1990, BA in Physics, University of Chicago; 1996, PhD in Physics, University of California, Berkeley. 1996-2000, Sherman Fairchild Postdoctoral Scholar, California Institute of Technology; 2000-06, Senior Physicist, National Security Agency; Since 2006, Associate Professor of Physics, Cornell University. Since 2000, Adjunct Professor of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park; 2002, Visiting Professor, Centre for Quantum Computing Technology, University of New South Wales; 2006, Associate Professor of Physics, Cornell. 1997-2000, Affiliate Member, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory; 2003, named one of 50 most influential men in America under 38 years old, Details Magazine and one of 10 most innovative in America under 40 years old, Fortune Magazine; 2002, named one of world's top 100 innovators in science and technology, MIT's Technology Review magazine.

Nicole Schwab is Co-Head of the Nature Positive Pillar at the World Economic Forum, and member of the Executive Committee. In that role she oversees the Forum’s work on the transition to a nature-positive economy, as well as 1t.org, the Forum’s trillion trees platform focusing on restoration and conservation of forest landscapes. Prior to joining the Forum, she served as a consultant and strategic advisor to non-profit organizations focusing on forest and ocean conservation and restoration, including National Geographic Society’s Campaign for Nature. With a scientific and public policy background, she started her career working on health policy in the Andes for the Government of Bolivia and the World Bank, before returning to Europe to become Founding Director of the Forum of Young Global Leaders – which she currently chairs – and co-founding EDGE Certified Foundation, a business certification standard for gender equality in the workplace.