The U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with NIU, officially launching a collaborative, cutting-edge quantum science program for graduate students. The inaugural class will begin in the fall semester of 2026. Through this partnership, the two institutions will launch a Master of Science in Physics program with a specialization in quantum science and technology (QST). This new offering in the NIU Department of Physics will provide an interactive, hands-on educational experience for students interested in manipulating, fabricating and advancing tools and technologies that leverage key features of quantum mechanics — including superposition, entanglement and interference. Students will begin taking classes in fall 2026, and they will start their research with Fermilab in the summer of 2027. Officials from Fermilab and NIU met on April 29 to mark the milestone in their partnership. During the event, representatives toured Fermilab’s Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems (SQMS) Center, which serves as a national hub for advanced research and innovation in quantum science and technology and will be an important resource for the new program. The tour was followed by a signing of the formal agreement, solidifying the institutions’ collaborative commitment to the innovative graduate program. The newly established specialization will offer graduate students formal instruction at the NIU and Fermilab campuses, with hands-on learning experiences at the SQMS Center. “We are thrilled to partner with NIU in educating the next generation of quantum scientists, right here in our backyard. Students in this program will learn tangible skills in quantum science, skills and experiences directly connected to Fermilab’s science goals, ultimately preparing them to become the next generation of subject matter experts in the field,” said Norbert Holtkamp, Fermilab director. The program is an innovative partnership of a state university with a U.S.