John Monnier

Outstanding Alumni Award 2013

• 1993 B.S., Physics, Purdue University
• 1999 Ph.D., Physics, University of California

John Monnier received his B.S. in Physics from Purdue University in 1993 and subsequently attended graduate school at the University of California at Berkeley. After receiving his Physics PhD in 1999 working with Professor Charlie Townes and Dr. William Danchi on novel astronomical instrumentation, Dr. Monnier was awarded a Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Fellowship where he led an effort to observe planet-forming disks around young stars using the technique of optical interferometry. In 2002, Dr. Monnier began a faculty job at the University of Michigan Astronomy Department, where he continues to build optical and infrared instruments, most notably the first interferometric combiner capable of imaging the surface features on nearby stars.