Mark A. Ratner is a preeminent materials chemist whose theoretical frameworks have revolutionized the understanding of molecular-scale electronic phenomena. He holds the distinguished title of Lawrence B. Dumas Distinguished University Professor Emeritus in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University, where he has maintained a transformative presence for over forty-five years. Born in Cleveland in 1942, Ratner earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Harvard University in 1964 and completed his doctoral studies at Northwestern University in 1969, followed by postdoctoral research at institutions in Aarhus and Munich. His academic journey began at New York University from 1970 to 1974 before he joined Northwestern, where he twice served as department chair and as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1980 to 1984.
Ratner is universally recognized as the father of molecular-scale electronics due to his seminal 1974 collaboration with Arieh Aviram that first proposed the unimolecular rectifier, establishing the theoretical foundation for molecular electronics as a scientific discipline. His research program has produced over one thousand publications spanning nonlinear optical response properties, electron transfer mechanisms, quantum dynamics in condensed phases, and molecular transport phenomena, with his 2003 Science paper on electron transport in molecular wire junctions becoming a cornerstone reference in nanotechnology. His theoretical models for charge transfer and transport processes have provided essential predictive capabilities for designing molecular-scale electronic components, photovoltaics, and conductive polymers, fundamentally shaping the development of nanoscale device engineering. This pioneering work has enabled subsequent generations of researchers to explore the boundaries between quantum mechanics and functional electronic materials at the molecular level.
As Founding Co-Director of Northwestern's Institute for Sustainability and Energy (ISEN) from 2008 to 2013, Ratner extended his influence into critical energy research while maintaining active international collaborations with leading scientists in Denmark, Israel, and the Netherlands. His profound impact on the scientific community is reflected in his election to the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Sciences, alongside receiving the prestigious Feynman Award in Nanotechnology and the ACS Peter Debye Award in Physical Chemistry. Ratner's theoretical approaches continue to inform cutting-edge research in molecular electronics and nanoscale systems, with his frameworks serving as essential tools for scientists worldwide developing next-generation electronic and energy-harvesting technologies. His enduring legacy lies in establishing the intellectual foundation that transformed molecular electronics from theoretical speculation to a vibrant experimental and applied scientific discipline.
