Biographical Sketch
Marcos Dantus:
Dantus has authored more than 268 peer-reviewed scientific articles, holds 37 patents, and has written a book spanning both fundamental and applied laser science. As a graduate student, he designed and built the laboratory in which he carried out the first femtochemistry experiments. During his postdoctoral appointment in Ahmed H. Zewail’s group at California Institute of Technology, he established the laboratory where the first ultrafast electron diffraction experiments were performed, work that contributed to Ahmed H. Zewail receiving the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
A pioneer in the use of spectrally and temporally shaped ultrafast pulses, he has invented multiple laser optimization instruments that have advanced ultrafast laser performance and control. His research program applies ultrafast lasers to both foundational and translational problems, including the study and control of polyatomic-molecule fragmentation following secondary-electron impact, as well as biomedical imaging and standoff detection of explosives. His group’s research has been supported by numerous agencies, including National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, U.S. Department of Energy, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and U.S. Army Research Office.
In parallel with his academic work, he has pursued entrepreneurial activities, including commercialization of ultrafast laser performance-enhancing instrumentation, development of biodegradable packaging materials, and creation of fuel additives aimed at reducing emissions and improving combustion efficiency. Since joining Michigan State University, he has led a world-class research group, served as President and CEO of a company, completed the NatSci LEADERS program, and more recently served as Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Chemistry.
His contributions have been recognized by election as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, Optica (formerly the Optical Society of America), and the American Physical Society. He has also received Michigan State University’s Technology Transfer Achievement Award and, most recently, the Ahmed Zewail Award in Ultrafast Science and Technology.