STROBE Awards

Markus Raschke received an award from the University of Bayreuth Centre of International Excellence to foster collaborations. The project is titled “Pico-cavity QED.”  The goal of this project between the Raschke group at the University of Colorado and the Lippitz group (Experimental Physics III) at the University of Bayreuth is to develop quantum-coherent systems operating at room temperature, taking advantage of recent developments in both groups of pico-cavity quantum electrodynamics (cQED) in tip-enhanced strong coupling and with plasmonic nanostructures. Congratulations, Markus!

Brendan McBennett has been announced as the 2023 recipient of the $10,000 Nick Cobb Memorial Scholarship by SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, and Siemens EDA — formerly Mentor, a Siemens company — for his potential contributions to the field related to advanced lithography. McBennett will also be honored during 2023’s SPIE Advanced Lithography + Patterning conference.

The Nick Cobb scholarship recognizes an exemplary graduate student working in the field of lithography for semiconductor manufacturing. The award honors the memory of Nick Cobb, who was an SPIE Senior Member and chief engineer at Mentor. His groundbreaking contributions enabled optical and process proximity correction for IC manufacturing. Originally funded for three years ending in 2021, the Nick Cobb scholarship will be awarded to one student annually for an additional period of three years, through 2024.

Dr. Chen-Ting (Ting) Liao has been selected as an AFOSR Young Investigator. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research, or AFOSR, the basic research arm of the Air Force Research Laboratory, will award approximately $25 million in grants to 58 scientists and engineers from 44 research institutions and businesses in 22 states under the fiscal year 2023 Young Investigator Research Program, or YIP.

“Through the YIP, the Department of the Air Force fosters creative basic research in science and engineering, enhances early career development of outstanding young investigators and increases opportunities for the young investigators to engage in forwarding the DAF mission and related challenges in science and engineering,” said Ellen Robinson, YIP program manager.

YIP recipients receive three-year grants of up to $450,000. The program is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are scientists and engineers at U.S. research institutions. Individuals must have received Ph.D. or equivalent degrees in the last seven years and show exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research of Department of the Air Force, or DAF, relevance. Award selections are subject to successful completion of negotiations with the academic institutions and businesses.

Margaret Murnane is one of five women scientists in Colorado named among the best in the world. The 1st edition of Research.com ranking of top female scientists in the world is based on data collected from Microsoft Academic Graph on 06-12-2021. Position in the ranking is based on a scientist’s general H-index. The Research.com ranking of top female scientists in the world includes leading female scientists from all major areas of science. It was based on a meticulous examination of 166,880 scientists on Google Scholar and Microsoft Academic Graph.

The Ordway visitor program brings in distinguished, well-known mathematicians with a record of major accomplishments. The Distinguished Ordway Lecturer spends one week in residence. Professor Stan Osher from UCLA will visit during October 31–November 3, 2022.

Professor Margaret Murnane has received the 2022 Isaac Newton Medal and Prize for pioneering and sustained contributions to the development of ultrafast lasers and coherent X-ray sources and the use of such sources to understand the quantum nature of materials.

The discoveries of Professor Margaret Murnane in ultrafast laser and X-ray science have transformed the field, making it possible to capture and manipulate quantum dynamics on the fastest timescales relevant to atoms, molecules and materials. Her research is distinguished by its breadth and impact in developing new understanding in optical physics.

Murnane has demonstrated that it is possible to generate coherent, laser-like X-ray beams by upconverting laser light from the infrared directly into the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and soft X-ray regions of the spectrum. Over more than 20 years, she uncovered how to harness the unique high-order harmonic generation process to create new quantum light sources. This work represents one of the most significant new fundamental developments in optical science in past decades, with a host of practical applications in understanding and imaging materials.