Dr. Antti J. Makinen

Dr. Antti Makinen currently leads the Materials Focus Area overseeing a research portfolio in materials science and technology in support of the Navy Science and Technology (S&T) Strategy. His recent efforts have involved creating and implementing the long-term strategic plan for the focus area and streamlining the portfolio into well-defined research areas. From 2015 to 2024, Dr. Makinen was an ONR 33 Program Officer, managing the Nano-engineered Materials Program addressing key S&T issues in the chemistry and physics of functional and structural nanomaterials and the engineering challenges in additive manufacturing –based repair technologies for shipboard equipment. He also led and co-authored topics for several Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative Programs.

Before joining ONR, Dr. Makinen worked as a Research Physicist from 2001 to 2015, and as a National Research Council Postdoctoral Associate from 2000 to 2001 at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), conducting research on optoelectronic nano- and metamaterials. His work resulted in numerous publications and significant advancements in areas including materials for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), spasers, and light-emitting colloidal quantum dots. He also established the Optical Sciences Surface Characterization Facility at NRL. Additionally, from 2011 to 2012, Dr. Makinen was a detailee to ONR 31 managing the Electro-optic and Infrared Sensor Program and executing several Future Naval Capability projects supporting air, surface and subsurface platforms.

Dr. Makinen earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in Physics from the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY and an M.S. in Engineering Physics from Aalto University, Espoo, Finland. He is actively involved in various professional organizations and government working groups, including the Materials Research Society, the Materials Genome Initiative and NATO Science and Technology Organization, and has held leadership positions within the National Nanotechnology Initiative.