Women In Quantum: Mae Abedi
By Ana Ciocoiu
February 18, 2025
At the Quantum Algorithms Institute, we believe that diverse voices and perspectives are crucial to advancing 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 particular focus on quantum computing.
Through this series, we aim to share the stories of women shaping the future of quantum—how they got started, what inspires them, and the impact they hope to make.
Kicking off the series is Mae Abedi, a passionate researcher who recently completed her Master’s in Physics at Simon Fraser University. Mae’s journey has taken her from experimental research at TRIUMF to exploring the real-world applications of quantum materials. In our conversation, she shares insights into her experiences, the challenges of transitioning from academia to industry, and her vision for responsible quantum innovation.
Join us as we celebrate the women making an impact in quantum technology.
Mae recently completed her Master’s in Physics from Simon Fraser University, where she had the amazing opportunity to dive into research using the muon spin rotation (MuSR) method at the TRIUMF research center to explore quantum materials. This work truly ignited her passion for quantum computing and the endless possibilities it holds.
Right now, Mae is eagerly looking forward to the next step in her career as a researcher in quantum computing. She’s excited about the potential to contribute to groundbreaking advancements, especially in how quantum materials can be used to create new technologies and tackle complex problems. When not immersed in quantum research, you’ll probably find Mae out on a hiking trail—it’s how she unwinds and finds inspiration
What got you interested in quantum technology initially?
I first encountered quantum computing during an undergrad course - it was like stepping into a completely different universe. The concepts were very different from the classical physics that I knew and I wanted to dive deeper and learn more about this field. During my Master’s I got to see some real-world applications of quantum effects as part of my experimental work and this made me even more excited to stay and grow in this field. In recent years I’ve seen rapid advancement of quantum technologies, naturally followed by increasing efforts towards commercialization. So it feels like I’m in the right place at the right time, and I’m really eager to contribute to this field.
Growing up, what were your perceptions of a job in the STEM field and of the people in it?
Since elementary school I’ve been fascinated with the cosmos, so initially I wanted to be an astronomer. A lot of my perceptions around STEM revolved around people studying stars and planets. But then when I grew older I discovered that I had broader interests, mostly centered around doing collaborative physics research. Around the same time, I realized that I could not pursue this dream in my home country due to limited opportunities. I decided to immigrate to Canada so that I would have a chance at getting the kind of education and job opportunities that better aligned with my passions and expectations.
How would you compare working in STEM in Iran compared to here?
When I was doing my bachelor’s in Iran, I already had one foot out the door because I knew I wanted to come to Canada for my Master’s. I really wanted to get some research experience before applying to grad school so that my application could be competitive, but I found that our labs were really ill-equipped and I was only able to do some computer simulations. Also, the environment in Iran isn’t as inclusive - there were fewer women in physics, and sometimes I felt like there was a huge difference in treatment between me and my male colleagues. Here, I feel a lot more respected and have access to better equipment. I have the same opportunities for growth as everyone else.
What has been your favorite project or research experience so far?
Definitely the work I did during my Master’s! I got to work at TRIUMF (Canada's particle accelerator center) on some very hands-on projects, where I was collecting data and troubleshooting experiments. Working with a lot of sophisticated machinery was both challenging and exhilarating. What I loved most was the data analysis part- I got to uncover the stories of what the data was telling us, and to piece together a scientifically meaningful narrative from the results. This project really solidified my passion for research and gave me an appreciation for the creative aspect of scientific research.
Did you feel you had adequate mentorship and support on your learning and professional journey?
Honestly, I experienced a steep learning curve after starting my graduate degree and my supervisor wasn’t around much because she was a full time employee at TRIUMF. The more senior students in the lab were on their way to graduating so I didn’t have a lot of support in the lab or anyone to transfer knowledge down to me. So I felt that loneliness acutely. I eventually got comfortable with lab processes but it took so much more time and effort than it would have if I had someone to support me; a lot of trial and error. Professionally, I didn’t have any mentorship. After graduating, adapting to the environment outside academia has been really stressful and I’ve struggled a lot. I feel like I was really unprepared for it. Most of the moral support I’ve received recently came from online resources or people I met at events. Academia doesn’t teach us how to navigate the working world and for those of us thrust into it with no guidance, it can be really daunting. Right now, I really would like to find a mentor to help me navigate the job search process.
Who is a woman that inspires you, and why?
Maryam Mirazkhani, an Iranian mathematician. Her story is incredibly motivating for me considering that she was the first woman and first Iranian to win the Fields medal. We actually went to the same high school so I feel really connected to her. She showed remarkable perseverance and passion and achieved amazing things in a really male dominated field. Her ability to approach really complex problems with creativity is something I really admire. As someone who also had to overcome a lot of obstacles to build a career in STEM, I find that her story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when people embrace curiosity.
What is a challenge you have faced that you are especially proud of overcoming?
By immigrating to Canada to give myself a chance of pursuing my dream, I had to leave my family and friends and start completely fresh in a new country. At a very young age I had to manage everything on my own, like figuring out admissions, renting a place, and funding my education. It was a lot of adult responsibility to shoulder; before coming here I had never lived alone. While this was really challenging, I learned resilience and adaptability and now I feel very confidently settled into my life here. Now that I’m starting my career, I have some new challenges to face, but I can look back and tell myself that I’ve already done it once!
What would you like to accomplish in the future?
I really would like to continue physics research and push the boundaries of what’s currently possible in quantum. I hope to do work that has the potential for positive societal impact, and I also hope that I can create a supportive environment for new researchers entering the field. Eventually I would like to provide mentorship opportunities for aspiring researchers and give them the support that I lacked.
How do you think quantum technology can impact the lives of people in your community (either for better or worse) ?
I think quantum technology has enormous potential to revolutionize our lives through different advancements in fields like healthcare, for example. But like every technology, it will have its downsides as well. Right now we’re entering a transitional era but we’re doing it quite blindly; there’s minimal interest in exploring all the social and ethical implications. We’re only looking at the immediate economic benefits. We need to put some effort into educating the workforce about this technology, and ensuring it develops in a way that doesn’t leave any group behind.
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?
Overall, I see a lot of steps in the right direction. I feel like discussions about ethics come up far more often nowadays than they used to even a year ago. Some of the researchers and organizations I’ve interacted with seem mindful about the potential implications of their work, but this isn’t a widespread thing. I think that industry would benefit from more interdisciplinary collaborations where they are pressed to consider societal implications equally alongside technical advancement. It’s very easy to overlook potential impacts because they are sometimes subtle. For example, if we eventually do develop a computer large enough to break RSA, what are the chances that this computer would be owned by a single company? This company would now have the ability to destabilize the financial systems of entire countries, and access to the technology would likely be limited to those who developed it. This would be a history-changing power imbalance.
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?
I would like to see more diversity. Not just women, but people of different cultures and educational backgrounds as well. I believe that supporting diversity is the right thing to do regardless of economic benefit, but it has been statistically proven that more diverse teams lead to more innovation. I feel that it’s important to encourage younger voices to join the conversation as well, since the newer generations have fresh perspectives and a strong sense of justice. As well as increasing diversity in the workforce, I would like to see more collaboration between industry, academia, and government, to develop there technologies alongside policies that regulate their use.
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?
I think responsible innovation should mean developing in a socially responsible way that minimizes risks for the world as a whole. This means increasing transparency by moving away from secretive and nationalistic strategies, and having a clear plan for how open access will be implemented and managed in ways that are fair to everyone, while minimizing threats to national security. If we want to do this, we will need to actually include the voices of underrepresented groups in the conversation, because they know best what exclusion looks like and are most at risk of suffering if this technology is left to develop unchecked.
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 would say I’m optimistic because I can already see some collaborations between disciplines and across borders, so I’m hopeful! If the quantum community commits to prioritizing accessibility, sustainability, and inclusivity alongside technological development, I’m hopeful that this will help us navigate challenges that arise.
What dreams/aspirations do you have for the future of quantum computing?
I would love to see quantum technology realizing its full potential in the ways we have predicted. I want to see the advancements in chemistry and healthcare that we’ve been promised for decades. I’m excited for what will happen at the intersection of quantum and AI especially, and I really hope that it will become a tool that helps us build a better world.