Dr. Paul Corkum stands as a world-renowned pioneer in the field of ultrafast laser science and attosecond physics, holding a distinguished position as Professor of Physics at the University of Ottawa. Born in Saint John, New Brunswick on October 30, 1943, he completed his undergraduate education at Acadia University before earning his MSc in 1967 and PhD in theoretical physics from Lehigh University in 1972. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Corkum joined the National Research Council of Canada in 1973 as a postdoctoral fellow, where he established one of the world's most influential research groups in ultrafast optics. In 2008, he transitioned to the University of Ottawa while maintaining his collaborative relationship with the NRC, where he currently serves as co-director of the Joint Attosecond Science Laboratory and the Max Planck-uOttawa Centre.
Dr. Corkum's groundbreaking contributions fundamentally transformed our ability to observe and manipulate atomic-scale phenomena through his pioneering development of attosecond science. He is widely recognized as the first researcher to demonstrate how to generate and measure attosecond light pulses, creating a revolutionary window into electron dynamics that had previously been considered impossible to observe directly. His theoretical framework for understanding how intense laser pulses interact with atoms, molecules, and solids provided the foundation for numerous experimental techniques now standard in ultrafast science laboratories worldwide. This seminal work has enabled scientists to directly observe electron motion in real-time, fundamentally changing our understanding of quantum processes at the atomic scale and opening new frontiers in quantum physics, chemistry, and materials science. The impact of his discoveries extends to potential applications in telecommunications, computing, engineering, and medical diagnostics.
As a highly decorated scientist, Dr. Corkum has received numerous prestigious honors including the 2022 Wolf Prize in Physics, the 2023 Frontiers of Knowledge Award, and the 2025 American Physical Society Medal for Exceptional Achievement in Research, recognizing his transformative contributions to science. He maintains active leadership roles as a member of the Royal Societies of London and Canada, a foreign member of the US National Academy of Sciences, and holds memberships in several other prestigious academies worldwide. With over 240 peer-reviewed publications to his name, Dr. Corkum has significantly shaped the field through his editorial work, having served as Deputy Editor and currently as Editor of the Journal of Physics B. His ongoing research continues to push the boundaries of attosecond science, with recent work focusing on new measurement methods to observe the ultimate time response of electronic matter and advancing applications in quantum technology. Dr. Corkum's legacy as a mentor is equally impressive, having guided numerous graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and visiting scientists who have gone on to become leaders in their respective fields.
