William E. Moerner is an American physicist known for his pioneering work in the field of single-molecule spectroscopy. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2014, sharing the honor with Eric Betzig and Stefan W. Hell for their contributions to the development of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy. This technique allows scientists to observe individual molecules in real time, significantly advancing the study of biological processes. Moerner earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University and has held academic positions at various institutions, including Stanford University and the University of California, Santa Barbara. His research has had a profound impact on biophysics and nanotechnology, enabling new insights into molecular interactions and dynamics.