Physicist specializing in magnetism, spintronics, and quantum materials. Leading qubit materials development at Northrop Grumman and advancing superconducting device physics through neutron scattering, thin-film fabrication, and cryogenic measurement.
Paige Quarterman is an experimental materials physicist whose work spans magnetism, spintronics, superconductivity, and neutron scattering. Her research focuses on the fundamental physics of magnetic thin films and heterostructures that underpin emerging spintronic memory and quantum computing technologies.
As an NRC Postdoctoral Fellow and instrument scientist at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (2018–2021), Paige used polarized neutron reflectometry to probe nanoscale magnetic and superconducting materials, leading collaborative teams and earning the NIST Early Career Researcher Award for Leadership in 2021.
Currently the Staff Physicist and Qubit Materials Development Lead at Northrop Grumman's Microelectronics Design and Application division in Linthicum, MD, she leads R&D of novel materials to improve superconducting qubits and mentors a growing team of physicists and fabrication engineers.
Paige earned her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (with a Physics minor) from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities (January 2018) and her M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering (July 2016), advised by Prof. Jian-Ping Wang. She holds a B.Sc. with honors in Physics from Michigan State University (May 2012).
Investigating exchange coupling, antiferromagnetic ordering, and spin transport in thin-film heterostructures. Discovery of antiferromagnetic coupling in YIG/permalloy systems enabling efficient room-temperature magnon spin valves.
Instrument scientist for the Polarized Beam Reflectometer at NIST NCNR. Uses polarized neutron reflectometry to characterize depth-resolved magnetic profiles in thin films with Ångström-level precision.
Exploring spin Hall effects, magnetoelectric coupling across FM/AF interfaces, and spin triplet Josephson junctions — research applicable to quantum computing hardware and next-generation non-volatile memory.
Studying thickness- and temperature-dependent behavior in MnN antiferromagnets, revealing nitrogen migration mechanisms and their role in determining magnetic ordering relevant to spintronic memories.
Research demonstrating unconventional bulk spin Hall effect generation in MnPd₃, opening new pathways for efficient spin-orbit torque switching in spintronic devices.
Translating fundamental quantum materials physics into scalable technologies at Northrop Grumman, bridging the gap between laboratory discovery and real-world deployment in aerospace and defense systems.
Research and development lead for novel materials to improve superconducting qubits. Sets team goals, ensures deliverables, and communicates findings to stakeholders and customers. Grew and mentored a group of materials physicists and fabrication engineers to evaluate and implement novel superconducting materials and thin film processing into a production microelectronics foundry. Experimental physicist test stand owner responsible for measurement, analysis, and presentation of cryogenic device data.
Lead of the Polarized Beam Reflectometer beam-line, responsible for developing and executing experiments. Developed neutron scattering research program on magnetic and superconducting materials. Taught experimental methods and data analysis to faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students.
Developed neutron scattering research program on superconducting and magnetic materials using polarized neutron reflectometry. Analyzed a wide variety of magnetic structures (metals, insulators, ferromagnets, antiferromagnets) for applications in non-volatile memories. Led efforts to improve low-temperature capabilities (down to 300 mK) on the Polarized Beam Reflectometer. Recruited and led large collaborative teams to produce peer-reviewed publications.
Fabricated thin film high anisotropy materials for heat-assisted magnetic recording and spintronics. Developed expertise in a wide variety of materials characterization techniques. Invented reactive ion etch processing to improve scalability in magnetic recording media.
Undergraduate research on spin-triplet supercurrent in Josephson junctions under Prof. Norman O. Birge.
Experimental nuclear physics research at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory.
Over 1,600 citations on Google Scholar. Representative works shown below.
Interested in collaboration, speaking invitations, or research discussion? Paige welcomes inquiries from fellow researchers, institutions, and industry partners working at the frontier of quantum materials and spintronics.
Send an Email