Mark Brongersma

Mark Brongersma is a Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University and serves as the Director of the Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials (GLAM). He also holds a courtesy appointment in Applied Physics. As the Stephen Harris Professor, he leads cutting-edge research in nanophotonics and plasmonics at the intersection of materials science, electrical engineering, and physics.

Brongersma received his PhD in Materials Science from the FOM Institute in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in 1998, followed by postdoctoral research at Caltech from 1998-2001. His academic journey demonstrates a strong foundation in both European and American research institutions, positioning him at the forefront of nanoscale optical research.

His research interests span plasmonics (a field he coined during his postdoc), nanophotonics, metasurfaces, and the development of nanostructured materials for electronic and photonic applications. Brongersma's work focuses on manipulating light at the nanoscale to create novel optical devices with applications in communications, sensing, and computing. His group develops innovative approaches to control light-matter interactions through engineered nanostructures, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in optical science.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on metasurface technologies, excitonics in 2D materials, dynamic optical control systems, and novel approaches to optical modulation. His work increasingly integrates multiple physical phenomena (acoustic, electronic, optical) to create multifunctional nanoscale devices with unprecedented capabilities.

• National Science Foundation Career Award
• Walter J. Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching
• International Raymond and Beverly Sackler Prize in the Physical Sciences
• Fellow of the Optical Society of America
• Fellow of SPIE
• Fellow of the American Physical Society
• MRS Fellow (2023)

Brongersma leads an active research group working on the MURI project focused on integrated hybrid nanophotonic circuits. His team collaborates with leading researchers across multiple institutions including Stanford, Caltech, Harvard, and Berkeley. The Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials under his direction serves as a hub for interdisciplinary materials research at Stanford, fostering collaboration between physicists, engineers, and materials scientists.