Biographical Synopsis

Dr. Kurti is Associate Professor and Director of Photonics Applications and Biomaterials Laboratory. He received undergraduate degrees in physics and mathematics in 1998 from Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, TN. His love and curiosity of the physical processes led him to pursue a graduate degree in physics at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). In 2005 he graduated with a PhD from CWRU for his work with solid state lasers and nonlinear optics. Between 2005 and 2008 he conducted research at the Naval Air Warfare Center in China Lake as a research physicist, where he spent much of his time building two new laboratories and writing grants to support them. Over the course of the past several years his research projects have been awarded over $2 million in research funding and has led him to submit a patent on a particularly useful laser technique. In addition to his grant writing, he has been active in professional societies and conferences. He comes to the LLUSD with experience in lasers, spectroscopic studies, nonlinear optics, and fiber optics along with an informal education in his father's orthodontics practice. With these tools, he hopes to find many new dental applications for his photonics experience.
 
Dr. Kurti describes himself as curious and inquisitive. He enjoys riding his motorcycle, hiking, camping, and time with his family which consists of one very devoted wife, 8 rowdy kids, 11 ornery goats, a flock of prolific chickens, 8 wary cats, 3 adoring dogs, and one wily coyote. His love of adventure and excitement has recently led him to take up studying and practicing to become a glider pilot. With his love of adventure and natural curiosity, he expects to engage many of the dental students, graduate students, and faculty at the LLUSD in exciting photonic applications to dentistry.