Carmen Menoni has received two prestigious honors for her contributions to laser science and photonics – a field that harnesses the power of light to enable new technologies.
Menoni, who is a University Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Chemistry at Colorado State University, has been awarded the coveted Willis E. Lamb Award for Laser Physics and Quantum Electronics. She is also the recipient of the Women in Photonics Excellence Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Photonics Society.
“One of these awards alone is a significant achievement for a faculty member,” said Edwin Chong, head of the Electrical and Computer Engineering department. “Combined, these honors speak to Carmen’s far-reaching impact.”
About the awards
Menoni received the Lamb Award for her contributions to extreme optics and materials science.
The award is named after Willis E. Lamb, Jr., a 1955 winner of the Nobel Prize in physics whose insights laid the foundation for many areas of physics and technology.
“This is a highly prestigious and highly selective award,” said Alexei Sokolov, former Lamb Award recipient and professor of Physics and Astronomy at Texas A&M University. “Only three are given each year in a field that includes tens of thousands of active researchers. Past recipients include National Academy members and Nobel Laureates.”
Jorge Rocca, Colorado State University Distinguished Professor of ECE and Physics, was also a recipient of the Lamb Award in 2012.
The IEEE Women in Photonics Excellence Award recognizes one woman each year for exceptional technical, educational, or societal contributions to the photonics community at large. Menoni received the honor “for leading contributions to the science and application of amorphous oxide coatings to gravitational wave detectors and ultra-high intensity lasers, as well as exemplary leadership in championing for the inclusion of students and young professionals.”
“Carmen exemplifies the essence of the award’s inception,” said Amr Helmy, professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto. “Her multifaceted contributions range from fundamental scientific research to practical applications, showcasing both remarkable depth and breadth. Her track record in training and instilling transferable skills in her team serves as a beacon of inspiration for us all.”
World-leading educator, researcher, role model
Menoni is laser-focused on pushing the boundaries of innovation and empowering the next generation to excel in engineering and science.
“Dr. Menoni does amazing research, but beyond that she is also an amazing mentor and educator,” said Sonja Nusser, a chemistry and mathematics undergraduate at Syracuse University. Nusser worked with Menoni this summer as part of the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates program at CSU.
“Her encouragement to pursue challenges and her support of my ideas were fundamental in my decision to continue pursuing materials chemistry and photonics in graduate school and beyond,” said Nusser.
Menoni – who holds courtesy appointments in the Department of Chemistry and Schools of Biomedical Engineering and Advanced Materials Discovery – is among the less than one percent of CSU faculty who hold the title of University Distinguished Professor, the highest academic recognition at CSU for outstanding scholarship and achievement.
Her career successes range from inventing an “R&D 100” award-winning microscope to commercializing extreme ultraviolet and laser-related technologies. She is also the driving force behind CSU’s participation in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, the Nobel-winning science team. In 2020, she was elected president of the IEEE Photonics Society.
Menoni is a Fellow of the IEEE, American Physical Society, Optical Society of America, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the International Society for Optics and Photonics, or SPIE.
