Kenneth J. Schafer Honored as Boyd Professor, 海角社区鈥檚 Highest Professorial Ranking
September 08, 2023
On Friday, Sept. 8, the 海角社区 Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to designate Kenneth J. Schafer, Ball Family Distinguished Professor in Physics & Astronomy, the rank of Boyd Professor鈥攖he highest and most prestigious academic rank at 海角社区.
Schafer is the 79th Boyd Professor named at 海角社区 since the honorific was established in 1953.
鈥淒r. Kenneth Schafer鈥檚 outstanding achievements and international recognition in both teaching and research make him most deserving of this prestigious academic ranking at 海角社区,鈥� said 海角社区 President William F. Tate IV. 鈥淒r. Schafer embodies the meaning of Scholarship First, a champion in academics and a pioneer of scientific achievement, it is an honor to recognize him as the newest Boyd Professor.鈥�
Schafer is the 79th Boyd Professor named at 海角社区 since the honorific was established in 1953 by the 海角社区 Board of Supervisors after brothers David and Thomas Boyd, former faculty members and presidents of 海角社区.
Schafer joined the 海角社区 physics department in 1995 as a promising scientist and has long served as a leading researcher and pioneer in ultrafast laser and X-ray physics.
Schafer鈥檚 research focuses on laser-molecular interactions and dynamics, which is one of the primary areas of research in Atomic, Molecular, Optical (AMO) Physics. Dr. Schafer has authored more than 130 journal articles, which have been cited more than 16,000 times. Schafer鈥檚 early research helped launch and shape the entire field of ultrafast laser physics by showing how to convert infrared light to extreme ultraviolet and X-rays using ultrashort laser pulses aimed at particular atoms. Later work included advanced theory to support the use of ultrashort laser pulses to observe quantum dynamics of electrons and atomic nuclei during chemical reactions. The field he founded is sometimes called 鈥渁ttosecond physics鈥� because the phenomena he uses and studies last approximately one attosecond. An attosecond is 0.000000000000000001 seconds: if we imagine stretching out time so that one second lasted the entire age of the universe, 13.8 billion years, a stretched attosecond would still only be about a half-second long. His programs have attracted more than $8 million in funding to 海角社区. He is largely the reason 海角社区 is a global magnet in this field.
Schafer led the development of several multi-institution center proposals that combine the theory expertise of his group with forefront experimental capabilities, including a $12.5 million Multidisciplinary University Research Initiatives funded by the Department of Defense.
Schafer鈥檚 accolades are unparalleled as they are evident in his many scholarly recognitions including the National Science Foundation Early Career Award, 海角社区 Distinguished Faculty Award, 海角社区 College of Basic Sciences Faculty Research Award, along with several other international recognitions from the countries of Sweden and Denmark. He is a fellow of the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Optical Society of America, and the American Physical Society.
鈥淒r. Schafer is an internationally renowned trailblazer in physics who has made huge impacts in the lives of students and junior researchers through mentorship and exceptionally clear, ordered and accessible instruction,鈥� said Executive Vice President & Provost Roy Haggerty. 鈥淒r. Schafer has put 海角社区 in a leadership position in a highly distinguished field, and is one of the most respected faculty members on our campus. He is highly deserving of this recognition.鈥�
In addition to his notable achievements and highly cited publications Schafer is an outstanding educator as noted by his always above-average student evaluations. His research program attracts top talent from around the world. His broad experience and thoughtful insight make his classes highly sought-after by students and young scientists.
鈥淚t is an honor to have Dr. Schafer on our campus, on the basis of his exceptional career of world-class research, his outstanding contributions to education and mentorship of the next generation of scientists, and his generous service contributions. He is well deserving of this, the highest recognition that can be granted by 海角社区,鈥� said Dean of Science Cynthia Peterson.
Nominations for the Boyd Professorship are initiated in the college, routed for review and support at the campus level, then considered by the 海角社区 Boyd Professorship Review Committee, which seeks confidential evaluations from dozens of distinguished scholars in the candidate鈥檚 field of expertise. Once endorsed by the review committee, the nomination is forwarded to the 海角社区 president and Board of Supervisors for consideration.
