CFR Partner Feature: Dr. John Ballato, Sirrine Endowed Chair of Optical Fiber
April 11, 2018
Dr. Ballato received his undergraduate and PhD degrees from Rutgers University in 1993 and 1997, respectively, and then joined the Ceramic Engineering faculty at Clemson. He has been at Clemson for 21 years. During his time here, he has worked to establish the COMSET research center, which includes the nation’s premier academic laboratory for optical fiber development. Optical fiber is involved whenever and wherever someone sends or receives data, such as email, websites, social media, or e-commerce.
At COMSET, Dr. Ballato studies new materials and methods for making novel optical fibers used for communications and lasers for manufacturing and defense. Companies are situated at every step of this value chain, so industrial partnerships are critical to the transition of his lab’s concepts into the market.
Dr. Ballato notes, “Collaboration with Corporate and Foundation Relations started many years ago when we were first developing our optical fiber capabilities and several companies valued that effort. For the eight years that I was in the research and economic development leadership team at Clemson, industrial partnerships were central to our efforts, and CFR was a great partner.”
The COMSET laboratory has worked with over 150 global partners and their approach to making novel optical fibers is now used in more than 40 countries. Dr. Ballato is graduating two PhD students this year and is excited to search for and recruit a new cohort of students who will help Clemson chart the future for optical fiber.