text: Thomas Baer (born Baraboo, Wisconsin) is the  executive director of the Stanford Photonics Research Center,  a consulting professor in the applied physics department and an associate member of the Stem Cell Institute at Stanford University.  His current scientific research is focused on developing imaging and biochemical analysis technology for exploring the molecular basis of human developmental biology and neuroscience.  He received a B.A. in physics from Lawrence University in 1974, and a Ph.D. in atomic physics from the University of Chicago in 1979, where he studied with Professors Ugo Fano and Isaac Abella. After receiving his Ph.D. he worked with Nobel Laureate John L. Hall at JILA, University of Colorado, performing research on frequency stabilized lasers and ultra-high precision molecular spectroscopy.