Vescent’s Vision for Quantum Tech: CEO Scott Davis Featured by NIST
From lab breakthrough to real-world impact.
Our CEO, Dr. Scott Davis, shares his journey from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and JILA to co-founding Vescent—and how foundational government research is driving quantum innovation that will shape the future of clocks, computing, and communications.
In his new blog hosted by NIST, Scott reflects on:
🔹 How NIST’s atomic clock work led to GPS
🔹 A personal reflection on quantum uncertainty as both science & philosophy
🔹 The story behind Vescent’s ruggedized frequency combs
🔹 Why optical clocks may be the key to a post-GPS future
🔹 What’s next in quantum — and how we’re helping build it
An excerpt:
As an undergraduate studying physics, I was fascinated by molecules, lasers and all the related things. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have several excellent teachers, one of whom told me I needed to go to JILA — a partnership between NIST and the University of Colorado Boulder — to further my quantum education.
Being a student at JILA was an incredible experience. I worked with David Nesbitt on molecular physics and alongside future Nobel Prize winners for their quantum research. I later did my postdoctoral research at NIST in Gaithersburg, Maryland, where I was privileged to work with and alongside exceptional scientists like David Plusquellic, Rick Suenram, Jon Hougen, Jerry Fraser, Marilyn Jacox and too many others to mention. Surrounding myself with intellectual and scientific excellence made me better; NIST and JILA are filled with so much scientific excellence!
📖 Read the full piece on NIST’s site HERE