Late-stage PhD Candidate or Postdoctoral Researcher – Quantum Networking Strategy & Interface

About Merit Network

Merit Network, Inc. is the nation’s longest-running research and education (R&E) network, serving Michigan’s public universities and thousands of community anchor institutions. Merit operates a 4,000-mile fiber-optic backbone that carries critical research, education, public sector, and healthcare traffic across the state and connects Michigan to national and international networks. In addition to providing connectivity, Merit leads national research and innovation initiatives in cybersecurity, networking, and digital opportunity. Merit's Research Department collaborates with universities, federal agencies, regional networks, and science organizations to design, test, and deploy next-generation infrastructure. This includes large-scale sensing systems, high-performance networking environments, and emerging distributed data platforms. Candidates joining our team will have the opportunity to contribute to work that influences network research, data movement, and scientific collaboration across the state and the nation. The work done at Merit does not stay theoretical. It is tested, validated, and deployed in real environments that directly serve communities, researchers, and public institutions.

Position Overview

Merit Network invites applications for a one-year postdoctoral appointment focused on quantum networking research and strategic development. This position will help shape how Michigan’s research ecosystem prepares for the integration of quantum networking with existing highperformance and middle-mile infrastructure. Unlike traditional postdoctoral roles centered solely in academia, this position operates at the intersection of research, strategy, and real-world implementation. The postdoc will work directly with university researchers, quantum industry partners, and Merit's network engineering and leadership teams. The aim is to understand current and emerging needs, evaluate technical and organizational readiness, and recommend how Merit should evolve its capabilities to support quantum research and applications. This role is well-suited for a researcher who wants their work to lead to tangible outcomes. Merit manages multimillion-dollar research portfolios while also operating critical network infrastructure. This enables research insights to translate directly into practice. The successful candidate will contribute to planning that influences statewide research capacity, strengthens Michigan’s role in national quantum collaboration, and prepares institutions for the next wave of scientific innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Community Engagement and Needs Assessment

• Engage with quantum researchers across Michigan’s universities, laboratories, and companies to identify network requirements and technical challenges.

• Build relationships with for-profit quantum technology firms and university research consortia to align Merit’s capabilities with regional and national priorities.

• Convene workshops or focus sessions with R&E partners to gather input and foster collaboration.

Strategic Planning and Recommendations

• Develop a strategic roadmap outlining how Merit’s current classical network can support and evolve toward working in tandem with quantum networking applications.

• Assess current infrastructure, architecture, and optical transport capabilities to identify opportunities for early quantum-compatible upgrades.

• Recommend Merit’s approach to addressing future cryptography/cybersecurity implications as quantum computing accelerates.

• Recommend potential R&D directions, pilot projects, and service offerings for Merit in quantum communications and networking.

Research and Technical Exploration

• Conduct exploratory research on quantum networking technologies (e.g., entanglement distribution, QKD, hybrid classical–quantum networks) and their integration into existing R&E infrastructures.

• Collaborate with Merit’s research and engineering teams to identify testbed opportunities and partnerships.

• Contribute to publications, reports, and presentations that share findings with both technical and non-technical audiences.

Thought Leadership

• Represent Merit in regional and national discussions on quantum networking readiness and research infrastructure.

• Produce a final report and strategic framework summarizing findings, recommendations, and proposed next steps for Merit and its partners.

Qualifications

Required

• Ph.D. in computer science, electrical engineering, physics, network engineering, or a related field (earned within the past five years).

• Experience conducting research in areas related to quantum information science, quantum communications, or advanced networking. Demonstrated ability to learn new technical concepts and collaborate across disciplines is valued as highly as direct experience in specific toolsets or platforms. Relevant backgrounds may include work with any of the following (this list is illustrative, not exhaustive):

  • Quantum network simulation, routing, or orchestration

  • Testbed design or distributed experimental network environments

  • Network measurement, monitoring, or telemetry

  • Optical transport systems or middle-mile network architecture

  • Science DMZ or high-performance data transfer infrastructure

  • Integration of research and education networks with emerging technologies

• Strong analytical, communication, and writing skills, including the ability to translate technical findings into actionable recommendations for diverse audiences.

  
  

Preferred:

• Familiarity with optical networking, R&E networks, and infrastructure planning.

• Experience collaborating with multi-institutional or public–private research partnerships.

• Interest in science policy, research infrastructure development, or technology strategy.