Ajla Šačić stared at the whiteboard in Professor Saurabh Ray's quantum computing class, hoping the concepts would somehow make sense. They didn't. For some students, this might be the moment they drop the course. For Šačić, it was the moment she fell in love with the subject.
"I vividly remember staring at the whiteboard, hoping that the concepts would somehow resolve themselves in my head," she recalls. "Yet, rather than discouraging me, the fact that I could not fully understand everything only deepened my interest and commitment to the subject."
For a computer science major, quantum computing was unfamiliar territory. It didn't follow the same logic as the programming and algorithms she understood. That challenge wasn't a warning sign, it was an invitation.
When quantum refused to make sense
The fascination that began in Ray's classroom intensified during the NYU Abu Dhabi Hackathon focused on quantum computing. In classical physics, you can predict where an object will be at a future time given its position and velocity. "You can't really do that in quantum physics," Šačić explains. That fundamental difference captivated her.
"I could not wrap my head around it. That's what drew me to quantum computing — it applies quantum mechanics to computer science." The hackathon clarified something important: this wasn't just an interesting subject, but work she wanted to pursue professionally.
Choosing preparation over speed
Šačić’s last formal physics training had been at A levels. If she wanted to contribute meaningfully to quantum technologies research, she would need a much stronger foundation in physics and mathematics. Rather than applying directly to doctoral programs, she made a strategic choice of pursuing a master's degree first.
Her search led to Europe, where universities had established programs in quantum technologies open to students from various science backgrounds. Oxford had just launched such a program. She applied for the first cohort.
"I truly feel privileged to have been selected into the program," she says, "and even more for the peers with whom I am sharing this experience."
With focused effort, the material became manageable over time. Those courses also allowed her to recognize the gaps in her knowledge and the extent of depth needed to pursue a career in quantum computing, pushing her to learn beyond the boundaries of her coursework. "True clarity came after I had taken formal quantum mechanics courses and revisited the original problem sets — only then did everything click."
"That mindset has not changed. I continue to teach myself concepts that are not strictly required, but significantly improve my understanding of the field," she says.
Teaching what once seemed impossible
Since arriving at Oxford, Šačić has worked as a tutor in the physics department, covering topics that relate closely to quantum physics. She grades problem sheets and guides students through material she once struggled to grasp herself.
She particularly enjoys when students understand difficult concepts — especially quantum algorithms like BB84, which she taught a few months back.
Šačić spent countless hours on atomic clocks, squeezed states, and quantum systems that defy classical intuition, with no signs of burnout in sight. "I have never found learning as fulfilling as I do now," she says. Concepts that once felt inaccessible are now challenges she actively seeks out.
Finding the balance to thrive
Outside her studies, Šačić finds balance through baking and walks with friends she made at Oxford. Still, Šačić adds, "one of my closest friends to this day is the first girl I met when I arrived on (the NYUAD) campus during my freshman year." The friendships she built during her undergraduate years remain strong. Despite going separate paths, they continue to support one another. "I honestly don't think I would be where I am today without them and the support they gave me, and continue to give me. It's the reason I am so attached to NYUAD.These friends support me immensely, and I truly hope I provide the same support for them."
Her advice to current students reflects her field: "Don't let yourself become overly entangled with expectations or surroundings at the cost of losing coherence in what you love to pursue." She balances idealism with pragmatism — take practical steps, recognize that your best effort varies day to day, and value consistent effort over perfection.
Lifting the veil
Šačić's long-term vision is to pursue a PhD in quantum technologies or computational physics, with particular interest in quantum error mitigation and correction, and how they intersect with classical learning techniques.
Beyond research , she wants to become a professor who can "lift the veil of fear many students experience when encountering advanced topics for the first time", a goal born directly from her own experience.
Šačić brings more than technical preparation to her future in quantum technologies. She brings the mindset that not understanding is often the beginning, not the end. She brings the patience to let clarity arrive in its own time, and the conviction that the best teachers are those who remember what it felt like to be lost — and help others discover that being lost can be exactly where you need to be.
