Morgan, UMD Partner to Expand Technological Frontiers in Quantum Computing Research to Support U.S. Air Force Project

BALTIMORE—Morgan State University is advancing its quantum computing research capacities by participating in the Securing Experimental Quantum Computing Usage in Research Environments (SEQCURE) program. This initiative, a collaboration between Morgan, the University of Maryland (UMD), and the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS), positions Morgan at the cutting edge of secure computing research.  

Under the leadership of Onyema Osuagwu, Ph.D., associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering within the Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering, this research effort is designed to advance Zero-Trust Architecture and AI/Machine Learning applications within the U.S. Air Force’s First Two Node Quantum Computer. As Morgan’s principal investigator, Dr. Osuagwu will leverage the experience he has acquired through his research work at Morgan’s Cybersecurity Assurance and Policy (CAP) Center and the Computation, Circuits, Cognition and Cybernetics Laboratory (The C4 Lab), to enhance Morgan’s expanding role in emerging quantum technologies. 

As a component of this effort, Morgan students—including graduate researchers and a postdoctoral fellow—will directly engage in hands-on quantum computing research, gaining meaningful exposure to state-of-the-art quantum systems and testing new security frameworks and computational approaches in real-world applications. These opportunities place Morgan’s students at the forefront of a field critical to national security, financial systems, and next-generation artificial intelligence. 

“This partnership with UMD represents yet another example of Morgan's full-scale commitment to elevating research capacity in the advanced technologies that will define the future of our human experience,” said Willie E. May, Ph.D., vice president for the Division of Research and Economic Development at Morgan. “This groundbreaking quantum computing initiative underscores the future of Morgan—a future in which Morgan is revered as a leader in public impact research, a strategic partner and an innovator among the nation’s top scientific institutions.”

As one of the few Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) actively engaged in quantum computing research, Morgan continues to elevate its research profile in advanced technologies. This initiative aligns with broader federal and state-backed investments, including Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s $1 billion ‘Capital of Quantum’ initiative, which aims to make Maryland a global leader in quantum information science and technology. 

Beyond academic research, this collaboration offers unparalleled exposure to public-private innovation hubs such as the Quantum Laboratory (QLab), a unique partnership between UMD and IonQ. Morgan researchers will work alongside leading scientists, entrepreneurs, and technologists within this ecosystem, gaining hands-on experience in one of the most dynamic computing fields. 

“This research places Morgan State at the forefront of quantum computing in partnership with leading institutions. The work we’re doing has the potential to positively impact not just the military but many sectors reliant on secure, high-speed computing solutions,” said Dr. Osuagwu.

With this initiative, Morgan State University is reinforcing its role as a pioneering institution in quantum computing research, preparing its students to lead in an era where secure, high-speed computing solutions are essential across industries. The $350,000 sub-award is for a one-year term with the prospect of renewal.

About Morgan

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 academic degree and certificate programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

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Media Contacts:

Larry Jones, Dell Jackson, or Cheryl Stewart for Morgan State University PR
443-885-3022