Building a Quantum-Ready Workforce: Engaging High School Students in Optical Tweezer Design and Construction

Preparing students for the quantum workforce requires more than just coursework—it demands hands-on engagement with experimental techniques foundational to quantum technologies. Over the past two years, I have worked with high school students to design and build a cost-effective optical tweezer system using a HeNe laser and a 3D-printed inverted microscope. Through this process, students developed essential lab skills, including optical alignment, laser safety, imaging techniques, and system troubleshooting—skills all directly applicable to quantum research and industry. Optical tweezers play a central role in both neutral atom and ion quantum computing, where they are used to trap and manipulate individual atoms or ions for scalable qubit arrays. While our system operates at room temperature rather than in ultracold regimes, students gain firsthand experience with optical trapping principles that are directly relevant to atom-based quantum computing platforms. By focusing on cost-effective design, they also make advanced optical techniques more accessible, broadening participation in quantum-related research. This project prepares students for future study and careers in quantum science and fosters innovation and inclusivity, ensuring that the next generation of scientists and engineers is equipped to contribute to a more diverse and widely accessible quantum ecosystem.