Joseph Sanderson

Dr. Joseph Sanderson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Waterloo. His primary affiliation is with the Faculty of Science, where he leads the Ultrafast Laser Matter Lab and serves as Principal Investigator for the Waterloo ALLS Reaction Microscope Facility and Waterloo Femto-Lab Laser Facility. His research focuses on femtosecond laser interactions with matter, particularly Coulomb explosion imaging and nanoparticle synthesis.

Education: PhD in Physics (1991), University College London, UK; BSc in Physics & Astronomy (1986), University College London, UK.

Research Interests:

• Coulomb imaging of small molecules using femtosecond lasers
• Femtosecond laser-induced nanoparticle production (e.g., polyyne chains, MoS₂, WS₂)
• 2D material modification for device applications
• Laser-driven surface engineering of metals and alloys

Recent Publications Trends:

Recent work emphasizes applications of femtosecond lasers in novel material synthesis (e.g., Mo₂C nanoparticles, graphene composites) and advanced sensing technologies (e.g., biosensors for viral detection). Key themes include laser-induced phase transitions, defect engineering in nanomaterials, and high-resolution molecular imaging.

Awards:

• JSPS Fellowship (2009)
• Premier’s Research Excellence Award (2003)

Teaching:

• PHYS 111: Physics 1 (taught 2019-2023)
• PHYS 256: Geometrical and Physical Optics (taught 2020-2023)
• SCI 238: Introductory Astronomy (2024)

Labs & Facilities:

He operates the Ultrafast Laser Matter Lab and oversees major facilities including the ALLS Reaction Microscope and Femto-Lab Laser systems at Waterloo. These resources support cutting-edge research in ultrafast laser-matter interactions and nanomaterial fabrication.