Women In Quantum: Adan Azem

By Ana Ciocoiu

March 6, 2025

At the Quantum Algorithms Institute, we believe that diverse perspectives are essential to the advancement of quantum technology. In 2024, Ana Ciocoiu conducted a series of interviews to highlight the careers, challenges, and aspirations of women in the STEM workforce, with a focus on quantum computing.

This series explores the experiences of women shaping the future of quantum—how they got started, what inspires them, and the impact they hope to make.

In this feature, Adan Abulila shares her path from studying chemical engineering to pursuing a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of British Columbia, where she develops infrared superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors for quantum information applications. With experience at Xanadu Quantum Inc. and as a QuEST and NSERC CREATE scholar, Adan has worked at the intersection of research, technology, and industry.

Adan is a PhD candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of British Columbia, developing infrared superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors for quantum information applications.

She previously interned with the low-temperature devices team at Xanadu Quantum Inc. and is a QuEST and NSERC CREATE quantum computing scholar. Outside the lab, Adan enjoys baking and biking.

What got you interested in quantum technology initially?

My path wasn’t that straightforward.. Initially I studied chemical engineering which is very different from physics.I was mostly interested in devices and nanofabrication, and inevitably I hit ‘quantum computing’ and developed an interest in it! I didn’t think much of it at the time; it was a very natural progression.

Growing up, what were your perceptions of a job in the STEM field and of the people in it?

As a first generation university student, my initial goal was simply to complete my bachelor’s degree, which was challenging due to financial difficulties. Despite these obstacles, I found inspiration and support from the women in STEM I met. Their diverse experiences and the sense of camaraderie they offered helped guide me toward graduate studies. Though I didn’t have a clear plan from the beginning, my interest in hands-on research and exploration led me to new opportunities.

What has been your favorite project or research experience so far?

During my undergraduate studies, I had the opportunity to join a program called "Young Scholars" at a research institute. This was a completely different environment from a traditional teaching university. From day one, I was treated like a scientist, which gave me a sense of validation and belonging—a welcome change from my earlier experiences, where I often struggled with a lack of confidence and imposter syndrome.

Did you feel you had adequate mentorship and support on your learning and professional journey?

Oh definitely yeah, I wouldn't have been able to do anything without it. It’s been a huge, huge part of my journey. And having benefited from the kindness of others I'm trying to give back - right now I volunteer with a program back in Israel to support Arab women in the sciences.

Who is a woman that inspires you, and why? Answers:

There are so many women who inspire me, but not necessarily in STEM. In general anyone who’s faced adversity and overcome it is inspiring to me, even if they don’t have flashy titles or achievements. But specifically, Alison Gold at Rigetti, who was my mentor throughout my PhD, ", has been a huge inspiration. I admire her openness, especially when discussing topics that aren't often talked about, like negotiating salaries or navigating work conflicts. Her guidance on these issues, which are rarely discussed, has been invaluable to me."

What is a challenge you have faced that you are especially proud of overcoming?

Moving to a new country can be extremely challenging, especially when dealing with difficult personal circumstances. During my PhD, I faced several significant obstacles, including family health issues, the disruption caused by COVID, and the impact of ongoing events in my home country. These challenges have undoubtedly had an effect, but despite everything, I have persisted and continued my research.

You’ve definitely been through more than most PhD students! You’re graduating soon - what would you like to accomplish in the future?

I’m currently exploring the commercialization of the detectors I developed at UBC. I was recently accepted into the Venture Founder entrepreneurship program and am now looking for a potential co-founder to help build this company. While I’m not rushing the process, I’m eager to explore this new path and see where the journey takes me.

How do you think quantum technology can impact the lives of people in your community (either for better or worse)?

For worse, I think there’s the possibility of using quantum computing militaristically- towards increasing violence and segregating communities instead of using the technology to liberate and uplift people. While we haven’t seen these uses yet, it’s clear by looking at other technologies that this is possible. But also, quantum computers can be used to solve these long-lasting, mysterious computational problems, so there’s clearly the ability for it to contribute positively to society…but ultimately we don’t yet know what a quantum computer will actually be able to do, fully. This is really exciting because we might be able to do tons of things we’ve never even thought about.

We can see from AI and facial recognition technologies the consequences of considering responsible development only after the technology has hit the market. As the global conversation around quantum computing develops, the concept of responsible innovation has emerged. RI aims to foster a culture of engagement between the quantum computing community society, so that we experience not only the benefits of quantum computing research but also good governance, transparency, and accountability. Do you feel quantum computing is developing responsibly? Why/why not?

I haven’t followed this too closely so I'm not sure how much development exactly is happening on the ethical and regulatory side of things. I know of people doing this kind of research within the AI field, but I don’t think quantum is there in the same way just yet. I think we definitely need to start thinking and talking about it more. Governments have already taken great interest in the security side of things - considering mostly what protections can be put in place to facilitate a smooth transition of our financial systems once RSA can be broken. But we don’t really see the same kind of discussion about the ethical implications around that same event. We definitely need to see the creation of groups and organizations that focus entirely on navigating this new ethical landscape, because we likely missed that window with AI. I don’t want to be involved in the development of a technology that will someday be used to harm people. But its trajectory is not something I can really control, unfortunately. In STEM we don’t often talk about the social impact of technologies we’re developing, and I think that really needs to change.

Development of quantum technology has thus far been concentrated in well-funded research labs and a subset of companies that exist mostly in the ‘global north’ due to the level of infrastructural development needed and the existing research environments). Going forward, who would you like to see included in the development and deployment of quantum technology?

Anyone who’s interested, irrespective of barriers. But in order for people to be interested in something, they need to be exposed to it, to be aware that it exists…so it has to start from having access to knowledge. Unfortunately access to these kinds of resources is a huge barrier to most people in the world. I can’t really think of a specific group of people that should be included more because there’s already so many groups that are excluded. For example, I would love to see more development and engagement with quantum computing all over the middle east specifically, because that’s where I come from …but basically, developing and propagating free online resources in a multitude of languages that allow people to further their education from anywhere in the world is key to including more people in the development, and letting their voices influence the trajectory that this technology takes. There are already a few great initiatives on EdX and Coursera but we can always use more.

Given the current trajectory of development, it is a possibility that global division emerges as only a few countries have access to quantum computing. Areas without access are left behind as those that have access take advantage of this technology. Given existing digital divides, this scenario may worsen global inequality. What does responsible quantum innovation look like to you?

Responsible quantum innovation should prioritize not only technological advancement but also social impact and equity. Quantum companies need to actively work towards democratizing access to this technology. Some companies, like Xanadu and IBM, are already taking steps by offering their quantum programming SDKs for free. While these initiatives are a good start, they may not be sufficient. It's crucial for the industry to adopt a more holistic approach, ensuring that the benefits of quantum computing are accessible and beneficial to a broader spectrum of society, particularly in regions that might otherwise be left behind.

Quantum technology can be leveraged in positive ways that benefit humanity (eg, drug discovery) but it can also be leveraged in ways that make the world far worse, such as exacerbating geopolitical tensions and opportunity divides.Developing quantum technology in a responsible way is clearly going to be challenging. Are you overall optimistic or pessimistic about the way we will choose to develop this technology?

I’m not very optimistic, but I don't want to be actively pessimistic either. Historically, technologies we’ve developed have almost always ended up being used for harmful purposes. However, I’m hopeful that the new generation will break this cycle, so I’m trying to hold onto that hope. I think it’s important to have hope to stay motivated enough to tackle these issues.

What dreams/aspirations do you have for the future of quantum computing?

One thing I remember well from Xanadu’s mission when I worked there is the goal of building quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere. Obviously, we both know that people in the future won’t just go out and buy a quantum computer like we do a PC- the scale and complexity are just so different. Clearly, cloud computing will be integral to how we access these systems. Ideally, companies would provide free runtime so people can interface with these incredibly powerful computers from their homes, no matter where they are on the planet.

Currently, the industry is facing a talent gap, but talent is everywhere- it’s just held back by barriers like immigration processes and borders. So I hope that access to quantum computing will one day be borderless and help unite people in new ways.