Top scientists

Professor Wolfgang Kiefer (Germany)

Awards
  • Honorary Fellow of the Laser and Spectroscopy Society of India (F.L.S.S.) (1999)
  • Distinguished Service Award of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy, USA (2000)
  • Honorary Member Award of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy, USA (2005)
  • Pittsburgh Spectroscopy Award, USA (2006)
  • First International Raman Award, India (2008)
  • Raman Lifetime Award, XXIV. International Conference on Raman Spectroscopy (ICORS 2014), Jena, Germany

Karen Faulds – University of Strathclyde, UK

  • SERS for biomedical diagnostics and pathogen detection
  •  >14,000 citations, h-index ~6 
  •  DNA/RNA SERS-based multiplexing for pathogen screening

Renato Zenobi – ETH Zurich, Switzerland

  • TERS, ambient mass-spectrometry with vibrational coupling
  •   >40,000 citations, h-index ~95
  •  Single-molecule Raman mapping at sub-5 nm resolution

            Google scholar

Bernhard Lendl – TU Wien, Austria

  • Miniaturized and inline IR spectrometers for process control

  • >18,000 citations, h-index ~55

  • Pioneered quantum cascade laser IR sensors for chemical industries

            Google scholar

Angela Hight Walker – NIST, USA

Biography

Dr. Angela R. Hight Walker, a senior scientist at NIST, is renowned for pioneering optical spectroscopies, both Raman and Photoluminescence (PL) to characterize quantum materials. A current focus area is using optical signatures to study magnetic order. Over three decades, she has led research on low-dimensional materials, contributing nearly 200 publications at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and materials science. A Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and Sigma Xi, she also plays a key role in international nanotechnology and Raman standardization efforts as a technical expert and scientific diplomate.

  •    AFM-Raman and hyperspectral nano-characterization

  •  ~6,500 citations

  •  Standardization and metrology for nano-Raman instruments

Anita Mahadevan-Jansen – Vanderbilt University, USA

Rizia Bardhan – Iowa State University, USA

Awards

2024: Jean H. Steffenson Professorship
2023: ISU AIChE Student Chapter Award for Teaching
2023: ISU Emerging Leaders Academy Cohort
2022: ISU AIChE Student Chapter Award for Teaching
2021- 2023:  Secretary/Treasurer, Nanoscale Science & Engineering Forum Executive Board, AIChE
2020:  “40 Women Honorees in 40 Years” Westminster College, Fulton, MO
2020:  Highlighted by “Diversity Magazine” for Innovative Research
2019:  Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE) High Impact Paper
2018:  CDMRP Career Development Award
2018:  Vanderbilt Engineering Immunity Pilot Award
2017:  Vanderbilt University Provost Research Studios Award
2017:  VINSE High Impact Paper Award
2016:  American Cancer Society – Institutional Research Award
2014:  ORAU’s Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award
2014:  Highlighted by Materials Research Society as “rising star” in Women in Materials Engineering
2013:  National Science Foundation BRIGE Award
2012:  Forbes, “Top 30 under 30” Rising Stars of Science and Innovation Award
2010:  Norman Hackerman Award for Research Excellence
2009:  Harry B. Weiser Award for Research Excellence
2005:  Robert A. Welch Pre-doctoral Fellowship

Wei Xie (China)

Igor K. Lednev (SUNY Albany, USA)

Duncan Graham (Strathclyde)

Volker Deckert (University of Jena)

Juergen Popp (Univ. Jena & Leibniz IPT)