Alabama A&M University senior De’Angelo N. Bailey received national recognition on Apr. 17 for his poster presentation at the National Society of Black Physicists and National Society of Hispanic Physicists Joint Annual Conference in San Jose, California.
Bailey’s achievement highlights the opportunities available to students at Alabama A&M University and underscores the university’s commitment to research and academic excellence.
Bailey was selected to present his project, “Electrodynamic and Quantum Properties of Josephson Junctions and Performances of Superconducting Qubits and Quantum Computers,” after a competitive review process by the National Society of Black Physicists. The research was conducted with guidance from Dr. Tianxi Zhang, a distinguished professor of physics at Alabama A&M University. “Working alongside Dr. Zhang pushed me to think more critically and approach complex problems with confidence,” said Bailey. “His guidance and mentorship helped me take this research to a higher level and prepared me to present it on a national stage.”
The work explores how quantum effects influence qubits in quantum computers by examining electron movement in Josephson junctions, contributing new understanding about how these systems store information.
Bailey has participated in internships at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the IBM Quantum Center at Howard University, served as president of the Society of Physics Students, and engaged with the Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program Partnership for Radiation Studies Consortium. He has also represented Alabama A&M University at conferences nationwide.
The NSBP poster competition includes participants from historically Black colleges, major universities, and national laboratories, making Bailey’s recognition notable within a competitive field.
Looking ahead, Bailey will graduate on May 8 with plans to pursue a master’s degree in physics at Alabama A&M University while continuing advanced research in quantum technology. “I chose Alabama A&M University because it offered the perfect balance of being close to home while still giving me the space to grow academically and personally,” said Bailey. “AAMU provided the support, opportunities and mentorship that helped me reach this moment, and I’m excited about what comes next.”
