A Monmouth County scientist who recently was awarded the Nobel Prize was honored at Nokia Bell Labs in Murray Hill Monday.

Arthur Ashkin, 96, developed optical tweezers at Bell Labs in the 1980s. These tweezers can be used to move microscopic objects like atoms or bacteria bus using the light from a laser.

Monday’s ceremony unveiled a "Nobel Circle" dedicated to Ashkin inside the esteemed Bell Labs Laureate Garden.

"This reinforces the history of innovation we have and it motivates our scientists to continue to strive to get this high of an award and the contributions to humanity and the world,” says Ellen Ferguson with Bell Labs Operations and Planning.

Ashkin joins eight other Nobel Prize winners in Bell Lab’s history.