Quantum Code: Breana Samonte Jump into Next-Gen Computing

While some students are taking time to recharge, Breana Eunice Chong Samonte ’29 spent part of her summer immersed in hands-on quantum research. She was selected for Winston-Salem State University’s Quantum Science Boot Camp, a weeklong program where undergraduates explore quantum theory and its real-world applications.

Each day brought a blend of lectures, demonstrations and labs — from levitating superconductors with liquid nitrogen to disassembling and rebuilding vacuum chambers. Using waveform generators and Qiskit, Samonte learned how to manipulate signals and visualize qubit behavior, deepening her understanding of the principles behind quantum logic.

“The qubit was the most challenging and interesting concept I worked with — completely different from the classical bits I’ve studied before,” she says. “It broadened my horizons on how quantum computers can solve problems that traditional systems can’t.”

The experience didn’t just build technical skills. It also helped her grow in collaboration, communication and presenting — skills she says will serve her throughout college and into her career.

Now back at NC State, Samonte is exploring courses like CSC 469 and 569 and hopes to join the campus quantum computing club. She’s also interested in working with Professor Weijian Chen, one of her boot camp instructors, on his quantum research.

“I didn’t expect to find a field this early in my college career that I felt passionate about,” she says. “Now I want to explore how I can grow in it.”

Samonte’s curiosity continues to guide her forward. “It’s okay to ask a lot of questions when you’re learning something new,” she says. “You might discover interests you didn’t know you had.”

For now, she’s building the foundation — one qubit at a time.