From MTSU to the University of Delaware: TN-QuMat Trainee Rachael Quinby Heads to a Physics Ph.D.

“The program ultimately played an important role in preparing me for my future career, and I had an amazing experience as a participant!”

Roots in Middle Tennessee

Rachael grew up in Middle Tennessee and attended MTSU from Fall 2021 to Spring 2025, becoming heavily involved in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Rachael first heard about TN-QuMat when the program was established and later applied to participate at the request of Hanna Terletska, the program’s principal investigator.

A Gap Year That Made the Difference

Rachael joined TN-QuMat during an educational gap year, after being denied admission to graduate school on the first attempt. Working with Terletska and alongside senior members of the research team, Rachael trained in Anderson localization, Green’s functions, tight-binding models, and high-performance computing workflows, contributing to the team’s research on quantum embedding approaches to Anderson localization.

“Over my eleven months in the program, I developed technical skills alongside the senior members of my team that I otherwise would not have had the opportunity to learn,” Rachael said. “When I applied to graduate school again last fall, I had a much stronger professional résumé and was accepted into the University of Delaware’s Physics Ph.D. Program.”

Looking Ahead

“I hope to continue growing as a researcher throughout my time at UD and to build upon the skills I developed through TN-QuMat,” Rachael said.

Advice for MTSU Students

Rachael’s advice for MTSU students who want to pursue a career in science:

“Set rough professional goals as early as possible and then find a mentor who is well equipped to help you reach them. You will probably not always be the smartest person in the room, but it is always smart to be the most passionate.”

Why TN-QuMat Matters

“Rachael’s path shows exactly why TN-QuMat matters. When talented students get real research experience, strong mentorship, and support at the right moment, they build the skills and confidence to take the next step. TN-QuMat opens doors to graduate school, national laboratories, and the quantum workforce for students across Tennessee.”

Hanna Terletska, TN-QuMat Principal Investigator and Director of the MTSU QRISE Center

About TN-QuMat

TN-QuMat is a U.S. Department of Energy RENEW research and training partnership among MTSU, Tennessee State University, Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, working to build a quantum-ready workforce in Tennessee.