Assistant Professor Chris Anderson has been awarded the 2026 James P. Gordon Memorial Speakership by the Optica Foundation, one of the most prestigious honors in quantum optics and photonics, recognizing his exceptional contributions to quantum photonics research. The honor places Anderson alongside a distinguished group of honorees, including fellow Illinois Grainger Engineering faculty member Paul Kwiat, who received the same recognition in 2017.
Written by Jackson Brunner
Assistant Professor Chris Anderson of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, earned a prestigious honor recognizing his work in quantum photonics research.
Assistant Professor Chris Anderson
Why it matters: The James P. Gordon Memorial Speakership, awarded by the Optica Foundation, is one of the field's most prestigious recognitions, recognizing research excellence in quantum optics and information. It serves as a tribute to James P. Gordon, a pioneer whose work included numerous high-impact contributions to quantum electronics and photonics, among them the demonstration of the maser.
The big picture: Established in 2014 and funded by the Gordon family and supporters of the James P. Gordon Memorial Fund, the speakership is awarded annually to an invited speaker at CLEO whose work advances quantum information and quantum optics. There is no application process; all eligible invited speakers are reviewed, resulting in one recipient per year.
"James Gordon's contributions remind us that optical science connects with many fields and technologies. To be recognized in his name alongside so many leaders in the field is both humbling and energizing — motivating us to further push boundaries of what's possible in quantum photonics with emerging materials." - Assistant Professor Chris Anderson
Bottom line: Anderson joins a distinguished line of honorees recognized for exceptional contributions at the intersection of quantum information and photonics. Grainger Engineering’s Paul Kwiat was previously awarded this prize in 2017. This field is increasingly central to computing, communications, and sensing technologies.