Prof. Travis Nicholson is an Assistant Professor of Physics and Electrical & Computer Engineering at Duke University and a Principal Investigator at the Duke Quantum Center. He is an experimental physicist specializing in ultracold atom research to explore quantum phenomena. His work involves cooling atoms to near absolute zero, trapping them in optical potentials, and using these systems to investigate quantum many-body physics, quantum information science, and precision measurement. He has a particular interest in developing new quantum computing architectures and highly accurate atomic clocks. Prof. Nicholson is a pioneer in using triel elements (Group 13) in ultracold physics, which offer unique quantum interactions and enhanced control for advancing quantum technologies. Prior to joining Duke, he was an Assistant Professor of Physics at the National University of Singapore and a Principal Investigator at the Centre for Quantum Technologies, where he led research on ultracold indium and realized the first indium magneto-optical trap. During his postdoctoral fellowship at MIT, he worked in nonlinear quantum optics, where he demonstrated a symmetry-protected controlled phase shift for photons and observed a trimer molecule of photons—key advancements in quantum light–matter interaction.
Professionalism, Resilience, Ambition: Foundations of a Quantum Scientist — Insights from Prof. Travis Nicholson for the SheQuantum Global Quantum Community
When I was first hired as a professor, I had no experience leading a research group. I naively assumed the top performers in my team would be the ones who could think fast, stay late, or had the strongest technical skills. But after years of managing bright young scientists, one thing became clear: the biggest predictor of success is attitude.
A strong scientific attitude comes down to three things, namely professionalism, resilience, and ambition.
I think of professionalism as being consistently easy to work with, no matter who you’re working with. Most people understand this means don’t be rude or crass. But many young scientists miss a crucial point. Being professional implies trying to be pleasant even if it’s not reciprocated. No workplace is free of people who are annoying, abrasive, or overly pessimistic, and you need to learn to tolerate this. You don’t need to accept abuse, but you do need to accept that personality conflicts will be part of your professional life.
Resilient researchers respond to setbacks productively. Setbacks are a part of research, and sometimes they are brutal. Experimental hardware can fail catastrophically when you urgently needed a result. A project narrative that you’ve spent months developing (as the foundation of your next experiment) can unravel in a day when a fundamental flaw comes to light. These things happen, and they hit hard. It’s normal to feel discouraged and hopeless in these moments, but resilient people absorb the blow and re-engage. Those who lack resilience allow these moments to turn them pessimistic and unproductive. That outlook limits not just their project, but their entire trajectory.
Ambition is also critical to success. The best researchers have big dreams for their future. They treat their work as part of a larger aspiration, not just a daily grind. Ambitious people pursue excellence in their projects because they know these are the building blocks for their lofty goals. Meanwhile those who lack ambition often see subpar progress as good enough.
I have never seen young scientists with professionalism, resilience, and ambition fail. And everyone I’ve seen who is severely lacking in any of these traits has underperformed. The good news is that none of this depends on innate brilliance. These are traits you can choose to build. If you want to succeed in science, start by getting your mindset right. Everything else follows.
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