Steven Rolston

Steven Rolston is a Professor & Chair of the Department of Physics at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a Fellow of the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI), American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), American Physical Society (APS), and the Optical Society of America (OSA). He earned his B.S. from Wesleyan University (1980) and Ph.D. from Stony Brook University (1986). His research focuses on atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics, with emphasis on quantum science and technology, including ultracold plasmas, quantum information, and optical lattices. He leads the Rolston Research Group, supervising graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in cutting-edge quantum experiments. Recent work includes developing methods for non-destructive photon counting, recognized by the 2023 UMD Quantum Invention of the Year Award. He teaches advanced quantum physics courses (Physics 401/402) and contributes to initiatives like the NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute.

• Education: B.S., Wesleyan University (1980); Ph.D., SUNY Stony Brook (1986)
• Affiliations: JQI, Quantum Technology Center

Research interests span quantum technologies, ultracold matter, and photon interactions. His group's innovations include tailoring photon interactions for quantum applications, as highlighted in recent breakthroughs like 'two photons company, three’s a crowd' phenomena. Awards include the Kirwan Undergraduate Education Award for teaching excellence.

• Awards: AAAS Fellowship, APS Fellowship, OSA Fellowship

Advising and mentorship: Directs a dynamic group of graduate students and postdocs, including alumni like Jonathan Hoffman (now at DARPA). Collaborates on grants and interdisciplinary projects, such as quantum simulation initiatives. Lab facilities include state-of-the-art quantum optics setups at the UMD Department of Physics.