Robert A. Metzger is a research scientist and a science fiction and science writer. His research focuses on the technique of molecular beam epitaxy, used to grow epitaxial films for high-speed electronics applications. His short fiction has appeared in most major SF magazines, including Asimov’s, Fantasy & Science Fiction and SF Age, while his 2002 novel, Picoverse, was a Nebula finalist and his most recent novel, CUSP, was released by Ace in 2005. His science writing has appeared in Wired and Analog, and he is a contributing editor to the Science Fiction Writers of America Bulletin.