Robert J. Levis

Robert J. Levis is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Temple University and Director of the Center for Advanced Photonics Research. He received his Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University (1998) and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Colorado, Boulder (1988-1990), following his B.S. from La Salle College (1984).

His laboratory investigates photochemical and photophysical processes in molecules interacting with ultrafast (femtosecond to picosecond), ultra-intense laser pulses. Research areas include laser vaporization of condensed phases, laser filamentation, nanomaterial generation, and laser-controlled chemical reactions. Applications span disease diagnosis, cellular component mapping, explosive detection, tissue phenotyping, and monodispersed nanomaterial synthesis.

Honors include the NSF Young Investigator Award, NIH Career Development Award, Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, Sloan Fellowship, and APS Fellowship.