Professor Frank Tittel pioneered the spectroscopic detection of molecules and bio-molecules using mid-IR lasers. He has been involved in many innovative developments in quantum electronics and laser technology since the discovery of the laser in 1960, ranging from basic research in nonlinear optics, novel solid state and gas laser development, to applied spectroscopy. Research activities by Prof. Tittel together with Robert Curl of the Chemistry Department (Rice University), has led to the development of several advanced state-of-the-art computerized laser spectrometers. In recent years, sensitive, selective and real time gas detection and quantification has been demonstrated for gas concentrations ranging from the part per million to the part per trillion levels in ambient air using laser absorption spectroscopy with fiber amplified diode lasers and quantum cascade lasers.

Dr. Gmachl is an Associate Professor with the department of Electrical Engineering at Princeton University.

Dr. Claire Gmachl's area of research includes Quantum Cascade Lasers for analytic spectroscopy, wireless and optical communications applications, Microcavity lasers with chaotic resonators, nonlinear optics in semiconductor heterostructures and Group-III nitride devices. Dr. Gmachl has filed over 25 patents related to her field, of which 15 have thus far been granted. She was a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Bell Laboratories and Lucent Technologies, where she worked for over six years. Dr. Gmachl has numerous awards for her work, including:

» The Snell Premium award of the IEE
   UK, August 2003

» "Commendation for Excellence in Technical Communications"
   Laser Focus World Magazine, September 2001

» "Outstanding Performer Award" under the DARPA/MTO PWASSP Program
   US DoD, July 2001

» "NASA Group Achievement Award", co-recipient
   NASA, Washington D.C., 2000.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Dr. Risby pioneered the non-invasive use of breath bio-markers as indicators of tissue injury and disease.

Dr. Terence Risby's research stresses the development of novel, highly sensitive analytical chemical approaches used as non-invasive biomarkers of tissue injury and disease, with primary application to the clinical setting. His laboratory has developed breath markers for biosynthesis of cholesterol, liver function and disease, and nutritional status. He has applied these techniques to human subjects of all ages in a variety of clinical situations, such as patients undergoing transplantation surgery or premature infants in neonatal care. More recently, he has initiated studies that are using his developed biomarkers of tissue injury to investigate the effects of exposure to environmental toxicants.

Dr. Nerenberg is an accomplished researcher who has applied his knowledge and experience across the clinical, academic and biotechnology sectors for over 20 years.

Dr. Mike Nerenberg became a Medical Staff Fellow in the Laboratory of Molecular Virology at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and completed a Senior Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Scripps Research Institute. Dr. Nerenberg is board certified in Internal Medicine and is licensed in California. While at Genoptix, he selected, in-licensed and developed technology to be used in predictive oncology. He established and directed the clinical lab which successfully provides these services to practicing oncologists. Prior to this, Dr. Nerenberg served as Founder, President and Chief Technology Officer of Molecular Reflections, Inc. He also served as the Senior Director of Molecular Biology for Nanogen, Inc. where he developed the lead expression, forensics and human nucleotide polymorphism products in the company. His work at The Scripps Research Institute, where he served as a faculty member in the department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine and led an NIH supported program in retroviral oncogenesis, also produced numerous transgenic disease models and supporting publications. Dr. Nerenberg holds extensive patents in the area of nucleic acid amplification, molecular therapeutics, and in solid state biochemical reaction sensors.

Dr. Thomas Day served as President of San Diego State University from 1978 to 1996. He has received numerous awards for academic achievement, distinguished public service, and outstanding contributions to the field of science. He has served on several Board of Directors, including government appointments, civic and charitable organizations. Dr. Day also served on many advisory groups, including the Subcommittee on Science for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. He is President Emeritus, San Diego State University, a Fellow with the American Physical Society and a past member and Vice Chairman of the National Science Board, appointed by President Reagan and President Bush.

Dr. Lowell Burnett received his B.S. degree in physics and mathematics from Portland State University in 1964, and his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Wyoming in 1970. Following appointment as a Presidential Fellow at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (1970-72), he accepted a faculty position at San Diego State University, serving as physics professor, department chairman, and professor emeritus.

In 1987, Dr. Burnett co-founded Quantum Magnetics, Inc., a high-technology R&D company specializing in the development of advanced systems for the detection of explosives, narcotics, and concealed weapons. Applications for Quantum Magnetics’ technologies include aviation security, military force protection, and mine detection. As CEO, he guided the company through a period of sustained growth, with revenues expanding at a compounded rate in excess of 25% per year. In 1997, Quantum Magnetics became a wholly owned subsidiary of InVision Technologies, a world leader in aviation security. In December 2004, General Electric purchased both companies. Since leaving Quantum Magnetics in early 2005, Dr. Burnett has served as Chief Technical Advisor to Quantum Applied Science & Research (QUASAR), Inc. and is the CEO of QUASAR Federal Systems, Inc.

Dr. Burnett has served as a principal investigator on over 40 grants and contracts for research and development. In his role as a university professor, he developed an applied physics program in scientific instrumentation. Dr. Burnett was appointed to the International Advisory Panel for the McGraw-Hill magazine "Electronics," and in addition, served as a consultant to numerous organizations including Allied-Signal, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, SAIC, UOP Inc., and the Office of Technology Assessment, U.S. Congress. Dr. Burnett is the author or co-author of over 150 journal articles, technical reports, and conference presentations focusing on the areas of measurement and detection.

Mr. Polese is the founder and former President of Polese Company, Inc. Founded in 1991, Polese Company grew to be the largest supplier in the world of Refractory Composite Materials (used for dissipating heat from high power electronic devices). In 2000, Polese Company owned approximately 40% of the $80 million world-wide market share of these unique composites. In 1994, Mr. Polese sold Polese Company to SPM (NASDAQ: sym. SEMX). Shortly thereafter, Mr. Polese was elected to the position of CEO by the board of directors. He eventually sold the materials operation to Plansee of Austria in 2003. Mr. Polese left Plansee to rekindle his entrepreneurial spirit, and has since started Oasis Materials, Inc.