# Donna Strickland

_Canadian physicist, Nobel laurate_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/donna-strickland
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Donna Theo Strickland (born May 27, 1959) is a Canadian optical physicist and pioneer in the field of pulsed lasers. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2018, together with Gérard Mourou, for the practical implementation of chirped pulse amplification. She is a professor at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 27 May 1959 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56855591#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Guelph ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56855591#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Canada ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56855591#P27))
- **Occupation:** physicist; university teacher ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56855591#P106))
- **Education:** McMaster University; University of Rochester; Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56855591#P69))
- **Official website:** uwaterloo.ca/physics-astronomy/people-profiles/donna-strickland ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56855591#P856))
- **Positions held:** president (2013–2013) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56855591#P39))
- **Awards:** Nobel Prize in Physics; Fellow of the Optical Society; Sloan Fellowship; BBC 100 Women; Companion of the Order of Canada; Fellow of the Royal Society ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56855591#P166))

## About

Strickland served as fellow, vice president, and president of Optica (formerly OSA), and is currently chair of its Presidential Advisory Committee. In 2018, she was listed as one of BBC's 100 Women. She has gone on to have the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Prize being set in her name.

## Questions

**When was Donna Strickland born?**  
Donna Strickland was born on 27 May 1959 in Guelph.

**What positions has Donna Strickland held?**  
Positions held by Donna Strickland include: president (2013–2013).

**Where did Donna Strickland study?**  
Donna Strickland was educated at McMaster University, University of Rochester, Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Donna Strickland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Strickland) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q56855591](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56855591) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Donna Strickland EM1B5760 (46183560632) (cropped).jpg by Bengt Nyman from Vaxholm, Sweden (CC BY 2.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Donna_Strickland_EM1B5760_(46183560632)_(cropped).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Donna Strickland, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Donna Strickland EM1B5760 (46183560632) (cropped).jpg — Bengt Nyman from Vaxholm, Sweden, CC BY 2.0.

## Cite this page

"Donna Strickland". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/donna-strickland. Retrieved 5 November 2026.