Mythili Surendran​, Aeron Tynes Hammack, Yashwanth Balaji
Superconducting circuits form the backbone of many quantum computing and quantum sensing technologies. However, their performance is often limited by materials-related imperfections that introduce loss, decoherence, and device variability. This symposium will focus on the fundamental materials science challenges that impact superconducting qubits, resonators, and sensing platforms such as kinetic inductance detectors and transition-edge sensors. Topics will include thin-film growth and processing of superconducting materials, interfacial and surface defects, two-level systems (TLS), materials disorder, and contamination that degrade coherence and sensitivity. Advances in characterization techniques including spectroscopy, microscopy, and in situ diagnostics will also be discussed, alongside emerging approaches for materials optimization and scalable fabrication. By bringing together researchers from materials science, condensed matter physics, and device engineering, the symposium aims to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue and highlight strategies to engineer low-loss materials and interfaces critical for next-generation quantum technologies.