Optical Technology Center Faculty & Staff
Tenure-Track Faculty
![Dr. Randy Babbitt](/images/people/Babbitt2_crop.jpg)
Wm. Randall Babbitt
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](/images/people/Borys.png)
Nick Borys
Assiociate 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](/images/people/cone_2007.jpg)
Rufus Cone
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
![Mark Craig Mark Craig](/images/people/Craig_Mark.jpg)
Mark Craig
Director, Gallatin College Photonics Program
M.S. Electrical Engineering - University of Texas at Austin
B.S. Electrical Engineering - University of Texas at El Paso
Device optimization and process integration, area-scaled SRAM bitcell designs, yield
enhancement, DFM techniques, and test vehicle design for next generation process development
Arthur J.M. Johnson Hall, 406-994-5147
mark.craig@montana.edu
![dickensheets](/images/people/dickensheets1.jpg)
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](/images/people/Dratz.jpg)
Edward Dratz
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](/images/people/Drobizhev.jpg)
Mikhail Drobizhev
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](/images/people/Durso.jpg)
Brian D'Urso
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](/images/people/Grumstrup.jpg)
Erik Grumstrup
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](/images/people/Kaiser.jpg)
Todd Kaiser
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](/images/people/Kankelborg.jpg)
Charles Kankelborg
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](/images/people/Kunze.jpg)
Anja Kunze
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](/images/people/wnakagawa1.jpg)
Wataru Nakagawa
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
Paul Nugent
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](/images/people/Rebane.jpg)
Aleksander Rebane
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](/images/people/Repasky.jpg)
Kevin Repasky
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](/images/people/Roudas.jpg)
Ioannis (John) Roudas
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](/images/people/Sample.jpg)
John Sample
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 A. Shaw](/images/people/JShaw_2023_FishLidar_crop.jpg)
Joseph Shaw
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](/images/people/Sheppard.jpg)
John Sheppard
![Dr. Ross Snider](/images/people/Snider.jpg)
Ross Snider
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](/images/people/Spangler_2012.jpg)
Lee Spangler
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](/images/Thiel_crop.jpg)
Charles Thiel
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](/images/people/Walker2.jpg)
Rob Walker
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](/images/people/Whitaker.jpg)
Bradley Whitaker
Research Professionals
![Dinh Loc Duong](/images/people/DinhLocDuong.jpg)
Dinh Loc Dong
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](/images/people/Ebbers.jpg)
Christopher Ebbers
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](/images/people/Heinemann.jpg)
Joshua Heinemann
Ph.D. Biochemistry, Montana State University
B.S. Chemistry, Montana State University
515 Cobleigh Hall, 406-994-7178
joshua.heinemann@montana.edu
![Andy Lingley](/images/people/Lingley.jpg)
Andrew Lingley
B.S. Electrical Engineering, Montana State University
Laboratory manager, Montana Microfabrication Facility
518 Cobleigh Hall,406-994-2518
andrew.lingley@montana.edu
![]() Riley LoganResearch Engineer (ECE)
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, Montana State University |
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![Dr. Andrew Oliver](/images/people/Oliver.jpg)
Andrew Oliver
Ph.D. & M.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Michigan
B.S. Electrical Engineering, Iowa State University
(406) 994-7915
Cobleigh Hall 517
![nachman](/images/people/nachman.jpg)
Paul Nachman
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](/images/people/Rupavatharam.png)
Krishna Rupavatharam
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](/images/people/rust_optec_bio_pic.jpg)
Thomas Rust
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](/images/people/Leonti_700x700px.jpg)
Michelle Leonti
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