So far in my journey, the technical work I most look forward to is designing and building the high-frequency or mixed-signal hardware that directly interfaces with quantum systems. This comes from the trial and error system that I have conducted where I have dabbled in hardware, software, and theory. When I realized hardware is what I truly enjoyed, I switched out of Computer Engineering and into Electrical Engineering.
Because I know hardware is what I'm passionate about, I tried to get involved in as many hardware projects as possible that are applicable to quantum computing. I was essentially filling out my roadmap without even realizing. Thanks to this community, I am now bridging the gaps for areas that I have neglected or missed. This is why my senior design project is heavily involved with RF engineering, and I started a new research project involving RF engineering to build a system that interfaces with the atomic experiments. I have found through this process that getting in the lab and getting things done is what I truly enjoy doing. Building the actual hardware that solves the tough experimental challenges, like control, readout, and noise suppression even when they are a headache.