Margaret Murnane

Margaret Murnane is a world-renowned physicist who has made pioneering contributions to the
field of ultrafast laser and X-ray science. She is a Distinguished Professor of Physics at the
University of Colorado Boulder and a Fellow of JILA, a joint institute for research and graduate
education in the physical sciences. Murnane’s research primarily focuses on the development
of ultrafast lasers and the use of high harmonic generation (HHG) to create coherent X-rays,
which allows for capturing electron dynamics in real time at attosecond timescales—billionths
of a billionth of a second.
Born in County Limerick, Ireland, Murnane earned her undergraduate degree in physics from
University College Cork. She later pursued her Ph.D. in physics at the University of California,
Berkeley, where she began her groundbreaking work on ultrafast lasers. Along with her
husband and collaborator, Henry Kapteyn, Murnane has co-founded and led an internationally
recognized research group that has revolutionized the understanding of ultrafast phenomena
and their applications in material science, chemistry, and biology. Murnane is also an engaged
entrpreneur, providing many of the technological developments to industry and academia,
through KMlabs.
Murnane’s work has wide-ranging applications, from the study of fundamental quantum
phenomena to real-world uses in semiconductor manufacturing, data storage, and sustainable
energy technologies. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious
awards, including the MacArthur “geniuous” award, Frederick Ives Medal/Quinn Prize from
the Optical Society, the Boyle Medal for Scientific Excellence, and election to the American
Philosophical Society as well a number of honorary doctorates.
In addition to her research, Murnane is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the
sciences, mentoring the next generation of physicists while promoting broader representation
within the field. Through her work at the STROBE NSF Science and Technology Center,
Murnane has also fostered collaboration between multiple scientific disciplines, pushing the
boundaries of imaging science and developing techniques that are transforming how we explore
and understand the material world.

Host: Oskar Grånäs