Quantum algorithms: from problem to hardware for beginners

The Interstate Quantum Hackathon for Beginners is a hands-on, three-day event where students from partner institutions come together to explore the exciting world of quantum computing. Working in teams of two to four, participants will learn the basics of quantum computing, develop quantum programs, and run their ideas on real quantum simulators. No prior experience with quantum computing is required. If you have a basic working knowledge of Python and are curious about how quantum computers work, you have everything you need to get started.

Dates: October 22–24, 2026
Format: Hybrid (partner institutions and online)
Prerequisites: Basic python programming and basic linear algebra.
Teams: Teams will be formed during the event. Undergraduate, graduate, and working professionals are all welcome.

Participating institutions

Teams are forming now at these partner institutions. Studying or working somewhere else? Register anyway — independent participants and mixed-institution teams are welcome.

Middle Tennessee State University
Purdue University Fort Wayne
University of West Florida
Fisk University
Meharry Medical College
University of Alabama at Huntsville
Tennessee State University
Missouri State University
University of Alabama

Agenda

Training sessions run remotely in the weeks before the hackathon. Lectures will also be recorded and made available for later viewing. All hackathon times are Central Daylight Time (CDT).

Before the Hackathon

Sept 28 – Oct 4Registration
Oct 9
12:00 - 1:30 pm CDTTraining 1 — Quantum Foundations
Oct 16
12:00 - 1:30 pm CDTTraining 2 — Qiskit, VQE, and QML

Hackathon Week

Oct 22
5:00 - 6:30 PM CDTHackathon launch and project selection
Oct 23
5:00 - 6:30 PM CDTKeynote speaker (Industry Expert)
Oct 24
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM CDTHacking, project submission, & judging
Oct 30
5:00 PM CDTClosing ceremony

This year's challenges

This year's hackathon features three challenges:

Challenge	Description
VQE for Chemistry & Materials	Quantum algorithms for molecular and materials problems.
Quantum Machine Learning	Build a quantum/classical model for real-world data problems.
Optimization for Energy & Grid	Quantum algorithms for optimization problems in energy systems and the electric grid.

The goal is to build a functional prototype that runs on a quantum simulator, with bonus points for anything that also runs on real quantum hardware. The full brief — problem statements, starter notebooks, and judging criteria — is published in the challenge repository.

ImplementationNoiseless and noisy hardware implementations
Awards & perksAwards for the top three teams, plus food and stipends. All participants receive an IBM Certificate of Participation and an MTSU badge.
JudgingJudging weighs technical depth, creativity of the approach, and how clearly the team can explain what their quantum implementation improves upon the given prototype.

View the challenge brief (Inactive)

Keynote Speaker

Our keynote speaker will share insights on the latest developments in quantum computing and how they are shaping the future of the field.

Name of the keynote speaker and details will be announced soon.

Organizers & mentors

The people running the event, your point of contact at each partner institution, and the mentors who'll be on the floor throughout the event to help teams get unstuck.