Women in Quantum: Tania Belabbas

By Ana Ciocoiu

March 20, 2025

At the Quantum Algorithms Institute, we recognize that diverse perspectives drive innovation in quantum technology. As part of our Women in Quantum series, we highlight the careers, challenges, and aspirations of women working in this evolving field.

In this feature, Tania, a quantum computing developer at the Quantum AlgoLab of the University of Sherbrooke, shares her journey of advancing research through interdisciplinary collaboration. Passionate about education, she is dedicated to making quantum computing accessible by delivering courses that bridge the gap between complex technology and broader audiences.

Tania is a quantum computing developer at the Quantum AlgoLab of the University of Sherbrooke. Committed to advancing research, she thrives on interdisciplinary collaborations with experts from various fields.

Her passion for teaching and promoting the technology extends to delivering educational courses, aiming to make quantum computing accessible to broad audiences.

What got you interested in quantum technology initially?

I always had a curiosity for physics in general, and then quantum physics because I met people who were studying it, so it naturally came up in our discussions. Very quickly, I was hooked and became part of the community. I have a background in mathematics and computer science, so making the transition felt natural. And of course, I live in Sherbrooke, which is one of the largest quantum science centers in Canada. It was only a matter of time before I ran into it anyways!

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

There are a lot more women in the biological sciences than in computer science or physics, for example. So I wouldn’t say that I saw myself participating in the more male-dominated or stereotypically ‘nerdy’ facets of STEM. It felt very inaccessible, and I would say that I didn’t have much interest in it because of that. I didn’t relate to computer science in any way and was more interested in biology or mathematics. I got into computer science by accident, actually! When I was in Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP), I had a teacher that made us work on a very small computer science project. I really, really, enjoyed it, and I went to go talk to him about how I could do more similar projects. And this was when I began to really enjoy solving problems logically and being creative in coding solutions to problems.

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

I worked with Natural Resources Canada on a project about quantum genetic algorithms. I found that there was a lot of room for creativity; I was able to give the project a direction that I wanted it to have. I’m really grateful that I had the opportunity to contribute to a project this way!

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

I would say that in terms of support it was pretty good, but looking back, I realize that I didn’t have female mentors to help me navigate my career. I had a few female teachers in university but I never formed a close relationship with them. I only noticed this lack of representation recently, when I started going into high school classrooms and doing presentations on women in STEM careers. A few students came up to me and said that they hadn’t previously considered working in computer science, but wanted to give it a try after seeing my presentation. I realized that I, too, had felt this way in high school. I’m glad that I got to serve as a positive representation for young women and maybe influence them into considering a new career path.

Who is a woman that inspires you, and why?

Farrah Alibay- she works at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and she’s really inspiring. She has a similar story to mine and has carved out a place for herself in a field where previously there would have been none. I feel a strong connection to her.

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

A big challenge I have faced and am still kind of facing to this day, is that I initially came from a computer science background, so I don’t have a lot of physics knowledge. This is a constant challenge for me where I try to overcome my lack of knowledge by studying a lot of material and getting help from those around me. I’ve gotten to a comfortable place over the two years that I’ve been working at the AlgoLab, but it’s still a never-ending challenge. I’m super grateful for the support of the quantum computing community during this journey; it's a very welcoming place, and everyone has different expertise that they're willing to share with you.

Dreams/aspirations: what would you like to accomplish in the future?

I really would like to be a person of influence for the next generation of female scientists. And taking part in initiatives like this one is really important to me because I feel like I’m able to serve as a positive representation. I would like to do more outreach work with high school students as well, and not just young women but also men- because while women benefit from seeing themselves represented, men should be aware of the problems that exist and ways they can be a part of the solution.

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

I’ve seen a lot of changes recently in how quantum computing is valued, especially by governments- there’s been some really heavy investment. But there’s also a rise of misinformation about what quantum computers can do and what they cannot. While I think quantum technology will continue to become more mainstream, I don’t think it will affect everyday life quite as much as some people believe. We might have access to a new tool that helps us solve some previously inaccessible problems, but I don’t think the day to day will change very much.

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. AI 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’ve seen efforts around me but I wouldn’t say it is sufficient. One thing I’ve really noticed is that some topics around ethics and sustainability need to be of more importance in the conversation. For example, we don’t talk enough about how much energy quantum computing consumes, and how it may be unsustainable environmentally. And this is just one of many, many things! We have a lot of work to do on this front.  If we don’t talk about this problem or acknowledge it, how are we going to find solutions? I think it’s a difficult problem to solve though because there’s not much incentive for people to work on this. If you’re standing in a room full of investors trying to pitch your technology, sustainability concerns are the last thing you’d want to bring up. So the question remains: we need to do this research, but who will invest in it?

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 really love for scientists with high potential to be given equal opportunity to work on problems in quantum computing. I know people who would have tons to contribute to advancing the technology, but are not given enough opportunity to do so because their government doesn’t prioritize funding for this research. I think one of the ways to overcome this is encouraging organizations to provide internships that aren’t limited by citizenship. The organizations get the benefit of quality talent, and the interns get to learn, grow, and bring what they have learned home with them, to hopefully grow the quantum ecosystem in their own country. There are a lot of cloud access services that make it easier to have fully remote internships, which removes complicated visa requirements that are often a burden when hiring internationally.

I have had experience hiring international interns, and honestly the hiring process was way easier than I would have expected it to be. They basically got their visas processed on their own and did a lot of the paperwork independently, and there wasn’t much we had to do on our end to get them approved.

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’m really not sure how to prevent that from happening. Realistically speaking I don’t see why people would go out of their way to invest in places where there isn’t already a quantum presence - it’s sort of a trap. Initially the development of these quantum centers was more or less random, but now that they exist they have a certain gravity that pulls more talent and money into their orbits. For example, Sherbrooke has a strong research base and plenty of startups, which attracts more researchers and more startups in a never-ending cycle. All the talent ends up concentrated here. I would say that places like this have a responsibility to the rest of the world to transfer their knowledge and promote open access to the technologies that are developed here, and not just through conferences (they’re so expensive!) but initiatives and online resources. I think this is the best way to go at the moment.

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 think I’m optimistic but I don't want that optimism to cloud my judgment. I think this goes back to an earlier question you asked on how to develop quantum technology ethically: it requires a discussion. We need people with all sorts of expertise, including political and social sciences, to join the conversation and to help us figure it out. We need to do that now, and not later!

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

This is something I always think about: are we doing the right thing? Am I contributing to something that will become a big monster, in a way? I really wish to see more discussions about this. I’ve seen a few already, and I hope that we can continue to grow in this space where we all think about the impact of what we are developing.