Ronald Ott received his Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1997. Working within the Infrared Processing Center he, with others, has developed a technique called Pulse Thermal Processing (PTP) utilizing high density infrared plasma arc technology. This technique always controlled diffusion, on the nanometer scale, of thin-films and nanoparticles while performing a post-deposition anneal. Due to the high heating rates (approaching 600,000C/sec) it is possible to process these materials on low-temperature flexible substrates such as polymers.

His research interests include high density infrared processing in order to functionalize nanomaterials.