Mark Ratner
Encyclopedia
Mark A. Ratner is Morrison Professor of Chemistry
and Professor of Materials Science
and Engineering
at Northwestern University
. He describes himself as a theoretical materials chemist and focuses on the theory of fundamental chemical process
es related to nanoscale applications.
in 1964 with an undergraduate degree in chemistry. He obtained his Ph.D. in chemistry from Northwestern University working with G. Ludwig Hofacker, did postdoctoral work in Aarhus
and Munich
with Jan Linderberg.
from 1970 until 1974.
In 1974, he and Arieh Aviram proposed the first unimolecular rectifier, thus becoming a pioneer in molecular electronics
. He later served as a visiting professor with the National Sciences Research Council at Odense University
. He served as department chair at Northwestern University from 1988 until 1991 and as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1980 until 1984.
Ratner's more current areas of research include electron transfer
, self-assembly
, nonlinear optical response in molecules, and theories of quantum dynamics
.
Ratner is a member of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science
. He was nominated to the National Academy of Sciences
in 2002. In 2004 he was awarded the Irving Langmuir Award
.
In May 2009, Ratner delivered the 14th Annual John Stauffer Lectures at Stanford. The lecture subjects were "Transport in Molecular Junctions" and "Nano and Energy" (energy generation storage in high-tech solar cells and high-tech batteries).
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and Professor of Materials Science
Materials science
Materials science is an interdisciplinary field applying the properties of matter to various areas of science and engineering. This scientific field investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties. It incorporates...
and Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. He describes himself as a theoretical materials chemist and focuses on the theory of fundamental chemical process
Chemical process
In a "scientific" sense, a chemical process is a method or means of somehow changing one or more chemicals or chemical compounds. Such a chemical process can occur by itself or be caused by somebody. Such a chemical process commonly involves a chemical reaction of some sort...
es related to nanoscale applications.
Education
Ratner graduated from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1964 with an undergraduate degree in chemistry. He obtained his Ph.D. in chemistry from Northwestern University working with G. Ludwig Hofacker, did postdoctoral work in Aarhus
Aarhus
Aarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
with Jan Linderberg.
Chemistry academic career
Ratner taught chemistry at New York UniversityNew York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
from 1970 until 1974.
In 1974, he and Arieh Aviram proposed the first unimolecular rectifier, thus becoming a pioneer in molecular electronics
Molecular electronics
Molecular electronics, sometimes called moletronics, involves the study and application of molecular building blocks for the fabrication of electronic components...
. He later served as a visiting professor with the National Sciences Research Council at Odense University
Odense University
Odense University, now Syddansk Universitet Odense , has been part of the University of Southern Denmark since 1998 of which it forms the biggest campus. It is the university of Odense, Denmark's third largest city, and the island of Funen. When abbreviated, the university motto becomes FIONIA, the...
. He served as department chair at Northwestern University from 1988 until 1991 and as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1980 until 1984.
Ratner's more current areas of research include electron transfer
Electron transfer
Electron transfer is the process by which an electron moves from an atom or a chemical species to another atom or chemical species...
, self-assembly
Self-assembly
Self-assembly is a term used to describe processes in which a disordered system of pre-existing components forms an organized structure or pattern as a consequence of specific, local interactions among the components themselves, without external direction...
, nonlinear optical response in molecules, and theories of quantum dynamics
Quantum dynamics
In physics, quantum dynamics is the quantum version of classical dynamics. Quantum dynamics deals with the motions, and energy and momentum exchanges of systems whose behavior is governed by the laws of quantum mechanics...
.
Ratner is a member of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science
International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science
The International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science is an international scientific learned society covering all applications of quantum theory to chemistry and chemical physics. It was created in Menton in 1967. The founding members were Raymond Daudel, Per-Olov Löwdin, Robert G. Parr, John...
. He was nominated to the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 2002. In 2004 he was awarded the Irving Langmuir Award
Irving Langmuir Award
The Irving Langmuir Award in Chemical Physics is awarded annually, in even years by the American Chemical Society and in odd years by the American Physical Society. The award is meant to recognize and encourage outstanding interdisciplinary research in chemistry and physics, in the spirit of Irving...
.
In May 2009, Ratner delivered the 14th Annual John Stauffer Lectures at Stanford. The lecture subjects were "Transport in Molecular Junctions" and "Nano and Energy" (energy generation storage in high-tech solar cells and high-tech batteries).
Selected works
- Molecular Electronics II (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences) (1998-07) ISBN 1573311561
- Same (ed. with Ari Aviram, Vladimiro Mujica) (2002-05) ISBN 1573314102
- Quantum Mechanics in Chemistry (with George C. SchatzGeorge C. SchatzGeorge C. Schatz is a theoretical chemist best known for his seminal contributions to the field of reaction dynamics. Born in Watertown, New York, he obtained his B. A. from Clarkson University and his Ph. D. from Caltech under Aron Kuppermann...
) (2002-01-28) ISBN 0486420035 - Nanotechnology: A Gentle Introduction to the Next Big Idea (with Daniel Ratner) (2002-11-18) ISBN 0131014005
- Nanotechnology and Homeland Security: New Weapons for New Wars (with Daniel Ratner) (2003-10-24) ISBN 0131453076
- Introduction to Quantum Mechanics in Chemistry (with George C. Schatz) (2000-05-18) ISBN 0138954917