Speaker - Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering - Purdue University

David J. Stewart is the Managing Director of the Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering Institute (PQSEI). The PQSEI fosters the development of practical and impactful aspects of quantum science and focuses on discovering and studying new materials and basic physical quantum systems that will be best suited for integration into tomorrow's technology. In David’s role as Managing Director, he works alongside the PQSEI Director and faculty to promote interdisciplinary research endeavors, build collaborations and partnerships across sectors, and grow the quantum workforce in order to advance quantum science and engineering.

He is also the Managing Director and Industry Liaison Officer of the Center for Quantum Technologies, an NSF-funded Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC). Prior to this assignment, David worked at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as an employee of General Dynamics Information Technology (2012 – 2019). David worked in the Photonic Materials Branch of the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate as a Research Chemist investigating nonlinear absorbing photonic materials. Prior to that, David was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received both his B.S. (2005) and Ph.D. (2010) degrees from Purdue University in chemistry.