SLU Expands Leadership in Quantum Science, Engineering
As global investment in quantum computing, sensing and secure communication accelerates, organizations across industry, government and academia are preparing for a future shaped by transformative technologies. This rapid growth is creating unprecedented demand for scientists, engineers, technicians and innovators with expertise in quantum science and engineering.
Saint Louis University is positioning itself at the forefront of this emerging field through strategic investments in faculty talent, research infrastructure and innovative academic programs designed to prepare the next generation of quantum leaders.
In 2024, the School of Science and Engineering welcomed Sahin Ozdemir, Ph.D., chair of electrical and computer engineering, to help advance the University's growing quantum initiatives and strengthen SLU's role as a leader in quantum education and discovery.
"Saint Louis University has a unique opportunity to help shape the future of quantum science and engineering," said Gregory E. Triplett Jr., Ph.D., dean of the School of Science and Engineering. "By bringing together exceptional faculty, state-of-the-art facilities and an interdisciplinary approach to education and research, we are creating a destination for students and scholars who want to tackle some of society's most complex challenges through quantum technologies. Dr. Ozdemir's leadership is accelerating that vision and helping position SLU as a hub for quantum innovation in the Midwest."
A globally recognized scholar in optics, quantum science and emerging technologies, Ozdemir's research focuses on translating fundamental scientific discoveries into practical technologies that address real-world challenges. He brings decades of academic and research leadership experience to SLU, including faculty appointments at Pennsylvania State University and Washington University in St. Louis.
His extensive contributions to quantum optics and photonics have established him as a leading voice in a field poised to reshape industries ranging from computing and communications to healthcare, manufacturing and national security.
"Quantum technologies are attracting significant attention because they enable capabilities that were previously unimaginable," said Ozdemir. "They offer greater security for communication, unprecedented precision in measurement and sensing, and the potential to solve complex problems that are beyond the reach of today's computers. Companies ranging from global technology leaders to emerging startups are investing heavily in this ecosystem, and all of them need a highly trained workforce."
Building a nationally recognized quantum program requires more than a single area of expertise. It demands world-class faculty, innovative curricula, advanced research facilities, and meaningful opportunities for students to engage in discovery and innovation.
Since arriving at SLU, Ozdemir has focused on creating that foundation. His vision includes recruiting outstanding researchers, developing interdisciplinary educational pathways, and ensuring students have access to cutting-edge laboratories, technology, and mentorship opportunities that prepare them for careers in the rapidly expanding quantum economy.
To support this vision, Ozdemir has recruited three faculty members, with plans to add to his team. Together, these scholars bring complementary expertise that strengthens SLU's collaborative approach to quantum research, photonics and education:
- Ramy El-Ganainy, Ph.D., (B.S., Cairo University, Egypt; M.S. and Ph.D., University of Central Florida) joined SLU in 2024 as a professor of electrical and computer engineering. His research focuses on non-Hermitian photonics in both classical and quantum regimes, with particular emphasis on the spatial and spectral engineering of optical gain and loss to enhance quantum light–matter interactions, advance quantum sensing and develop next-generation quantum photonic technologies.
- Nate Kinsey, Ph.D., (B.S. and M.S., University of Missouri–Columbia; Ph.D., Purdue University) joined SLU in 2025 as an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering. Kinsey's research focuses primarily on nanophotonics, nonlinear optics and integrated photonics, and seeks to fundamentally study new materials and their basic properties to enhance or tailor them for specific goals in classical and quantum applications.
- Hasan Yilmaz, Ph.D., (B.S., Istanbul Technical University, Turkey; M.S., Koc University, Turkey; Ph.D., University of Twente, The Netherlands) joined SLU in 2026 as an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering. His research focuses on wavefront shaping and high-dimensional photonic quantum states, optical imaging in complex media using classical and quantum light, and the fundamental limits of light propagation in complex and disordered systems, as well as information-efficient optical measurement architectures.
"We have assembled an exceptional team with the expertise needed to establish a strong quantum ecosystem at SLU," Ozdemir said. "Our goal is to create a collaborative environment where researchers, educators and students work together to advance discovery and position SLU as a recognized leader in the quantum landscape."
With this foundation in place, Ozdemir is focused on expanding awareness of quantum opportunities across the University while creating pathways that allow students from multiple disciplines to engage with this rapidly evolving field.
"Our priority is to broaden participation in quantum science and engineering," he said. "We want to introduce more students to the field, provide hands-on learning opportunities, and integrate them into meaningful research experiences that prepare them for the future."
Supported by external research funding and strategic university investments, SLU is also expanding the infrastructure needed to strengthen its leadership in quantum education and discovery. Central to this effort is the development of a state-of-the-art quantum research laboratory in the Sinquefield Science and Engineering Center, designed to support advanced research, workforce development and interdisciplinary collaboration.
"We are building both the talent and the infrastructure necessary to compete at the highest level," Ozdemir said. "Our long-term vision is for Saint Louis University to become a destination for quantum science and engineering in the Midwest – a place where students, researchers, and industry partners come together to advance the next generation of quantum technologies.
As quantum technologies continue to reshape the global economy, SLU is investing today to prepare students for the opportunities of tomorrow while contributing new discoveries that will help define the future of the field.
About the School of Science and Engineering
Saint Louis University formed the School of Science and Engineering in 2022 to better meet the future needs of its students and faculty. The school brings together select departments from the College of Arts and Sciences — chemistry, computer science, earth and atmospheric sciences, and physics — with the former Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology. To learn more about the School of Science and Engineering, visit slu.edu/science-and-engineering.
About Saint Louis University
Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic research institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 13,300 students a rigorous, transformative education that challenges and prepares them to make the world a better place. As a nationally recognized leader in research and innovation, SLU is an R1 research university, advancing groundbreaking, life-changing discoveries that promote the greater good.