Asher Albert Friesem is Professor Emeritus at Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. He received his B.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1958 and 1968, and during his time there, worked with Emmet N. Leith. From 1958 to 1973, he worked at Harris Inc. and at the University of Michigan’s Institute of Science and Technology. In 1973, he joined the Weizmann Institute of Science and was appointed Professor of Optical Sciences in 1977. He has served as Department Head, Chairman of the Scientific Council, and Chairman of the Professorial Council.

Friesem’s research activities have concentrated on holographic concepts and applications, optical information processing, electro-optic devices, optical displays, and new laser resonator configurations. He has served on many national and international advisory committees, including as Vice President of the International Commission of Optics (ICO) and Chairman of the Israel Laser and Electro-Optics Society. He is a Fellow of OSA, Life Fellow of IEEE, has authored and co-authored over 300 scientific papers, and holds 30 international patents.

He is the recipient of the 2018 Emmet N. Leith Medal “For pioneering, seminal and wide ranging contributions to coherent optics, particularly the developments of new techniques and procedures in holographic applications and optical information processing.” Over the years he has been a Visiting Professor in Germany, Switzerland, France and the USA.