Paul Roberts’ Pursuit of a Brighter Bahamian Future

(NASSAU, BAHAMAS) – When Paul Roberts walked across the stage to collect his bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of California, Berkeley in May 2025, it wasn’t just the culmination of academic grit, it was the embodiment of quiet resilience, long nights in the lab, and a steadfast belief in doing your best, even when it doesn’t feel like enough.

“I’ve always believed that if you’re doing the very best you can each day, things will work out,” says Paul.

That belief is what’s carried Paul through unimaginable difficulty, from losing his mother to cancer just before starting university to the financial instability that nearly derailed his studies. But with the support of his older siblings, the Lyford Cay Foundations scholarship, and a natural gift for seeing the unseen, Paul pressed on.

His fascination with physics began with curiosity– videos, articles, the thrill of stripping down the world’s most complicated theories to their most essential truths. “Physics helps me think systematically and abstractly. I enjoy making sense of chaos and explaining it to others in a way that’s still accurate,” he explains. “It’s like having a license to think.”

Now, as a rising researcher in UC Berkeley’s Crommie Lab, Paul has found a home at the frontier of discovery: 2D materials. Specifically, his work focuses on graphene, an atom-thin lattice of carbon with seemingly limitless potential. Under the guidance of Dr. Hsinzon Tsai, Paul co-authored a research paper published in ACS Nano, a feat that still feels surreal. The study explores molecular diffusion on graphene-based field-effect transistors, offering insights that could reshape semiconductor efficiency and chemical manufacturing.

Paul is already thinking beyond the lab.

“My goal is to return home and help lead The Bahamas into a new era of energy independence,” he says. “We’ve been talking about solar energy for decades, but real implementation is hard. That’s why we need people trained in science and the systems to make it work.”

He envisions a future where The Bahamas doesn’t just adopt renewable energy, it pioneers it. He sees a nation where clean energy isn’t a luxury or a buzzword, but a birthright. Whether through innovative material research, policy planning, or building scalable solar infrastructure, Paul wants to work at the nexus of science and society.

“The Bahamas has brilliant young minds,” he adds. “We just need to empower them to believe that we can lead, that our voices and ideas matter on the global stage.”

Paul focused on finishing strong academically while seeking internships that will bridge his research expertise with real-world industry applications. It’s this intentionality and commitment to impact that sets Paul apart.

In his quiet way, Paul Roberts is already changing the world. One atom. One idea. One step at a time.