Genya Crossman is a quantum strategy consultant specializing in change processes for IBM in Germany. She is passionate about bridging quantum computing research with practical applications. Her interests include lifelong learning. More broadly, her desire is to ensure other people understand how quantum computing can be part of the solution to addressing the world’s most complicated problems. She helps researchers by finding important resources. Beyond that, she ties these participants directly to experts who can help answer their most niche questions within the field.
Crossman was just at the sixth annual IEEE Quantum Week. This exhilarating nine-day experience occurred in Albuquerque, New Mexico from August 31 through September 5. The event highlighted advancements in quantum technology and provided a platform for professionals in the field to exchange ideas and collaborate on future projects. As a member of IEEE, Crossman stays directly involved with the quantum community. He is an active and essential member of conversations that will help guide our profession in this ever-changing field.
Crossman earned his bachelor’s in physics at University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 2017. This robust scholarly preparation provided a rich basis for her work. Initially unsure of her focus, she was encouraged by her undergraduate advisor, Professor Stéphane Willocq, to participate in a research project at MIT’s Microsystems Technology Laboratory. This latest opportunity opened the door for her to really dive into carrier transport in transistors and diodes fabricated with two-dimensional materials.
Navigating the Quantum Landscape
In her day job with IBM, Crossman helps coordinate five of those working groups. They’re fiercely dedicated to creating quantum-based solutions for areas such as healthcare, materials science, high-energy physics, optimization, and sustainability. As a technical engagement lead, her job is to supervise these groups and keep them oriented toward the needs of industry.
This is an important distinction of her work, since it has been focused on the practical application of quantum computing principles to real-world problems. Crossman emphasizes the importance of collaboration in this interdisciplinary field: “I really enjoy quantum engineering and working with everyone because it’s such an interdisciplinary field,” she stated during a recent interview.
“For Crossman, the power to combine creativity and artistry with analytical problem-solving is what makes quantum computing so special. “It combines problem-solving with creativity. It’s really at an exciting stage of development,” she noted. She is an advocate for creative and innovative approaches to help move the field forward. These strategies will lay the groundwork for ensuring quantum solutions are available and beneficial to everyone.”
A Commitment to Education and Outreach
Crossman’s dedication to education and advocacy shines through in her work to make quantum computing more accessible to all audiences. She thinks getting a clear sense of how quantum technology makes sense in varied use cases will be key to its adoption across industries. “The audience got to hear real-life examples to understand how quantum computing applies to different scenarios and how it works,” she shared after a successful presentation at IEEE Quantum Week.
Crossman’s journey started at an inflection point when the quantum computing industry was starting to gain traction and momentum. Reflecting on this moment, she expressed gratitude for being part of such an exciting era: “The beginning of my career was when the quantum computing industry was just getting started. I’m really grateful for that.” Those experiences have prepared her to do the big picture work that she now shares with her peers and mentees.
Building Bridges Between Theory and Practice
Now, as a technical engagement lead at IBM, Crossman works on supporting researchers. In so doing, he helps them chart their course through the sometimes confusing and often intimidating world of resources that lie within the IBM ecosystem. She identifies experts who can answer specific questions and facilitates connections that enhance collaboration among researchers.
Her work does a remarkable job at bridging the gap between academia and the real world. Employing this model means that advances in quantum computing lead to practical solutions for the world’s most pressing challenges. “Quantum computing is often used to describe all quantum work,” she explained, highlighting the diverse applications of this technology across various disciplines.
In her role, Crossman not only builds on the research that’s out there but stimulates new innovation by promoting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. She coordinates discussions among her five working groups, which focus on immediate challenges facing sectors such as healthcare and sustainability. “We got great feedback and information about identifying common features across groups,” she noted, emphasizing the importance of communication and shared learning among experts.