefly about your professional background and how you joined the company? 

I am a quantum physicist by training and have spent the past ten years working with ion traps, first through my doctoral work at the University of Washington and then as a postdoctoral researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Colorado, USA. I started off using these systems to probe quantum transitions, then shifted to quantum sensing and simulation applications. Joining a company working to build a quantum computer was a logical and exciting next step!

What inspired you to pursue a career in science, technology, or innovation? 

I’ve always found math to be a lot of fun, and as I went through school, I eventually realized that my favorite parts of math were actually physics. It is incredible to me that a few numbers can predict where a thrown ball is going to land, when a dam is going to be filled by a river, or how a parachute is going to unfold and catch on the air.

When I took my first quantum mechanics class I learned there was an entire additional world out there which obeyed rules that differ from the world I was used to living in. Things which would be impossible magic in our world, such as matter existing in multiple forms at once until observed, are the norm. I wanted to work with this world which was so different from the one I was used to.

Being in a field that is still predominantly male, did you experience feeling like a minority during your studies or early career? If so, were there any particular moments, feelings, or challenges, and how did you deal with them?

I participated in a program where there were only two female participants (myself included) and no women involved in mentoring or organizational roles. The attitude of the other participants towards women in general was disrespectful and degrading, and though I did not receive direct comments to my face about my gender, overheard comments in the workplace were very upsetting. 

At the end of the program, I spoke with the lead organizer about some of the things I had overheard, and he promised to do something. A few years later I met a woman who was involved in a later session of the program and learned that the structure had changed to include female mentors, training about gender harassment for the participants during onboarding, and clear pathways to report unacceptable behavior. I am so grateful that I spoke up and that he listened.

What has been a highlight or proudest moment in your career so far? 

In my junior year of undergrad, one of the grad students came into the study hall and asked if anyone wanted to see something amazing. I was the only one to follow him into the lab in the basement, where he showed me the biophysics experiment he had just gotten to work. I was able to look through a microscope and watch individual molecules fluoresce in a live cell. Looking at those molecules and realizing that I was seeing something only tens of people in the history of human existence had ever seen was the most magical moment of my life. I joined that research group within the month and have been doing laser based experimental science ever since.

What is your role within the company, and how does your work contribute to planqc’s mission? 

I am a quantum hardware engineer. I specialize in running and troubleshooting complex experimental systems, so my job is to help pull the final pieces together into a functional quantum computer.

Why do you think diversity of roles – from research to administration, business development, HR, and beyond – is important in quantum technology? 

A diversity of roles is essential for the progress of any technology, but especially quantum! A diversity of roles means a diversity of thoughts and skills. These are incredibly complex machines we are building, and they require an equally complex support system to have any chance of functioning. I may know how to build an optical system to focus a laser, but I don’t know how to set up an AC system to keep the lab temperature stable to prevent this optical system from misaligning due to thermal shifts. I can work on a team, but I don’t know how to seek out the people from all over the world to be on that team.

What do you enjoy most about working at planqc? 

I most enjoy the company culture. Everyone here is incredibly friendly and helpful. We’re all a team working towards the same goal.

What is your vision for the future of women in science, technology, or quantum?

I look forward to the time where it isn’t notable to be a woman in science, technology and quantum, because we’re just as prevalent as everyone else.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in science, technology, or innovation? 

Don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t do! This includes coworkers, colleagues, and the little voice in the back of your head. You never know until you try, and if you always say that you can’t do it then you never will.

Is there a fun fact about you that you’d like to share?

I enjoy practicing aerial acrobatics, such as aerial rope, high-flying trapeze, and German Wheel (known as Rhönrad in Germany).