Dr. Mark S. Rea

Mark S. Rea, Ph.D., is Director of the Lighting Research Center (LRC) and Professor of Architecture and Cognitive Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Rea has served as Director since the LRC was established in 1988. He teaches courses in leadership and in visual and circadian processes, and supervises graduate students at M.S. and Ph.D. levels. Rea is well known for his research in circadian photobiology, mesopic vision, psychological responses to light, lighting engineering, and visual performance. He is the author of more than 250 scientific and technical articles related to vision, lighting engineering, and human factors and was the editor-in-chief of the 8th and 9th editions of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) Lighting Handbook. Rea has been elected Fellow of the Society of Light and Lighting (UK) and of the IESNA. In addition, he is recipient of the IESNA Medal. Rea has also been honored with the William H. Wiley Distinguished Faculty Award for those who have won the respect of the faculty at Rensselaer through excellence in teaching, productive research, and interest in the totality of the educational process.