Reinhart Poprawe教授在1977年获得了加州州立大学物理学硕士学位。Reinhart Poprawe教授就任亚琛工大激光技术研究所及劳恩霍夫激光技术研究所所长。从1989到1996年1月他在亚琛的蒂森激光技术有限公司担任总经理。从1996年2月开始在劳恩霍夫激光技术研究所担任常务董事。现在是AKL(Arbeitskreis Laser technike.V.Aachen)董事会的一员。Poprawe教授在1998年被选为美国制造工程师学会会员（SME）。2006年成为美国LIA激光协会会员，2012年成为SPIE会员，2015成为IAPLE会员。 2001年，他作为美国激光研究所的董事会成员（LIA）并且成为许多国家在国际委员会中担任顾问，例如南非国家激光中心。他还作为中国的校长代表主持了RWTH-International Board，在2014年获得了清华大学的荣誉教授和美国激光协会的肖洛奖。

Reinhart Poprawe has worked in the laser industry and its related organizations for over 30 years. He received an M.A. in physics from California State University in Fresno in 1977. After completion of his Ph.D. in physics (Darmstadt, 1984) he joined the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT) in Aachen, Germany wher he worked as head of a department for laser-oriented process development. Prof. Poprawe started Thyssen Laser Technik GMBH in 1988 and was the company’s CEO. Since 1996, he has been managing director of Fraunhofer ILT and holds the University Chair for Laser Technology at the RWTH Aachen. In 2004 he served as vice rector of Aachen University and currently is a member of several boards in the scientific and industrial organizations, e.g. the AKL Arbeitskreis Lasertechnik e. V. Aachen. He also chairs the RWTH International Board and is the Rectors delegate for China.