Jurgen Michel leads research projects in silicon-based photonic materials and devices as well as advanced solar cell designs. His main focus is currently on on-chip WDM devices, Ge-based high performance detectors and modulators, and Ge-based lasers with the goal to implement active photonics devices in CMOS based chips. Prior to joining MIT in 1991 he was Postdoctoral Member of Technical Staff at AT&T Bell Laboratories, studying defect reactions and defect properties in semiconductor materials. He was educated in Germany and earned his diploma in Physics at the University of Cologne and his doctorate and habilitation in Applied Physics at the University of Paderborn. He has published more than 300 refereed scientific papers, 5 book chapters, 28 awarded patents, and more than 20 pending patents.