David A. B. Miller is a distinguished electrical engineer and pioneering researcher in optics and photonics who currently holds the position of W. M. Keck Foundation Professor of Electrical Engineering Emeritus at Stanford University, a status he assumed in October 2024. He also maintains his affiliation as Professor by Courtesy of Applied Physics at Stanford University. Dr. Miller earned his B.Sc. in Physics from St. Andrews University in 1976 and completed his Ph.D. in Physics at Heriot-Watt University in 1979 with a thesis on nonlinear optical effects in semiconductors. His distinguished career began at AT&T Bell Laboratories in 1981 where he rose to become Department Head of the Advanced Photonics Research Department, a position he held from 1987 to 1996 before joining Stanford University as a professor.
Dr. Miller's groundbreaking research has fundamentally shaped the field of semiconductor optics and optoelectronics, most notably through his discovery of the quantum-confined Stark effect in quantum wells and its application to optical modulators and switches. His seminal contributions to the analysis of optical interconnects in digital systems have provided critical theoretical frameworks that have guided the development of high-speed optical communication technologies. With over 300 scientific publications, an h-index exceeding 110, and more than 75 patents, his work has established foundational principles in nanophotonics and the fundamental limits of optics for information processing. His innovative concepts including the development of communication modes for optical systems and universal architectures for controllable photonic circuits have revolutionized approaches to optical computing and communications.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Miller has profoundly influenced the field through his leadership as Director of the E. L. Ginzton Laboratory from 1997 to 2006 and as Co-Director of the Stanford Photonics Research Center from 2000 to 2019. He has authored influential textbooks including Quantum Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers and Modern Physics for Engineers and Scientists while teaching online quantum mechanics courses to over 80,000 students worldwide. As a member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering and recipient of prestigious honors including the upcoming Frederic Ives Medal, he continues to shape the future of photonics through his theoretical insights and educational contributions. Dr. Miller's current work focuses on advancing the fundamental understanding of optical systems and their applications in next-generation computing and communication technologies.
