Christopher Kemper Ober

Christopher Kemper Ober is the Francis Norwood Bard Professor of Materials Engineering in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Cornell University's College of Engineering. He has been a faculty member since 1986, following several years in industry at the Xerox Research Centre of Canada. Ober currently serves as the Director of the Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility (CNF), a leading national resource for nanofabrication. He has held significant leadership roles, including Interim Dean of Engineering from 2009 to 2010. His research is internationally recognized, and he has received numerous prestigious awards and honors.

Ober earned his B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Waterloo in 1978, followed by an M.S. (1980) and Ph.D. (1982) in Polymer Science & Engineering from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. His academic journey reflects a strong foundation in chemistry and materials, which he has applied to pioneering work in polymer science and engineering.

Ober's research focuses on the design and synthesis of advanced polymers for applications in lithography, nanotechnology, and biologically compatible materials. His work enables high-resolution patterning in microelectronics through the invention of new photoresist families. Key research areas include fundamental studies of self-organization in polymers, development of lithographic materials for microelectronics and biotechnology, and creation of environmentally friendly, fouling-resistant surfaces. His group employs state-of-the-art facilities at Cornell for polymer synthesis and advanced characterization.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward precision macromolecular engineering, particularly using sequence-defined polypeptoids for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. Research themes include controlling stochastics in patterning, enhancing EUV sensitivity through heavy atom incorporation, designing non-ionic photo-acid generators, and engineering polymer brushes for adaptive optical and antifouling applications. His work bridges polymer chemistry, materials science, and engineering, with implications for semiconductor manufacturing, biomedical devices, and sustainable technologies.

• National Academy of Engineering member (2023)
• SPIE Senior Member (2018)
• Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2015)
• Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) (2014)
• Japan Photopolymer Science and Technology Outstanding Achievement Award (2015)
• American Chemical Society Award in Applied Polymer Science (2006)
• Humboldt Research Prize (2007)

Ober has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers and leads a highly collaborative research group. His work is supported by major funding agencies including the National Science Foundation (NSF), Office of Naval Research (ONR), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and industry partners such as Intel. As Director of CNF, he oversees a major facility that supports interdisciplinary research across Cornell and beyond. His leadership in materials chemistry is further evidenced by his involvement with IUPAC, including contributions to standardized terminology in advanced lithography.

Ober’s laboratory and team focus on pushing the boundaries of polymer science for next-generation technologies. The Cornell NanoScale Facility, under his direction, provides cutting-edge tools for nanofabrication, enabling research in quantum devices, bio-interfaces, and advanced electronics. His group’s work on polymer brushes, liquid crystals, and sequence-controlled polymers exemplifies a holistic approach to materials design, integrating synthesis, characterization, and application.