Q&A with Bahram Roughani, Ph.D.
Bahram Roughani, Ph.D., has strengthened STEM education, research, and student opportunities for students at Loyola
Photo by Aaron Boutwell
Since joining Loyola in 2013 as professor of physics and associate dean of natural and applied sciences, Bahram Roughani, Ph.D., has strengthened STEM education, research, and student opportunities.
Why Loyola?
As a physicist specialized in experimental condensed matter physics, Roughani is no stranger to complex questions, but the answer to this one was easy. Loyola’s liberal arts foundation offers a unique advantage to students. “Scientific and analytical skills are needed to solve complex problems, but curiosity, ethical reasoning, and lifelong learning taught through the liberal arts perspective are invaluable throughout their career.”
STEM + Liberal Arts = ?
“I often compare this synergy to a tandem bicycle,” he said. “STEM expertise provides the power that drives progress, while the liberal arts perspective helps steer direction, guided by ethical considerations, societal impact, and environmental responsibility.”
Ready for AI. Ready for Anything.
Preparing students for careers in an AI-enabled world requires recognizing AI literacy as a foundational skill, Roughani said. The integration of Loyola’s liberal arts skills, like adaptability, critical thinking, and communication, teaches graduates to evaluate AI-informed insights and adapt quickly to evolving technologies.
Exciting Time for STEM
Roughani points to the University’s significant investments in STEM facilities, such as the state-of-the-art renovations of Donnelly Science Center and the addition of Bloomfield Hall. But he’s also proud of the “faculty champions who have helped establish new interdisciplinary STEM programs in the past decade.”
Something Surprising About You?
“I’ve been accused of having a sense of humor that reflects my background in physics: occasionally complex, frequently unexpected, and sometimes accompanied by instructions that nobody reads,” Roughani said. “Think of it as quantum humor. At first, it seems confusing, but after sufficient observation, it somehow collapses into something funny.”