Tenure-Track Faculty

 
Dr. Randy Babbitt

Wm. Randall Babbitt

Professor (Physics) 

Ph.D. Physics, Harvard University
B.S. Physics, Stanford University
RF Photonics, coherent lidar & imaging, spectral hole burning, and spatial-spectral digital holography. 
210 Barnard Hall, 406-994-6156
rbabbit@montana.edu

Dr. Nick Borys

Nick Borys

Assistant Professor (Physics)

Ph.D. Physics, University of Utah
M.S. Physics, University of Utah
B.S. Math & CS, Colorado School of Mines
Nano-optics and quantum materials
218 Barnard Hall, 406-994-6164
nicholas.borys@montana.edu

cone

Rufus Cone

Distinguished Professor Emeritus (Physics) 

Fellow, APS
Ph.D. Physics, Yale University
M. Phil. Physics, Yale University
B.S. Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
Optical memories, signal processing, and laser crystal studies. Studies of optical, dynamical, and magnetic properties of solids using advanced nonlinear optical spectroscopic methods, many new materials, and over twenty lasers.
207 Barnard Hall, 406-994-6175
cone@montana.edu

dickensheets

David Dickensheets

Distinguished Professor (ECE)
Director, Montana Nanotechnology Facility

Fellow, SPIE 
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, Stanford University
M.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Washington
B.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado
MOEMS, Active and adaptive optics, tissue spectroscopy, lidar scanners.
530 Cobleigh Hall, 406-994-7874
davidd@montana.edu

Dr. Ed Dratz

Edward Dratz

Professor (Chemistry & Biochemistry)

Ph.D. Chemistry, University of California at Berkeley
B.A. Chemistry, Carleton College
Applications of spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging to proteomics
251 Chemistry & Biochemistry Building, 406-994-4041
dratz@montana.edu

Dr. Mikhail Drobizhev

Mikhail Drobizhev

Associate Research Professor (Cell Biology & Neuroscience)

Laser spectroscopy and nonlinear optics to study photophysical and photochemical processes in organic and biological molecules, molecular aggregates, dendrimers, polymers, and protein; multiphoton absorption of organic systems and applications to high-capacity 3D memory, two-photon microscopy, photodynamic therapy of cancer, and two-photon hyperspectral sensitive detection of cancer cells. 
206 Barnard Hall, 406-994-7810
drobijev@physics.montana.edu

Dr. Brian D'Urso

Brian D'Urso

Assistant Professor (Physics)

Ph.D. Physics, Harvard University
B.S. Physics, Cal Tech 
New precision measurements that address fundamental physics questions using levitated optomechanics with microparticles and nanoparticles levitated in magnetic, optical, and Paul traps under vacuum to make sensitive measurements with controlled coupling to the environment. 
243 Barnard Hall, 406-994-3456
durso@montana.edu

grumstrup

Erik Grumstrup

Associate Professor (Chemistry & Biochemistry and Materials Science)

Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Colorado - Boulder
B.S. Chemistry, University of Minnesota at Twin Cities 
Nonlinear microscopy and ultrafast laser spectroscopy to interrogate and understand the optical, electronic, and chemical properties of materials important for advanced solar energy, catalytic, and electronic technologies.
Chemistry & Biochemistry Building 047, 406-994-2988
erik.grumstrup@montana.edu

Dr. Todd Kaiser

Todd Kaiser

Professor (ECE)

Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, Georgia Tech
M.S. Physics, Oregon State University
B.S. Physics, Montana State University
Microfabrication technologies, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), micro-sensors and micro-actuators
610 Cobleigh Hall, 406-994-7276
tjkaiser@montana.edu

Dr. Charles Kankelborg

Charles Kankelborg

Professor (Physics)

Ph.D. Physics, Stanford University 
B.S. Physics, University of Puget Sound
Solar magnetic activity, coronal loops X-ray bright points, image analysis, UV and EUV optics and space instrumentation, IRIS UV satellite spectral imager, numerical modeling. 
260C Barnard Hall, 406-994-7853
kankel@montana.edu

Dr. Anja Kunze

Anja Kunze

Assistant Professor (ECE) 

Ph.D. Microsystems & Microelectronics, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
M.S. Electrical Engineering, Technical University – Dresden
Micro- and nano-technology, microfluidics.
509 Cobleigh Hall, 406-994-7172
anja.kunze@montana.edu 


nakagawa

Wataru Nakagawa

Associate Professor (ECE) 

Ph.D. Electrical Engineering (Applied Physics), Univ. of California, San Diego
B.S. Applied Physics, Stanford University
Optical nanostructures, photonics, nanoscale optics, computational electromagnetics
529 Cobleigh, 406-994-5956
nakagawa@montana.edu

 

Profile photo of Elizabeth Noonan

Elizabeth Noonan

Program Director, Photonics & Laser Technology, Gallatin College

M.S. Physics, Montana State University
B.S. Physics, Montana State University
B.S. Math & French, St. Mary-of-the-Woods College
406-994-3601
elizabeth.noonan@montana.edu

 

Paul Nugent

Paul Nugent

Precision Ag Assistant Professor (Agriculture Engineering)

Ph.D. EE, Montana State University 
M.S. EE, Montana State University
B.S. EE, Montana State University
102-A Linfield Hall
406-994-2515
paul.nugent@montana.edu

 

Dr. Alex Rebane

 Aleksander Rebane

Professor (Physics)
Ph.D. Physics, Institute of Physics (Tartu University), Estonian Academy of Sciences
Holography and coherent optics: ultrafast time- and space-domain holography and coherent optics; experimental investigation of projective techniques and materials for multi-THz optical data transmission and processing, photodynamic therapy.
208 Barnard Hall, 406-994-7831
rebane@physics.montana.edu

Dr. Kevin Repasky

 Kevin Repasky

Professor (ECE)

Ph.D. Physics, Montana State University
M.S. Physics, Montana State University
B.Eng. Mechanical Engineering, Youngstown State University
Laser research and development, laser remote sensing. 
537 Cobleigh Hall, 406-994-6082
repasky@montana.edu

Dr. Ioannis Roudas

Ioannis (John) Roudas 

Professor, Gilhousen
Telecommunications Chair (ECE)

Ph.D. & M.S. Coherent Optical Communication Systems, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications.
M.S. Electronics & Radio Engineering, University of Athens (Greece). 
B.S. Electronics & Radio Engineering, University of Athens (Greece)
Optical communications; photonics; computational electromagnetics
619 Cobleigh Hall, 406-994-5960

Dr. John Sample

John Sample

Assistant Professor (Physics)

Ph.D. Physics, University of California - Berkeley 
Earth's magnetosphere and energetic particles therein.

Energetic phenomena (electrons, gamma rays) associated with lightning
222 Barnard Hall, 406-994-1693
john.sample2@montana.edu

Dr. Joseph Shaw

Joseph Shaw

Distinguished Professor (ECE) & OpTeC Director 

Fellow, OSA & SPIE
Ph.D. & M.S. Optical Sciences, University of Arizona
M.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Utah
B.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Alaska - Fairbanks
Remote sensing systems, optical system design and testing, radiometry, polarimetry, lidar, science and photography of optical phenomena in nature
334-A Norm Asbjornson Hall, 406-994-7261
joseph.shaw@montana.edu

Dr. John Sheppard

John Sheppard

Distinguished Professor (Gianforte School of Computing)

Fellow, IEEE
Ph.D. & M.S. Computer Science, The Johns Hopkins University 
B.S. Computer Science, Southern Methodist University 
365 Barnard Hall, 406-994-4835

Dr. David Singel

David Singel

Associate Provost 

Ph.D. Physical Chemistry, University of Chicago
B.S. Chemistry, Penn State University 
Magnetic resonance techniques to analyze the composition of solid-state laser materials - primarily materials under development by local optics industry. 
212 Montana Hall, 406-994-3960
dsingel@montana.edu 

Dr. Ross Snider

Ross Snider

Associate Professor (ECE) 

Postdoc, Johns Hopkins University
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, Vanderbilt University 
M.S. Electrical Engineering, Michigan State University 
B.S. Engineering, Walla Walla College 
Custom computing using Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processing (DSP), embedded real-time systems, data acquisition and processing systems for smart imaging systems, auditory neuroscience.
538 Cobleigh Hall, 406-994-1645

Dr. Lee Spangler

Lee Spangler

Director, Energy Research Institute 

Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh
B.A. Chemistry, Washington and Jefferson College
Spectroscopic studies for energy and carbon sequestration research, Director of the Energy Research Institute.
CFT #5 332, 406-994-4399
spangler@montana.edu

Dr. Charles Thiel

Charles Thiel

Research Professor (Physics)

Ph.D. Physics, Montana State University
B.S. Physics and Statistics, Montana State University 
Optical properties of materials to enable next-generation photonic and quantum technologies, spectral hole burning. 
209 Barnard Hall, 406-994-4363
charles.thiel@montana.edu 

Dr. Robert Walker

Rob Walker

Professor (Chemistry & Biochemistry) 

Ph.D. Physical Chemistry, University of Chicago
B.S. Chemistry, Penn State University
Optical specctroscopy in hard-to-see places: optical studies of chemical structure, organization and reactivity at surfaces.
57 Chemistry & Biochemistry Building, 406-994-7928
rawalker@montana.edu 

Dr. Bradley Whitaker

Bradley Whitaker

Assistant Professor (ECE) 

Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, Georgia Tech 
M.S. Electrical Engineering, Georgia Tech
B.S. Electrical Engineering, Brigham Young University 
Machine learning, classification, feature extraction, sparse coding with data from lidar, radar, and other sources.
630 Cobleigh Hall, 406-994-6942

 

Research Professionals 

Dinh Loc Duong

Dinh Loc Dong 

Assistant Research Professional (Physics), MonArk Foundry Scientist and Liaison

Ph.D. NanoScience, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea
2D Magnetic and Topological Materials
Quantum phenomena emerging at high temperature
202Barnard Hall 
406-994-6182
dinhloc.duong@montana.edu

 
Dr. Christopher Ebbers

Christopher Ebbers 

Sr. Research Engineer (Spectrum Lab)

Ph.D. Applied Science & Engineering, University of California-Davis
B.A. Physics, Northwestern University
Application of laser and nonlinear optical technology for remote sensing and quantum communication applications, spanning the GHz (RF) through the THz (optical) frequency range.
2310 University Way, Bldg. 2, Suite 3, Rm. 163 
406-994-5925
christopher.ebbers@montana.edu

Dr. Joshua Heinemann

Joshua Heinemann

Research Scientist (ECE)

Ph.D. Biochemistry, Montana State University
B.S. Chemistry, Montana State University
515 Cobleigh Hall, 406-994-7178
joshua.heinemann@montana.edu

Andy Lingley

Andrew Lingley

Research Engineer (ECE)
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, University of Washington
B.S. Electrical Engineering, Montana State University
Laboratory manager, Montana Microfabrication Facility 
518 Cobleigh Hall,406-994-2518
andrew.lingley@montana.edu

Dr. Andrew Oliver

Andrew Oliver

Sr. Research Engineer (ECE)

Ph.D. & M.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Michigan
B.S. Electrical Engineering, Iowa State University 
(406) 994-7915
 
 Cobleigh Hall 517 

nachman

Paul Nachman

Affiliate Research Professor (Physics)

Ph.D. Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago
B.A. Physics, Carleton College
120 Barnard Hall, 406-994-7828
paul.nachman@montana.edu

 

Dr. Krishna Rupavatharam

Krishna Rupavatharam

Associate Director (Spectrum Lab)

Ph.D. Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore India
M.Sc. Physics, SSS Institute of Higher Learning, Prashanti Nilayam, India
Applications of S2 technology to high-bandwidth RF spectrum analysis, coherent imaging and lidar. 
2310 University Way, Bldg. 2, Suite 3, Rm. 164, 406-994-5756
krishna.rupavatharam@montana.edu

Dr. Tom Rust

Thomas Rust

Research Scientist

Ph.D. Physics, Montana State University
B.S. Physics & Mathematics, Radford University 
Rare-earth activated optical material development and characterization for optical memory, signal processing, and quantum information applications. 
Barnard Hall 209, 406-994-4363
thomas.rust1@montana.edu

 


Administrative Staff

Michelle Leonti

Michelle Leonti

Administration Manager

Michelle Leonti handles the administrative aspects of the Optical Technology Center and its research projects. Ms. Leonti manages grant proposal submissions, reporting, travel, events planning, and student recruitment. She monitors finances and research progress against goals.

334-B Norm Asbjornson Hall, 406-994-6279
michelle.leonti@montana.edu