For some people chemistry is only a subject, but for Doctor Vartkess Ara Apkarian, chemistry is a way of life.
Dr. Apkarian currently teaches and does research at UCI, where he assumed the mantle of the chair of the UCI chemistry department from July 2003 until July 2006. As the chair, he introduced 12 distinguished faculty members to the UCI chemistry department bringing the total number of professors to 40.
Moreover, through his commitment and prudent provisions, Dr. Apkarian expanded the total budget of the chemistry department considerably. As a result of his hard work, Dr. Apkarian has made the chemistry department at UCI one of the world’s most prestigious programs.
"It was a great challenge to run [this department], but it has grown significantly" Dr. Apkarian stated.
Born in Syria, Dr. Apkarian and his family moved to Lebanon, Beirut, where he spent most of his teenage years. While in Beirut, he attended the all-boys Hovagimian Manougian High School. Prior to finishing his last year in the alma mater, he got accepted to the University of Southern California as an engineering major.
Like most Armenian parents, Dr. Apkarian’s parents expected him to become a doctor, lawyer, or a phenomenal engineer of some sort. However, Dr. Apkarian had different plans as he entered USC, namely to play around and have fun.
"I was always good in the sciences, even in Hovagimian Manougian, but I had no idea what I truly liked," the doctor stated.
It was not until Dr. Apkarian’s undergraduate research experience at USC where he discovered his true passion for science and research, which he says was an accident. An assistant professor in physical chemistry needed help in fixing his lab and his initial task was building lasers since they were not commercially available.
The lasers allowed Dr. Apkarian to study the interactions of radiation with matter which became a topic of interest to him. Soon, he was hired as an undergraduate researcher at USC which required him to change his major to chemistry.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree from USC, Dr. Apkarian decided to attend Northwestern University to pursue a doctorate degree in chemistry.
"It was almost a guided standard for me since I liked research and discovering science so much" Dr. Apkarian said.
After receiving his professional degree from Northwestern University, Dr. Apkarian worked in a laboratory in Cornell University for nearly two years before he was offered a job at the University of California, Irvine as an assistant professor. He was given his own laboratory to conduct research and has been part of the UCI faculty since 1982.
Dr. Apkarian’s research is primarily concerned with photophysics and the mechanisms of how chemical bonds are created within different molecules.
Dr. Apkarian hopes to leave students with the following inspiration: "All students must take advantage of the learning opportunities that they have now because this opportunity will never come back to them again. It never crossed my mind that I could one day be a scientist when I was in Lebanon. However, by coming to USC opportunities were so many that you could not miss it."
To follow in the footsteps of such an academic pioneer, just follow his advice: Have a true passion for what you are doing and you will always be satisfied.
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