Daniel Esser studied physics and engineering at University of Stellenbosch in South Africa where he completed his Masters of Science in Laser Physics Cum Laude. He further obtained a Doctorate of Engineering in Photonics from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, United Kingdom at the end of 2010 while working full-time at South Africa’s National Laser Centre at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) since 2004. At the Centre he was Group Leader of the Laser Systems Group specialising in diode-pumped solid-state lasers and devices in the mid-infrared spectral range. He was appointed in 2013 as Chair in Laser Device Physics & Engineering at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Daniel actively participated in the 4th IAP Young Scientists Conference in Dalian held in conjunction with the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions, September 2011. Since 2012 he has been a member of the Global Young Academy - the voice of young scientists around the world.