Jonathan Friedman

Jonathan Friedman is a highly experienced professional in the fields of optics and photonics, currently serving as Program Director at the National Science Foundation since March 2022. As the founder and Director of the Puerto Rico Photonics Institute at Universidad Ana G. Mendez since October 2011, Jonathan leads initiatives in research, education, and outreach focused on remote sensing and aerospace applications. Jonathan's previous roles include Senior Research Associate at the Arecibo Observatory from 1992 until March 2018 and at Cornell University for nearly two decades, where Jonathan specialized in upper atmospheric lidar. Jonathan earned a PhD in Physics from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Cornell University.