Renowned electrical engineer and academic researcher Martin A. Gundersen, Ph.D., has been an innovator and international leader in bioengineering and electrical pulsed power for over four decades. A member of the last graduating class of Citrus Union High School in 1958, Dr. Gundersen soon enrolled at Citrus College.
Dr. Gundersen credits Citrus College with encouraging him to think seriously about his career goals. This realization came after visiting the college's counseling office directed by Dorothy Kearney which motivated him to consider a career in engineering. Inspired by the passion of his instructors such as Mrs. French, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Handy, Mr. Ringwald and Coach Mercurio, Dr. Gunderson's experience at Citrus College prepared him for a successful academic journey.
He transferred to the University of California Berkeley, graduating with a bachelor's degree in physics (1965) before earning his master's degree and Ph.D. in physics (1972) at the University of Southern California (USC). Dr. Gundersen taught and conducted research at Texas Tech University before accepting a faculty position at USC in 1980. His research interests which have included the physics and applications of nanosecond pulsed power miniaturized for defense, consumer, agricultural, biological and medical applications have earned him funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. Currently, Dr. Gundersen leads pulsed power research in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.
Interested in the potential for informal science education through film and television, Dr. Gundersen spearheaded the Catalyst Program, a workshop for teaching scriptwriting and other aspects of the entertainment industry to scientists at the American Film Institute. Due to his work in laser research, he was also a science advisor for the movie "Real Genius" and even has a brief cameo (watch for the tape recorder scene).
Dr. Gundersen holds 10 U.S. patents and has delivered over 350 presentations. He has published more than 300 technical papers and a book. His research has made him the recipient of the IEEE Power Modulator Symposium Germeshausen Award (2000), USC Viterbi School of Engineering Senior Research Award (2008), Schneider Award (2010), USC Associates Award for "Creativity in Research and Innovation" (2015) and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Plasmadynamics and Lasers Award (2018) among others. In addition, Dr. Gundersen was named Citrus Community College Automotive Advisory Council member of the year in 2015.
Dr. Gundersen lives in San Gabriel with his wife of 50 years. When asked about his favorite hobbies, he replied, "My work which remains interesting and diverse, reading (mostly history – thanks Mr. Handy) and Citrus College."
Dr. Gundersen's story was originally featured in the program for the 103rd Citrus College Commencement.