IQC graduate student awarded scholarship for outstanding career success
Alex Maierean, IQC PhD student and CEO of Phantom Photonics, has received the 2026 Women in Defence and Security Scholarship and Canadian Global Affairs Institute Fellowship.
The scholarship recognizes outstanding women who are pursuing careers related to Canada’s defence and security. The award includes $10,000 and access to mentorship and resources from Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
Phantom Photonics, an IQC research spin-off, is developing quantum sensors that can detect signals as faint as the smallest unit of light. Their product has direct applications for industries with marine and space operations, including defence and security.
The startup was launched in 2023 from fundamental research at an IQC lab led by Dr. Thomas Jennewein, IQC affiliate and adjunct faculty in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Waterloo.
IQC invited Alex to share her thoughts on receiving this award:
What does it mean to you to win this award?
Receiving this award is deeply meaningful to me because it represents recognition from a community that understands the complexity and importance of our work at Phantom Photonics. The award represents not just personal recognition, but the collective effort of mentors, colleagues, and community members who have supported and challenged me along the way.
How does this recognition connect to your work at Phantom Photonics and IQC?
At IQC, we’re pushing the scientific foundations forward, while at Phantom Photonics, we’re translating cutting-edge research into deployable sensing capabilities. This award highlights the importance of bridging research and real-world defence applications.
What potential do quantum technologies have for different sectors?
Quantum sensing can enable more precise biomedical imaging, resource exploration, climate science, and critical infrastructure. On the other hand, quantum communications offer new approaches to secure data transmission for finance, government, and healthcare, while advances in quantum computing may ultimately support breakthroughs in materials discovery, drug development, and complex system optimization.
What connects all of these applications is the ability of quantum technologies to deliver fundamentally new levels of performance. Improved precision, security, and computational capability, all of which create long-term benefits for economic competitiveness and the development of civil society.
Alex Maierean (L) and Leena Rizvi (R) Phantom Photonics chief of staff at the Women in Defence and Security annual awards event in Ottawa with Dr. Jody Carrington, event keynote speaker.