Turan Erdogan received his SB in Electrical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA and his PhD from the University of Rochester, USA. He completed postdoctoral work at AT&T Bell Labs. He is currently President of Plymouth Grating Lab (PGL), USA.

He has been studying, teaching, and practicing optics for 30 years. His previous experience includes serving as site leader for Melles Griot, USA; CTO and VP of Business Development for IDEX Optics & Photonics and IDEX Health & Science, USA; co-founded Semrock, Inc., USA, which was acquired by IDEX; and a tenured professor at The Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester.

Turan has authored or co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed scientific publications and over 50 major conference talks and holds more than 30 issued patents, with about half of these covering optical devices in mass production today. A dedicated volunteer he has served on the Optica Board of Directors, the Nominating Council, and several Award Selection Award Committees. He was also Chair of the Corporate Engagement Council, the OFC Program Committee, and the Frontiers in Optics Program Committee.

He is a Fellow of Optica and a recipient of the David Richardson Medal and Adolph Lomb Medal.