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ZEISS 100 Years USA

ZEISS Microscopy Employee Spotlights

Our story begins with our people.
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ZEISS USA 100 Years

ZEISS Microscopy Employee Stories

Our story begins with our people.

At ZEISS Microscopy, our people help shape not only the future of imaging, but the future of science. We’re proud to spotlight team members who are advancing discovery while also strengthening the communities around them. As we celebrate 100 years of ZEISS in the USA, meet a few of the faces whose passion, leadership, and impact continue to shape what comes next.

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Efrat “Efi” Moyal, PhD

A Trailblazer in materials research and semiconductors

Building technologies and bridging communities.

Efi Moyal's path to Director of Materials Research & Electronics at ZEISS Microscopy demonstrates the value of diverse professional backgrounds in driving innovation. Beginning her career as a registered nurse in Israel, she transitioned to the semiconductor industry after relocating to the Bay Area in the early 1990s. Over three decades, she has specialized in helping emerging technologies penetrate established markets, developing expertise in microscopy and sample preparation technologies while building a leadership approach grounded in transparency and strategic partnership development.

Efi's professional impact extends far beyond her corporate achievements at ZEISS Microscopy, where she serves as Director of Materials Research & Electronics. Her transformative community work includes over a decade of volunteer leadership with the Electronic Device Failure Analysis Society (EDFAS), where she has focused on expanding professional networks and fostering inclusive growth. Most notably, she founded the Women in Failure Analysis group, creating a dedicated platform to empower women in scientific fields and promote greater representation in technical disciplines. This commitment to advancing others earned her the prestigious EDFAS President's Award in 2024, recognizing her exceptional service to the scientific community.

Through her dual role as industry leader and community advocate, Efi has fundamentally changed how women participate in scientific fields. She has created pathways for the next generation by demonstrating that immigrants and women can not only succeed but lead innovation in technical industries. Her approach combines mentorship with systemic change—from establishing supportive professional networks to modeling authentic leadership that prioritizes team empowerment and individual growth. Her legacy lies not just in personal achievement, but in the expanded opportunities and strengthened communities she has built for scientists who will follow in her path.

To me, trailblazing means building bridges between science and business, and between teams and generations, because at that intersection we can all grow and build toward the future.

Efrat “Efi” Moyal, PhD Sales Director, Semiconductor & Materials Research

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Michael J. Williams, PhD

An ambassador for equity

Changing perspectives inside and beyond the lens.

Michael Williams, Ph.D., is an XRM Field Service Engineer at ZEISS Microscopy whose career reflects both scientific excellence and a deep commitment to advancing representation in optics and photonics. He holds a B.S. in Physics from Morehouse College and a Ph.D. in Optical Sciences from Delaware State University, and has built a distinguished path at the intersection of optics, engineering, and community advocacy. Beyond his technical expertise, Michael is widely recognized for amplifying underrepresented voices in science, working across outreach, mentorship, and policy engagement to help create a more inclusive and innovative scientific community.

Motivated by early experiences that revealed gaps in representation within the optics and photonics field, Michael has dedicated himself to expanding visibility and access for future generations. He has served on multiple committees focused on advancing diversity in STEM, presented scientific policy proposals to the U.S. Congress, and actively supports initiatives that strengthen community and opportunity. In recognition of his leadership, he was named an Optical Society (OSA) Ambassador in 2021 and selected for the Electro Optics Photonics100, honoring individuals helping drive the field forward. Michael is also currently working with SPIE to publish an upcoming Black in Optics and Photonics book, which will highlight the importance and contributions of Black scientists to the science of light over the years—ensuring their work is recognized, celebrated, and preserved for future generations.

A common misconception lies in the way we think about "Black History." It’s often treated as a separate chapter, when in reality, it is deeply woven into the fabric of American history—and, more broadly, the history of scientific progress. We are all part of the same evolution of knowledge, innovation, and history. True progress depends on acknowledging and celebrating the contributions of all individuals. Just as science thrives on diverse perspectives, so does society.

Michael Williams, XRM Field Service Engineer, ZEISS Microscopy

I’ve found a genuine drive in enabling others to be successful, and there’s a specific kind of pride I feel when I see a customer hit a major milestone or watch my own team thrive.

Mansoureh N. Rad, PhD Head of ZEISS Microscopy Customer Center, ZEISS Microscopy

I am motivated, everyday, by the lived reality that the work we do can play a role in the most meaningful scientific breakthroughs.