Peter Nordlander

Peter Nordlander is the Wiess Chair of Natural Sciences and Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Materials Science and NanoEngineering at Rice University. He holds a Hans Fischer Senior Fellowship at the Technical University of Munich’s (TUM) Institute for Advanced Study (TUM-IAS). His research focuses on theoretical and computational modeling of plasmonics, nanophotonics, and photocatalysis. Nordlander has pioneered studies on plasmon-induced hot carrier dynamics and their applications in energy and environmental technologies.

Education: PhD in Physics (1985, Chalmers University, Sweden). Postdoctoral work at IBM Research, Bell Labs, and Rutgers University. Joined Rice University in 1989.

Research interests include plasmonic materials, light-matter interactions, and sustainable photocatalysis. His group develops computational methods (FDTD, FEM, DFT) to model nanoscale optical phenomena.

Awards: Eni Energy Transition Award (2020), Hershel M. Rich Invention Award (2016), and multiple fellowships from MRS, OSA, and the American Physical Society. H-index > 100 with over 55,000 citations.

Key contributions include plasmonic photocatalysis for CO₂ reduction and methane reforming, and theoretical frameworks for hot carrier generation in nanoparticles. Collaborates with experimental groups globally, advancing applied nanophotonics.