Dr. Kooi is a Principal Research Scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN). Dr. Kooi obtained a bachelor’s degree from Hope College and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from The Pennsylvania State University. He joined the ISN in 2003 after postdoctoral fellowships at the Naval Research Laboratory and the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research. Dr. Kooi’s background in instrument design, ultrafast laser spectroscopy, and the characterization of materials in extreme environments lead to his work with the team developing new methods for optically driven high-strain rate mechanical testing of materials. He has been involved in hypervelocity testing since participating in the invention of the Laser-Induced Particle Impact Test (LIPIT) technique in 2011. Dr. Kooi’s other research interests include free-electron-light interactions in nanophotonics, advanced scintillation material characterization, and high-energy light source development.