Award Archive
2007 Awards
PNNL's Julia Laskin honored with Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
A physical chemist at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has been recognized with a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers - the highest honor given by the U.S. government to scientists and engineers who are beginning their careers.
Julia Laskin was honored for her leadership in the field of gas-phase ion chemistry and mass spectrometry of large complex molecules that is critical for development of new analytical techniques for improved chemical characterization of synthetic and natural polymers, petroleum, biofuels and other complex samples in biology, environmental science, drug discovery and counter-terrorism. Her internationally recognized research in fundamental reaction kinetics and ion surface reactions provides a basis for understanding the mass spectrometry of high molecular weight compounds and preparation of novel biomaterials.
"These awards reflect our belief that the representatives of the new generation of scientists and engineers honored today are meeting demanding scientific and technical challenges with superior leadership, knowledge and insight," Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman said. "I'm pleased to recognize the extraordinary scientific and technical achievements represented by the awardees' contributions."
Interim Laboratory Director Mike Kluse said he is pleased that for the second year in a row, a PNNL staff member is being honored with this award. "The PECASE awards recognize young scientists at the frontiers of their disciplines," he said. "Julia is a leader whose research contributes to vital DOE missions through significant advancements in biological and environmental science, medical research and counter terrorism."
Laskin is a senior research scientist in the Chemical & Materials Sciences Division of PNNL's Fundamental and Computational Sciences Directorate. She earned a master's degree in physics from the Physico-Mechanical Division of the Leningrad Polytechnical Institute in Russia in 1990, and a doctorate in physical chemistry from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel in 1998. She started at PNNL as a postdoctoral research associate in 2000 and has been a research scientist with the Laboratory since 2003.
Each Presidential award winner received a citation, a plaque and a commitment for continued funding of their work from their agency for five years. Laskin is one of four DOE national laboratory staff members receiving the PECASE award this year. (Posted 11/1/2007)
Cliff Glantz Awarded for Exceptional Service to DOE Emergency Management
Richard Davis (left), Chair of the EMI Special Interest Group Steering Committee, presents Cliff Glantz with an award for exceptional service during the group's annual meeting in May 2007.
On May 9, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researcher Cliff Glantz was presented with a special recognition award at the annual meeting for the Department of Energy's Emergency Management Issues - Special Interest Group. In front of about 250 colleagues, Cliff was given the award for sustained outstanding services to the EMI Special Interest Group, "particularly in his role as chair of the Subcommittee on Consequence Assessment and Protective Action [SCAPA] and for exceptional contribution to the DOE Emergency Management Program in general."
For the past five years, Cliff has chaired the SCAPA, which became a part of the EMI Special Interest Group three years ago; prior to that it was an independent DOE committee. Through its working groups, the SCAPA provides DOE and its contractors with technical information and recommendations for emergency preparedness to assist in safeguarding the health and safety of workers and the public. Cliff became involved in these organizations through his work developing consequence assessment models and participating as a meteorologist and hazards assessment team member in the Hanford Emergency Operations Center.
Cliff is a staff scientist in the Applied Atmospheric Sciences Group of the Atmospheric Science and Global Change Division. His emergency preparedness work is supported by the DOE Office of Emergency Management and Policy (NA-41), the Hanford Emergency Preparedness Program, and the Laboratory's Facilities and Operations Directorate. (Posted 7/1/2007)
PNNL Scientist Honored with National Department of Energy Award
John Zachara, a scientist at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, has been recognized by DOE with the prestigious E.O. Lawrence Award. The Lawrence Award honors scientists and engineers at mid-career for exceptional contributions in research and development that support DOE and its mission to advance the national, economic and energy security of the United States.
Zachara is the sixth PNNL scientist to win the DOE award since its inception in 1959. He will be honored by Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman at a ceremony in late March in Washington, D.C. DOE announced the eight winners earlier today.
Lawrence Awards are given in each of the following seven categories: Chemistry; Environmental Science and Technology; Life Sciences (including Medicine); Materials Research; National Security; Nuclear Technology; and Physics. Zachara was honored in the Environmental Science and Technology category. Each Lawrence Award recipient receives a $50,000 honorarium as well as a citation signed by the Secretary of Energy and a gold medal bearing the likeness of Ernest Orlando Lawrence.
Zachara is the senior chief scientist for environmental chemistry in the Chemical and Materials Sciences Division of PNNL's Fundamental Sciences Directorate. His research has focused on chemical interactions of toxic metals and radionuclides with mineral surfaces and microorganisms that control the rate at which these contaminants move through soils, sediments and groundwater. He has published more than 125 scholarly articles on these subjects. Zachara also has been instrumental in bringing teams of top scientists to Hanford to collaborate with PNNL and Hanford scientists to resolve complex issues of subsurface contaminant migration.
Zachara earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Bucknell University in 1973, a master's degree in soil and watershed chemistry from the University of Washington in 1979, and a doctorate in soil chemistry from Washington State University in 1986. He has been at PNNL since 1979. (Posted 2/7/2007)
Satyanarayana Kuchibhatla Receives American Vacuum Society (AVS) Award
Satya Kuchibhatla received the AVS Graduate Research Award for 2007. The award was established to recognize and encourage excellence among graduate students in the sciences and technologies of interest to AVS. Satya received the award at the AVS 54th International Symposium in Seattle on October 17. He is a graduate student from University of Central Florida conducting research with EMSL researchers Theva Thevuthasan and Don Baer. (Posted 10/31/2007)
Kathy Pryor Receives National Award from American Board of Health Physics (ABHP)
Kathryn H. Pryor, CHP, was awarded the 2007 William McAdams Outstanding Service Award by the American Board of Health Physics. The McAdams Award is given in recognition of significant contributions to the certification process and the promotion of professionalism in the field of Health Physics. Kathy is a Chief Health Physicist in the ESH&Q Directorate with 25 years of experience, and has served as the Chair of the ABHP, Secretary of the American Academy of Health Physics, and Chair of the Part II Panel of Examiners. (Posted 8/1/2007)
Alice Dohnalkova Earns Diatome Award from Microscopy Society of America
Alice Dohnalkova was presented with the Diatome Award during the national meeting of the Microscopy Society of America on August 8 in Fort Lauderdale. The award recognizes distinguished scientists who present new and enlightening work in the field of microscopy. Alice received the award for the best use of ultramicrotomy in the presentation "Creating 3D Reconstruction of Cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. by Alignment of Serial TEM Tomograms." As part of this award, she will receive a trip to Switzerland to visit the Diatome factory, where precision diamond knives are manufactured for electron microscopy applications. (Posted 8/1/2007)
Xiao-Dong Zhou Recipient of 2007 Young Investigator Award
Dr. Xiao-Dong Zhou was awarded the J. Bruce Wagner Jr. Young Investigator Award from the Electrochemical Society. The award was established in 1998 and is presented every other year to recognize a young member of the Society who has demonstrated exceptional promise for a successful career in science and technology in the field of high temperature materials.
Dr. Zhou will officially receive the award at the Society's fall meeting this October in Washington DC. During the meeting he will give his award keynote lecture, "Defect Chemistry and Charge Transport in Low Dimensional Oxides." Along with the prestigious honor, he will also receive $1,000.
A research scientist at PNNL, Dr. Zhou's interests span the areas of structural, transport and magnetic properties of condensed matters and nonstoichiometric chemistry. He has published numerous peer-reviewed papers, proceedings and book chapters. (Posted 7/1/2007)
Richland's IEEE Power Engineering Society Wins Outstanding Chapter Award
Henry Huang, Ning Zhou and Kevin Schneider played a leadership role in a big win for the Richland Chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Power Engineering Society (PES). In June, the Chapter was presented the 2006 Outstanding Small Chapter Award. Each year, IEEE-PES honors one small chapter (less than 100 members) and one large chapter out of more than 100 chapters world wide. The award is given based on the best overall set of programs and activities in serving their chapter's membership.
Huang, Zhou and Schneider, the members of the Chapter's 2005-2006 Executive Committee, held 23 technical meetings including a 10-session Profession Engineer Exam review course. In addition, they supported two engineering scholarships at Washington State University Tri-Cities campus and Walla Walla College. (Posted 7/1/2007)
PNNL staff recognized by Columbia Chapter Health Physics Society
Woody Buckner, Tomas Moreno and Rob Sitsler were recognized by the Columbia Chapter Health Physics Society. Woody received the Operational Health Physicist of the Year Award. Tomas was named Radiation Safety Technologist of the Year. And, the Health Physicist of the Year Award went to Rob. "I am extremely proud of Rob, Woody and Tomas," says Robert Ford, Radiological Control group manager. "Each of these awards is a significant professional honor, and the fact that the PNNL Radiological Control group took three of these awards this year says volumes about these guys. The competition in the chapter from Hanford contractors, other local and regional firms, colleges, universities, and local and regional medical companies is stiff. This is a great achievement." (Posted 5/21/2007)
Jay Grate Wins American Chemical Society Regional Industrial Innovation Award
Jay Grate, Laboratory Fellow in the Fundamental Science Directorate, recently won the American Chemical Society Regional Industrial Innovation Award for his work in developing the patented BSP3 Polymer. The award, to be presented at the ACS regional meeting, June 17-21, celebrates individuals and teams whose creative innovations have contributed to the good of the community and society. An R&D 100 award winner, this BSP3 carbosiloxane compound collects and concentrates vapor molecules from the air. It can be used in detectors for organophosphorus compounds, such as chemical agents. The polymer's properties enable handheld sensor systems to detect toxic vapors quicker and at lower concentrations than was possible using previous materials. (Posted 5/1/2007)
Jeff Estes Recognized for Leadership in Science Education Reform
The Washington Council of the American Electronics Associations recognized Jeff Estes and four business leaders for their role in making the Washington State's Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) program a success. Jeff and his team have provided successful strategies for promoting and encouraging science and math, including the nationally recognized LASER program. LASER encourages school districts to initiate, implement and sustain a standards-based, inquiry-centered science education program in grades K-8. (Posted 3/1/2007)
Richland Section names Rob Pratt 2006 IEEE Engineer of the Year
Rob Pratt received the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Richland Section's 2006 Engineer of the Year award. Rob was awarded this honor for his significant contributions in power grid reliability, renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy conservation.
At PNNL, Rob leads the Electricity Infrastructure Operations Initiative. The initiative recently commissioned the new Electricity Infrastructure Operations Center—a unique, grid-focused technology development, training and technology transfer platform for PNNL and users from utilities and industry. Rob also manages PNNL's GridWise™ Initiative for DOE's Office of Electricity. GridWise has spawned a new DOE program and an industry alliance that share a vision of an information-rich future for the power grid. He leads a team with a focus on communications architecture, advanced control technology, and simulation and analysis of the combined engineering and economic aspects of the future grid. (Posted 2/1/2007)
Wayne Martin Named Black Engineer of the Year for Community Service
An environmental scientist at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has been nationally recognized for community service through the Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference.
Wayne Martin, a technical group manager at PNNL, is being honored with the prestigious engineering, science and technology management award for his efforts to increase involvement of under-represented minorities in the engineering and scientific fields and for his leadership and significant contributions to the Tri-Cities community.
This national award is sponsored by the Council of Engineering Deans of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Lockheed Martin Corporation, U.S. Black Engineer and Information Technology Magazine. Martin will receive his award at the 22nd Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference in February in Baltimore.
"Wayne exemplifies the principle of community service and distinguishes himself as a leader locally, regionally and nationally through his service to community," said Battelle President and CEO Carl Kohrt. " His dedication as a role model and mentor and his promotion and encouragement of under-represented minorities in science, engineering and math professions make him truly deserving of this award."
Martin serves as vice-chair of the Board of Trustees at Columbia Basin College and was chair for the past six years. He has been an officer in the Trustees Association for Community and Technical Colleges at the state level. He is also a member of the Washington State University Tri-Cities and the Tri-Cities Education advisory councils, past president of the Pacific Northwest chapter of the National Organization for the Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, and is on the board of directors for Kadlec Medical Center. He also was a participant in the branch campus study team that resulted in a four-year university being established at WSU Tri-Cities and is a past member of the higher education task force that contributed to the Three Rivers Community Roundtable.
Martin earned a bachelor's degree in wildlife management from Washington State University, a master's degree in radiological sciences from the University of Washington and a doctorate in environmental and natural resource sciences from Washington State University. He worked for PNNL from 1978 to 1993, and rejoined the Laboratory in 1997 following an education leave of absence to obtain his doctorate. (Posted 11/5/2007)
Doug McMakin wins Christopher Columbus Homeland Security Award
Doug McMakin, National Security Directorate, has been selected to receive the prestigious Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation Homeland Security award for his leadership in developing the millimeter wave holographic body scanning system. The security system detects concealed metallic and nonmetallic items and is being used globally for security in airports and other facilities.
Doug is being recognized in the Border/Transportation Security category. The scanning system currently is being used worldwide in homeland security and counterterrorism efforts. The technology provides security officers with a non-contact, non-ionizing radiation tool that can screen individuals for potentially lethal concealed threats. It has been licensed to L-3 SafeView, which is using the technology as the basis for a line of screening systems, including the SafeScout 100TM. More than 75 systems are deployed worldwide in locations including Iraq, Israel, Mexico, Europe, South America and Asia in high-risk areas such as airports, subways, border crossings, and government and military facilities.
"This award recognizes the role PNNL researchers play in helping solve the country's greatest homeland security challenges," said Interim Lab Director Mike Kluse. "Doug and his team persevered for many years developing a technology they personally believed in, and I'm pleased the foundation is recognizing these efforts."
The screening systems have been successfully demonstrated in the U.S. and are undergoing further testing by the Department of Homeland Security. In fact, the system will be tested at Phoenix in the near future, with additional machines to be tested at John F. Kennedy International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.
The foundation recognizes citizens or companies that are making a measurable and constructive contribution related to basic and/or advanced research in the area of homeland security which will result in a significant and positive benefit to society.
Jim Thomas, a PNNL chief scientist, was also one of the top three finalists for the award. He was recognized for his leadership of the Department of Homeland Security's National Visualization and Analytics Center. NVAC is a leading resource for visual analytics technology and tools that detect, prevent and reduce the threat of terrorist attacks. (Posted 10/15/2007)
Dale Anderson wins Frank Wilcoxon Prize for best practical application paper in Technometrics
Dale Anderson won the Frank Wilcoxon Prize for the paper "Detection and Location of Gamma-Ray Sources with a Modulating Coded Mask." Dale, the lead author, was assisted in writing the article by Randy Hansen, Tony Peurrung and Sharon Wunschel and by non-PNNL contributor, David Stromswold. The article presents two methods of detecting and locating a concealed nuclear gamma-ray source for applications in national security and threat detection. The article appeared in the May 2006 issue of Technometrics, a journal dedicated to the development and use of statistical methods in the physical, chemical and engineering sciences. The Frank Wilcoxon award is presented to the best practical application paper appearing in the previous year's Technometrics. (Posted 10/1/2007)
Lee Burger wins Glen T. Seaborg Award for Contributions to Actinide Separations
Lee Burger's 2007 Glenn T. Seaborg Award makes four "wins" for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, second only to Argonne National Laboratory in the number of Seaborg award recipients. Lee joins PNNL scientists Earl Wheelwright, Jack Ryan and John Swanson in receiving this prestigious award to honor their extraordinary accomplishments, gained in more than 200 years of combined expertise in this field.
The Glenn T. Seaborg Actinide Separations Award is a national award recognizing significant and lasting contributions to separating actinide elements, such as plutonium and uranium. This award reflects the judgment of the Actinide Separation Conference Board representatives currently from Argonne, Idaho, Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, and Savannah River National Laboratories, the Hanford Site, the University of New Mexico, and Washington State University. Read more about the Seaborg honorees. (Posted 9/12/2007)
Moe Khaleel Receives Lifetime Achievement Award for Contributions to Computational Engineering and Fuel Cell Technologies
Moe Khaleel was presented with a lifetime achievement award for his contributions to computational engineering and fuel cell technologies. Moe received the award after delivering the plenary talk on computational electro chemistry for fuel cells at the 2007 International Joint Conference on Knowledge Management for Composite Materials (KMCM), Nanosciences and Fuel Cells.
The KMCM's audience comprises researchers from R&D organizations, academia, government, policy makers and industry. The conference's theme focused on driving research activities towards Nanoscale phenomena and fuel cell development.
Moe, a Laboratory Fellow, is Director of PNNL's Computational Sciences and Mathematics Division. The division provides scientific and technological solutions through the integration of high performance computing, data intensive computing, computational sciences, mathematics, scalable data management, and bioinformatics to advance the laboratory's mission areas. Moe's current research interests are tuned to world energy systems and the future role for fuel cell systems. (Posted 8/1/2007)
Elizabeth Stephens named most promising Hispanic engineer
Elizabeth Stephens has received the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference's Most Promising Engineer or Scientist–Undergraduate Degree Award. The award recognizes a professional engineer or scientist with less than eight years experience since earning his/her undergraduate degree. The candidate's early technical contributions should already indicate a promising career.
Elizabeth was chosen due to her contributions to science, leadership abilities and initiative, her potential for advancement and her involvement with the Hispanic community.
Elizabeth currently is involved with improving the energy efficiency of vehicles and energy conversion systems. She supports the DOE Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance program and works with local youth through several education programs. For more information on Elizabeth' award, vist HENAAC.org (Posted 8/1/2007)
Subhash Singhal Wins Esteemed Fuel Cell Technology Award
Subhash Singhal received the 2007 Fuel Cell Seminar and Exposition Award. Subhash was recognized for this award because of his outstanding leadership and innovation in the promotion and advancement of fuel cell technology.
Dr. Subhash C. Singhal is a Battelle Fellow and Director, Fuel Cells at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington, where he provides senior technical, managerial and commercialization leadership to the Lab's extensive fuel cell program. He is a highly regarded, acknowledged world leader in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). He joined PNNL in April 2000 after having worked at Siemens Power Generation (formerly Westinghouse Electric Corporation) for over 29 years.
Dr. Singhal is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Utah; and serves on the Visiting Advisory Board of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Florida. (Posted 8/1/2007)
Robbie Tidwell receives Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers' Champion of Excellence Award
For the second year in a row, Robbie Tidwell received the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers' Champion of Excellence Award. This national award recognizes outstanding work in the profession of hazardous materials management, promotion of the credential, and active participation in local and national ACHMM activities. Robbie has helped the Lab reduce, reuse or redistribute chemicals.
Further, she has helped develop processes to ensure safe handling, and cost- and time-effective procurement, inventorying and handling. In addition, Robbie has served vice president and president of the Eastern Washington Chapter of ACHMM. Under her leadership as president, the chapter attained the National Award of Honor Roll of Champions for the eighth consecutive year. (Posted 7/1/2007)
Stephen Tratz wins first-place in 2007 SemEval international competition (Computational Linguistics)
Stephen Tratz's commitment to excellence resulted in PNNL winning first-place in the 2007 SemEval international competition for word sense disambiguation systems. In computational linguistics, word sense disambiguation helps determine which sense a word has in any given context. For example, the word bass could mean a type of fish or tones of low frequency. Although the difference may be obvious to humans, WSD can improve the performance of information and knowledge management applications, such as internet searching and navigating.
PNNL developed this particular WSD system for a Department of Homeland Security project. When lab-funding could not cover the required preparation time for the system's entry to the SemEval competition, Stephen prepared and submitted the system output on his own time, which resulted in the win. PNNL has since been invited to submit a paper that describes the system to the 2007 SemEval WSD workshop in Prague this June. Other staff members involved include Alan Chappell, National Security Directorate; and Michelle Gregory, Christian Posse, project lead Antonio Sanfilippo and Paul Whitney, CISD. (Posted 5/1/2007)
Stephen Tratz wins first-place in 2007 SemEval international competition (Computational Linguistics)
Stephen Tratz's commitment to excellence resulted in PNNL winning first-place in the 2007 SemEval international competition for word sense disambiguation systems. In computational linguistics, word sense disambiguation helps determine which sense a word has in any given context. For example, the word bass could mean a type of fish or tones of low frequency. Although the difference may be obvious to humans, WSD can improve the performance of information and knowledge management applications, such as internet searching and navigating.
PNNL developed this particular WSD system for a Department of Homeland Security project. When lab-funding could not cover the required preparation time for the system's entry to the SemEval competition, Stephen prepared and submitted the system output on his own time, which resulted in the win. PNNL has since been invited to submit a paper that describes the system to the 2007 SemEval WSD workshop in Prague this June. Other staff members involved include Alan Chappell, National Security Directorate; and Michelle Gregory, Christian Posse, project lead Antonio Sanfilippo and Paul Whitney, CISD. (Posted 4/1/2007)
Awards presented for outstanding education contributions
Interim Laboratory Director Mike Kluse presented the Fitzner-Eberhardt award to James A. Campbell, National Security Directorate; George Last, Environmental Technology Directorate; and Shuttha Shutthanandan, Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory. Mike praised the recipients for their many contributions to science education, and also recognized four other individuals nominated for the award. They were George Chin, Computational and Information Sciences Directorate; Doug Lemon, NSD; Eric Pierce, ETD; and Irvin Schultz, ETD.
Debbie Trader of the DOE Pacific Northwest Site Office announced the DOE Outstanding Mentor Awards. Recipients were Heather Dillon, Energy Science and Technology Directorate; Janelle Downs, ETD; Gregory Exarhos, Fundamental Science Directorate; Steven Goheen, NSD; Pavel Hrma, ETD; Mitchell Pelton, ETD; Irvin Schultz, ETD; and Susan Southard, ETD. (Posted 4/1/2007)
PNNL Staff Honored for Energy Smart Technologies
Staff in PNNL's Energy Science and Technology Directorate were honored for the role they played in helping PNNL advance energy smart research and development. Mike Davis accepted the award for Best Research and Development in smart grid technology from the organizers of the GridWeek 2007 conference at the Reagan Building in Washington D.C. The award citation recognized PNNL for much of the fundamental thinking behind the smart grid over past two decades.
In the mid-1980s, dozens of researchers at PNNL were already designing first generation data collection systems that were installed in more than 1000 buildings to monitor near real-time electricity consumption for every appliance. Huge data sets were created and analyzed that fundamentally changed the way buildings and equipment were analyzed. Much of this work is still relevant and being used today.
Based on this early work, PNNL developed a broad suite of analytic tools and technologies that resulted in better sensors, improved diagnostics, and enhanced equipment design and operation. From phasor measurement and control at the transmission level to Grid Friendly™ appliances, their imprint on the creation of the next generation electrical system is unparalleled. (Posted 4/1/2007)
Ram Devanathan Receives Prestigious Invite to International Engineering Symposium
Ram Devanathan has been invited to attend the 2007 German-American Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, organized by the National Academy of Engineering and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. About 60 engineers, generally not older than 45, from German and U.S. industry, universities and national laboratories were invited because of their innovation, articulation, and leadership.
A Senior Research Scientist in Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Fundamental Science Directorate, Ram performs leading-edge research on fuel cell electrolytes for the hydrogen economy, radiation-resistant semiconductors, nanoscale phenomena and novel radiation detector materials.
By gathering up-and-coming engineers and challenging them to think about problems and developments at the frontiers of brain research technologies, robotics, smart materials, and space technologies, the symposium hopes to transfer new techniques and approaches across fields, and build connections among the next generation of leaders in engineering. The symposium will be held April 26-28, 2007, in Hamburg, Germany. (Posted 3/1/2007)
Lai-Sheng Wang Receives 2006-2007 Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award
Lai-Sheng Wang was awarded the Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award for Research, Scholarship and Arts. Washington State University annually presents three Sahlin awards, recognizing excellence in teaching, public service, and research.
An Affiliate Senior Chief Scientist in the Fundamental Science Directorate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Program in Materials Science at Washington State University-Tri-Cities, Lai-Sheng Wang is a world leader in nanoclusters research. For example, Lai-Sheng and his colleagues created hollow nanoscale cages of gold atoms, the first known metallic equivalent of the buckyball.
Lai-Sheng showed that the most stable form of gold clusters undergoes shape transformations, a finding that addressed a key issue in fundamental cluster science: understanding the structural evolution of clusters from a single atom/molecule towards the bulk solid. The work has potential applications in energy sciences.
In addition, Lai-Sheng has pioneered the study of solution molecules in the gas phase and developed novel experimental techniques to address fundamental questions of ion solvation and solution chemistry.
During his 20 years in research, Lai-Sheng has written or co-written more than 250 publications. His work has been featured in important journals, including Nature and Science. He is active in the scientific community, working with the American Chemical Society, American Physical Society, Materials Research Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
His contributions as a researcher and a professor have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Humboldt Research Award, Guggenheim fellowship, the National Science Foundation creativity award, and the Alfred P. Sloan fellowship. (Posted 2/18/2007)
Nano-Tech Team Wins Environmental Business Journal Award for Sensor
Yuehe Lin, Guodong Liu, and Chuck Timchalk received a 2006 Environmental Business Journal Technology Merit Award for designing and testing a nanotechnology-based sensor that detects organophosphate insecticides and nerve agents. The award is given by the Environmental Business Journal to recognize notable achievements in the environmental industry.
The sensor is composed of enzymes that self-assemble layer by layer onto tiny, hollow carbon tubes. When the sensor encounters organophosphates, the enzymes slow down. This reduced activity is transmitted as an electrochemical signal through the carbon nanotubes to an attached electrode. By reading the electrode's measurements, users can determine the concentration of organophosphates in environmental samples and biological fluids. (Posted 1/17/2007)
2007 Fellowships
Michel Dupuis Named Fellow in American Physical Society
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory''s Dr. Michel Dupuis was selected as a Fellow in the American Physical Society. The APS, founded in 1899, is a leading voice for physics, including chemical physics, in both the U.S. and international scientific communities. The society publishes several journals, including Physical Review and Physical Review Letters. Dupuis received this honor "for his significant contributions to the development of electronic structure methods and computer codes for the simulation of molecular properties and reactivity."
A Laboratory Fellow, Dupuis has more than 30 years of experience in developing computational chemistry methods and algorithms on supercomputers and their applications to chemical problems. Specifically, his work deals with the characterization of the electronic structure and reactivity of molecules, solids, and interfaces in processes relevant to environmental chemistry, electrochemistry, biochemistry, catalysis, and nanoscience. (Posted 12/3/2007)
Cesar Izaurralde Selected Soil Science Fellow
Dr. César Izaurralde has been named Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America. This is the highest honor bestowed by the society, which is dedicated to the conservation and wise use of natural resources to produce crops while maintaining and improving the environment. For his outstanding achievements in leadership, professional service and research, Izaurralde was honored with the fellowship award at the society's s annual meeting in November 2007 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Izaurralde's research at the Joint Global Change Research Institute, a collaboration of PNNL and the University of Maryland, focuses on 1) sustainable agriculture, 2) climate change impacts and adaptation in relation to agriculture and water resources and 3) climate change mitigation through soil carbon sequestration and reductions in soil emissions of nitrous oxide. (Posted 11/5/2007)
Nine PNNL Researchers Elected Fellows by AAAS
Nine scientists from the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have been elected Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for "meritorious efforts to advance science." This is the largest number of PNNL staff selected in a single year and is more than twice as many as any other national laboratory this year.
The nine honorees were elected into five AAAS sections:
Anthony Janetos
Guritno Roesijadi
Biological Sciences
Anthony Janetos is the director of the Joint Global Change Research Institute, a collaboration
between PNNL and the University of Maryland. He is being recognized for "distinguished contributions in ecology and
biology of particular relevance to environmental policy." He earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Harvard, and
a master's degree and doctorate in biology from Princeton University. He joined PNNL in 2006.
Guritno Roesijadi is a Laboratory Fellow being recognized for "distinguished research contributions
on metal detoxification in marine species and in education for developing a doctoral program in integrative biology at
Florida Atlantic University." He earned a bachelor's degree in zoology from the University of Washington, a master's
degree in fisheries from Humboldt State University, and a doctorate in biology from Texas A&M University. He joined
PNNL in 2005.
Chemistry
David Koppenaal
Jun Liu
Lai-Sheng Wang
Lai-Sheng Wang is a professor of physics at Washington State University-Tri-Cities and is an affiliate chief senior scientist at the William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a DOE national scientific user facility at PNNL. He is being recognized for "distinguished and innovative contributions to the field of atomic clusters and for pioneering work on gaseous multiply-charged anions." He earned a bachelor's degree from Wuhan University in Wuhan City, China, and a doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley.
Information, Computing and Communications
Jim Thomas
Physics
Richard Kouzes
Social, Economic and Political Sciences
James Edmonds
Richard Moss
The honorees will be recognized at the Fellows Forum during the AAAS national meeting in Boston in February. They join 20 PNNL staff members previously elected as AAAS Fellows. Founded in 1848, AAAS has worked to advance science for human well-being through its projects, programs and publications in the areas of science policy, science education and international scientific cooperation. (Posted 10/25/2007)
Moe Khaleel elected Fellow of ASME
Moe Khaleel, a PNNL Laboratory Fellow, has been elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering. Moe was recognized for his exceptional engineering achievements and contributions to the engineering profession. Moe has held numerous engineering leadership roles, including managing the PNNL hydrogen and transportation programs and the advanced manufacturing product line. He also serves as the national coordinator for modeling activities associated with solid oxide fuel cells for the Solid Energy Conversion Alliance program, and is a member of the Industry Advisory Board of Edison Welding Institute. Moe has won a Federal Laboratory Consortium for Excellence in Technology Transfer Award for superplastic forming of aluminum and the ASME International McGrattan Literature Award. (Posted 9/28/2007)
SK Sundaram Adds American Ceramic Society Fellow to List of Accomplishments
SK Sundaram was elected Fellow of the American Ceramic Society's (ACerS) by the Board of Directors. SK, a Chief Materials Scientist, was recognized for his significant, scientific contributions in ceramic/glass/materials science and engineering, including laser-glass interactions. Sundaram holds two Fellow honors this year which includes election by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in February 2007.
The ACerS is a global leader among professional organizations in supporting scientific research and emerging technologies with ceramics as a key element. Sundaram will be recognized at the Honors and Awards Banquet at our 109th Annual Meeting this September. (Posted 5/11/2007)
Mary Ann Parkhurst Named Health Physics Society Fellow
Mary Ann Parkhurst was named a Fellow in the Health Physics Society. This award, presented to senior HPS members, recognizes significant scientific contributions to the health physics profession.
Mary Ann serves as principal investigator and project manager in key radiological and environmental assessments. Some of her most recent projects include leading a 5-year multi-laboratory study characterizing depleted uranium aerosols, which are produced on the battlefield when a DU penetrator perforates conventional or DU armor on combat vehicles. In addition, her team characterized the aerosols' potential health impacts to vehicle crews and first responders.
She also evaluated the environmental and radiological impacts of existing nuclear power plants, leading the technical effort for some of the first U.S. nuclear power plants to apply for a license renewal. Now, she is working on the early site permits and the pre-application for a construction/operating license for a new advanced nuclear power plant. (Posted 5/1/2007)
2007 Elected Positions and Offices
Leonard Bond elected IEEE Region 6 delegate-elect and director-elect
Jae Edmonds Appointed Chief Scientist
Jae Edmonds was appointed by the U.S. Department of Energy as Chief Scientist for the Integrated Drivers and Systems Responses (IDSR) program within the Office of Science's Climate Change Research Program. As the Chief Scientist, Edmonds will provide leadership and advice on integrated assessment to the IDSR program.
Through its support and management of scientific research, the IDSR program provides insights into the interaction of multiple facets of climate change that would not be available from disciplinary research alone. The IDSR program also develops tools that enable economic analysis and scenario development, and provides a framework in which greenhouse gas emissions, climate, climate change impacts, and adaptation to climate change can be simultaneously and consistently examined. One of the principle components of the IDSR program's research portfolio is the development and exercise of integrated assessment models. These models are core decision support tools that can assist decision makers in the determination of safe levels of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. They achieve this by formally representing the various determinants of greenhouse gas emissions, including demographic, economic, energy, and land use decision making, as well as through representations of the atmosphere, climate, oceans, and climate impacts and adaptation in an internally consistent framework.
A senior staff scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Jae is also a Laboratory Fellow and Chief Scientist at the Joint Global Change Research Institute, a collaboration between the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the University of Maryland. He is internationally recognized for his contributions to the field of integrated assessment of climate change and the examination of interactions between energy, technology, policy and the environment. (Posted 9/1/2007)
Darrell Fisher Named Scientific Director for DOE Isotope Program
Darrell Fisher was named as Scientific Director of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy's Isotope Program. In this role, Darrell will bring together the capabilities, resources and requirements of the medical isotope community and national laboratories to address the nation's near- and long-term isotope needs, including cancer treatments, miniature power systems, and other applications.
Darrell, who will continue with his work leading the Laboratory's Radioisotopes Program, was selected because of his outstanding research and work in the scientific community, including the American Nuclear Society, the Society of Nuclear Medicine, and the Health Physics Society. (Posted 1/17/2007)
Greg Exarhos Elected to 3-Year Term as President of the AVS
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Dr. Greg Exarhos was elected President of the AVS: Science and Technology of Materials, Interfaces, and Processing. Founded in 1953, this not-for-profit society was focused on vacuum science and technology, critical in the early development of vacuum tubes, enabling radio broadcasting, radar, and other technologies. Today, the society has broadened its scope to include such technologically relevant areas as surface science, electronic and magnetic materials, nanoscience, and biomaterials.
Exarhos joined the society because it provided the best forum for his work in materials science and engineering. His pioneering materials processing approaches have been recognized internationally and have opened up new venues in optical and electronic coatings, new materials designed at the nanoscale, multifunctional ceramics, and hybrid polymer composites.In addition, Exarhos is actively involved in the operations side of the society. An AVS Fellow, he has been elected to the Board of Directors, served as Chair of the Long Range Planning Committee, and has served as Chair of numerous society-sponsored meetings. He currently serves as the Publications Chair and oversees several journals, including the new open access journal, Biointerphases, that he launched for the society in 2006. Exarhos' election was announced at the AVS International Symposium, Seattle, Wash., in October 2007. He will begin his three-year term in January 2008. (Posted 11/5/2007)
Ron Schrotke Elected Chair of the ASME Main Committee on Nuclear Quality Assurance
Ron Schrotke was elected Chair of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Main Committee on Nuclear Quality Assurance (NQA-1, Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications) for a 3-year term beginning July 1, 2008. ASME NQA-1 is a key national consensus standard for nuclear quality assurance and safety, and is a first choice for the Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear facility applications. ASME NQA-1 is influential in applying quality assurance with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the commercial nuclear industry, and the international community. As the Chair of the Main Committee on Nuclear Quality Assurance he reports directly to the ASME Board on Nuclear Codes and Standards. During his term as Chair, Ron will lead the 35 members of the Main Committee, the 10 members of the Executive Committee, and coordinate the 6 Subcommittees reporting to the Main Committee. These Subcommittees are comprised of more than 90 members with memberships that represent a broad cross-section of industry and government organizations – from the DOE and the NRC, and the Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board (DNFSB) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as; national laboratories, nuclear component suppliers, nuclear utilities, and Japanese industry representatives.
For 15 years Ron has participated at ever increasing levels of responsibility in the ASME technical committees associated with nuclear codes and standards. As a member of the Nuclear Quality Assurance standards efforts he has participated and led revisions to the software requirements of the ASME NQA-1 standard, and developed guidance for dealing with software and with electronic records. Ron has been formally recognized by the ASME NQA-1 Committee for his involvement in developmental efforts. He has also worked with the DOE on several Guides and Orders associated with quality assurance.
At PNNL, Ron is a Project Professional and Engineer in the Quality Assurance Services Group with a specialty in nuclear quality assurance. He has worked for Battelle in Richland for more than 20 years. (Posted 10/1/2007)
Anne Fix Elected Secretary-Treasurer for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Division of Environmental Geosciences (DEG)
N.J. (Anne) Fix was elected Secretary-Treasurer by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Division of Environmental Geosciences (DEG) for a 2-year term beginning July 1, 2007. AAPG was founded in 1917 and is the world's largest professional geological society with over 31,000 members in 115 countries. DEG is dedicated to educating the membership of AAPG and the general public about important issues that affect petroleum energy minerals exploration and production. DEG supports carbon sequestration and climate change projects as well as environmental characterization and remediation. Anne was elected to this position in recognition of her prior service to DEG. The AAPG Grants-in-Aid Committee provide funds to students seeking graduate degrees in the geosciences whose research has application to the search for and development of petroleum and energy-mineral resources and to related environmental geology issues. Anne is currently involved, as the Editor, in soliciting papers and preparing a DEG publication devoted to the outstanding graduate student research in environmental geosciences. As an EMD member she actively participates on the coalbed methane, gas hydrates, and uranium committees' efforts to advance the science of geology. Anne is licensed as a Professional Geoscientist (PG) in Texas and is a Registered Environmental Manager (REM). At PNNL, Anne is a Quality Engineer in the ESH&Q Directorate with subject matter expertise in the environmental sciences. She supports various research projects here at the Laboratory. (Posted 7/1/2007)
Doug Reid Elected Chair of ASME Local Section
Doug Reid was named Chair of the Columbia Basin Section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. In Doug's new role, he will conduct board meetings and oversee and report yearly activities to ASME's national organization. Doug has more than a decade of experience in ASME and was an ASME Engineer of the Year nominee.
At PNNL, Doug supports deployment and post-deployment equipment for the Radiation Portal Monitor project. His research interests include technology planning and development and energy conservation. (Posted 6/1/2007)
Evelyn Hirt Elected Eta Kappa Nu Board of Governors
Evelyn Hirt was elected Member-at-Large to the Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) Board of Governors for a 3-year term beginning July 1, 2007 by its Chapters. Eta Kappa Nu, the Electrical and Computer Engineering Honor Society, is a unique membership organization dedicated to encouraging and recognizing excellence in the electrical and computer engineering field. This 100+ year old organization with nearly 300,000 members consist of students, alumni, and other professionals who have demonstrated exceptional academic and professional accomplishments. The overall governance of HKN is the responsibility of the Board of Governors, a volunteer organization of HKN members that have prominent positions in academia and industry. The Board consists of a president, vice president, past president, secretary, and treasurer, each of whom serves a one-year term. Six directors, four representing each of HKN's geographic regions and two at-large, serve three-year terms. As a long standing member of HKN, Evelyn was elected to this position because of her dedication to the advancement of the profession through excellence, her interest in mentoring students, and her over 30 years of experience at all levels within IEEE. At PNNL, Evelyn is a Principle Professional and Engineer in the ESH&Q Directorate with subject matter expertise in systems (hardware, software and integration) and controls, as well as the Quality Manager for the Computational Information and Sciences Directorate. (Posted 5/1/2007)
Moe Khaleel Named Associate Editor to ASME Journal
Moe Khaleel appointed Associate Editor to the American Society of Mechanical Engineer's Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology.
The Journal publishes research papers on contemporary engineering and materials technology issues including: principles of mechanical behavior, environmental effects on material response and metals, and materials processing techniques. Moe joins eighteen other associate editors responsible for peer-reviewing and editing the research papers that are published quarterly.
Moe is Director of PNNL'S Computational Sciences and Mathematics Division. The group provides creative scientific and technological solution through the integration of modeling, informatics and knowledge management. (Posted 5/1/2007)
Josef Matyas and Jarrod Crum Take on New Roles for American Ceramic Society
Shawn Kathmann has been invited to contribute to the new perspectives issue of Theoretical Chemistry Accounts. Shawn was one of just 33 chemists, mainly those whose publications began to appear in earnest in the 1996-1999 time frame, selected to write about emerging areas of theoretical chemistry being pursued by a new generation of scientists.
In his 13-page article, Shawn wrote about the chemical physics of reactions involved in nucleation - the general process of describing phase transformations e.g., from the vapor phase to the liquid phase.
"Nucleation occurs in the manufacture of everything from snow flakes to jet engines turbine blades," said the Staff Scientist. "Yet, there are a lot of questions concerning the underlying processes and mechanisms."
In his article, Shawn shares insights concerning rate constants, molecular interactions, statistical mechanics and their consequences on nucleation phenomena. His article, titled "Understanding the Chemical Physics of Nucleation," is one of the most viewed articles in the issue.
Being asked to share thoughts and ideas about the future directions of research is a chance to influence the direction of scientific understanding.
Citation: Kathmann, SM. 2006. "Understanding the Chemical Physics of Nucleation," Theoretical Chemistry Accounts 116:169-182. Abstract online. (Posted 3/22/2007)
Novella Bridges Appointed Chair-Elect of Local Section of American Chemical Society
Novella Bridges has been appointed chair-elect for the Richland Local Section of the American Chemical Society. In her one-year term, Novella will be responsible for providing leadership for career development opportunities for women in chemical science fields and promoting women's professional and scientific accomplishments.
In addition to serving as a training lead for the Radiation Portal Monitoring project at PNNL, Novella is involved in the development of radio-labeled composites as therapeutic agents for cancer treatments. She has received several honors and awards, including a 2006 PNNL Women of Achievement award and a 2004 ACS Regional Industrial Innovation Award. (Posted 2/1/2007)
Justin Teeguarden Lends Toxicology Advice to Biological Modeling Committee
Justin Teeguarden was appointed to a two-year assignment as a councilor to the Biological Modeling Specialty Section of the Society of Toxicology. This committee provides a focused venue to develop and conduct programs and educational activities that emphasize the latest developments in biological modeling. In addition, the committee advocates for the application of these new techniques for improving biological risk assessment processes.
Justin was selected for this role based on his experience in toxicology, risk assessment and computational modeling. His work has resulted in research models that were used in evaluation studies of exposure, dosage and response. His current research focuses on dose-response relationships for industrial chemicals and new nanomaterials. (Posted 1/31/2007)
Linda Lasure to Represent United States in International Microbiological Society
Linda Lasure has accepted the role of at-large member of the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Microbiological Societies. During her three-year term on the committee, she will promote the advancement of microbiological sciences in this country and throughout the world. She will also ensure U.S. participation in the International Union of Microbiological Societies through the National Academies of Science and National Research Council.
In addition, Linda will look at broader scientific issues, such as fostering opportunities for younger scientists to become engaged in collaborative research, promoting the responsible conduct of science, and examining advances in meta-genomics. (Posted 1/26/2007)
Darrell Fisher to Server as Treasurer of Health Physics Society
Darrell Fisher was elected the Health Physics Society treasurer; he will serve one year as treasurer-elect and two years as treasurer. Established in 1956, this nonprofit professional society promotes the practice of radiation safety, including encouraging radiation research, developing standards, and providing information.
For this 6,000 member organization, Darrell will manage and allocate the organization's budget. In addition, he will work with the society's nationally known committees, such as public outreach and education, regarding their budgets. He will also help direct the organization, serving on the senior leadership council. (Posted 1/2/2007)
Leonard Bond Elected IEEE Region 6 Delegate-Elect and Director-Elect
Leonard Bond was elected the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Region 6 delegate-elect/director-elect for 2007-2008. Starting Jan. 1, 2009, Leonard will serve for two years as the Region Director and will be the delegate on the IEEE Board for the 12 western states region. Region 6 consists of 56,000 members from western Wyoming and New Mexico, all up and down the Pacific Coast from Alaska to California, including Hawaii. Leonard is an expert in ultrasonics and prognostics with more than 250 publications and seven patents. (Posted 1/1/2007)
John Hardy and Nathan Canfield Elected to Key Roles in Regional Ceramics Society
John Hardy and Nathan Canfield have been elected as President and Vice President, respectively, in the Eastern Washington Section of the American Ceramic Society.
Within their roles, John and Nathan will serve the information, educational and professional needs of the regional ceramics community through the planning of section activities and collaborating with regional ceramic-professionals. This division is vital to supporting scientific research, emerging technologies and current applications, in which ceramic materials are a key element.
John's research in the Energy Materials & Manufacturing group involves the development of air brazes for use in electrochemical devices. In the Ceramics Development group, Nathan’s research focuses on solid oxide fuel cell research. (Posted 1/1/2007)
Jeff Stevenson Appointed Associate Editor by the American Ceramic Society
Jeff Stevenson, a Laboratory Fellow, has been appointed an Associate Editor of the Journal of the American Ceramic Society for a two-year term. This Journal is among the top sources for ceramic materials science research, providing scientists, engineers, and students with critically assessed, original research for nearly 100 years. Ranked first in total citations and third in impact factor among all journals in the materials science-ceramics category, the journal publishes twelve issues per year filled with top quality research that spans the diverse segments of ceramic science. Topics cover a broad range including: glass science, crystal chemistry, microscopy and microstructure, bioceramic science, powder processing and colloidal science. Jeff will primarily be responsible for reviewing and editing manuscripts in the field of solid oxide fuel cells. (Posted 12/7/2007)
Charles Long Appointed to The Open Ocean Engineering Journal Editorial Advisory Board
Dr. Charles Long was recently appointed editor of the The Open Ocean Engineering Journal, published by Bentham Science Publishers. As editor, Long will review contributed manuscripts, accept or reject papers, and be responsible for gathering new and interesting research for the journal. He will play an important role in influencing the current policies and future direction of the journal.
Long is active in the scientific community and was selected for this appointment based upon his reputation in the field. He currently serves as a member of the Oceans Observations Working Group, which is part of the International World Meteorological Organization Baseline Surface Radiation Network. In addition, he participated in the National Science Foundation's Facilities Assessment subcommittee on In Situ Surface and Surface-Atmosphere Exchange, which includes ocean measurements. For the U.S. Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program, Long serves as the Tropical Western Pacific Site Scientist and the Science Translator for the ARM Instantaneous Radiative Flux Working Group.
The Open Ocean Engineering Journal is one of the many new Open Access online peer-reviewed journals. Using an all-electronic format, the journal publishes original research articles, short articles, and review articles in all areas of ocean engineering. (Posted 12/1/2007)
Mariah Zabriskie named standing chair to the National GEM Consortium Executive Committee
Mariah Zabriskie, Organizational Development Systems Directorate, has been named standing chair to the National GEM Consortium executive committee. PNNL is a major GEM sponsor. Its national mission is to increase the number of underrepresented minorities going into science and engineering graduate programs. (Posted 11/30/2007)
Mark Engelhard Appointed Associate Editor for Surface Science Spectra
Mark Engelhard has been invited to be an Associate Editor for Surface Science Spectra, an international journal devoted to archiving surface science spectra of technological and scientific interest. It is a peer-reviewed official journal of the AVS Science and Technology Society and is published by the society through the American Institute of Physics. (Posted 11/5/2007)
Kelly Sullivan Elected to Council for Chemical Research
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Dr. Kelly O. Sullivan was elected to the Governing Board of the Council for Chemical Research. She will represent the Laboratory on the board.
The Council for Chemical Research, headquartered in Washington, D.C., promotes cooperation in basic research and encourages high-quality education in the chemical sciences and engineering. The Council's membership comprises more than 200 companies, universities and government laboratories with a combined research and development budget of more than $7 billion.
Sullivan, who leads the Laboratory's Office of Institutional Partnerships, already was active in the Council for Chemical Research before receiving the current board appointment. She serves on the Council's Annual Meeting Planning committee and co-leads the Graduate Education Action Network.
At PNNL, Sullivan is responsible for developing and maintaining collaborations and partnerships with colleges, universities and other research institutions that help the Laboratory achieve its missions for the nation and the world. Sullivan also serves on the Board of Directors for Sigma Xi—the Scientific Research Society, and was a member of the National Innovation Initiative team assembled by the Council on Competitiveness, among other national leadership roles. (Posted 11/5/2007)
Lai-Sheng Wang Appointed to Editorial Board for The Journal of Physical Chemistry
An Affiliate Senior Chief Scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and a professor at Washington State University Tri-Cities, Dr. Lai-Sheng Wang was appointed to the Editorial Advisory Board of The Journal of Physical Chemistry. During his term, Wang will influence the current policies and future direction of this highly respected and highly cited publication.
Wang was selected for this three-year appointment based on his distinguished and innovative contributions to the field of atomic clusters and for pioneering work on gaseous multiply-charged anions. During his 20 years in research, Wang has written or co-written more than 260 publications. He is active in the scientific community, working with the American Chemical Society, American Physical Society, Materials Research Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, where he was recently named a Fellow. (Posted 11/5/2007)
Dick Smith Elected to HUPO Council
Dick Smith was elected to a 2-year term to the Council of the Human Proteome Organization at the HUPO World Congress in Seoul, Korea, October 10. HUPO is an international scientific organization representing and promoting proteomics through international cooperation and collaborations by fostering the development of new technologies, techniques and training. The HUPO Council is the organization's decision-making body.
Smith, a Battelle Fellow and Chief Scientist and Director of Proteomics for PNNL's Biological Sciences Division, is an internationally known proteomics expert. His current research emphasis involves the development and application of new methods for quantitatively probing the proteome, which is the entire array of proteins expressed by a cell, tissue or organism. Smith is Director of the Proteomics Research Resource for Integrative Biology at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. He has authored or coauthored more than 600 publications, and has been awarded 30 patents and seven R&D 100 Awards. (Posted 10/15/2007)
Nik Qafoku to Serve Three-Year Term as Associate Editor on Editorial Board of the Soil Science Society of America Journal
Nik Qafoku is serving a three-year term as an associate editor on the editorial board of the Soil Science Society of America Journal. As a member of the board, Nik works to ensure the quality of the articles that are published. In agricultural and soil science, this journal rates at the top in number of citations and third in terms of impact. In serving on the board, Nik has a broad and deep knowledge of the scientific literature. Further, he has and is continuing to build connections with his scientific peers around the world. Through this work, Nik is helping to make top-quality information on soil chemistry available to researchers around the world. (Posted 6/1/2007)
James R. Campbell appointed Associate Professor of Global Health at George Washington University School of Global Health and Health Services
James R. Campbell was appointed Associate Professor of Global Health, in the George Washington University School of Global Health and Health Services, Washington, D.C. The school is internationally recognized for programs in risk science and environmental health, ecosystems and human health, homeland security, and informatics. Jim joined PNNL in 2005 as a manager in the physical and chemical sciences division. He currently is guiding biological security and biological defense programs and initiatives for national security applications. (Posted 4/1/2007)
Wayne Hess to Serve on Editorial Board for Laser Chemistry
Manager of PNNL's Chemical Structure and Dynamics Group, Wayne Hess has been selected to serve on the editorial board for Laser Chemistry. With his peers on the board, which include experts from universities, research foundations, and government councils, Wayne will review technical articles that have been screened by a team of associate editors. When he receives the articles, he will study the manuscript and vote for publishing or rejecting it based on the strength of the science and the clarity of the communication.
An international journal, Laser Chemistry focuses on fundamental studies and applications within the field of laser chemical physics and spectroscopy.
Wayne was selected to serve on the editorial board because of his experience in laser-induced reactions in solids and at surfaces, including his ongoing studies in laser desorption from wide-band gap materials, metal oxides, and semiconductors. In addition, he is actively engaged in collaboration with theory groups to understand the dynamical details of condensed phase reaction dynamics, working towards a broad, material-based mechanistic understanding of excited state reactivity in solids and at surfaces. (Posted 4/1/2007)
Darrell Fisher to Advise Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the Use of Medical Isotopes
Darrell Fisher has been appointed a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes (ACMUI). The ACMUI advises the NRC on policy and technical issues related to the regulation of the medical use of radioactive material.
Darrell was selected for this appointment because of his strong knowledge of radiation sciences. He specializes in the health effects and dosimetry-related exposure of radioactive materials. In addition, Darrell knows the medical uses of isotopes, has experience with patient advocacy organizations and has worked with cancer patients who have questions about different treatment methods. (Posted 3/21/2007)
Jim Dooley Appointed to Program Committee on Greenhouse Gas Technologies
Jim Dooley was appointed to the Program Committee for the Ninth International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Technologies (GHGT-9). The GHGT conference series is the premier international symposium for the technical community focused on carbon dioxide capture and storage technologies, and is coordinated through the International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme. This programme has three main activities:
- Evaluation of technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
- Promotion and dissemination of results and data from its evaluation studies,
- Facilitating practical research, development and demonstration activities
The GHGT-9 conference will be held on November 16-20, 2008, in Washington DC, with major sponsorship provided by the U.S. Department of Energy. These conferences are held every two years in the programme' s member countries, AND rotate BETWEEN North America, Europe AND Asia. < / p > < p > Jim IS a senior staff scientist located at the Joint Global Change Research Institute(JGCRI), a collaborative partnership BETWEEN the Pacific Northwest NATIONAL Laboratory AND the University OF Maryland. (Posted 3/12/2007)
Vanessa Bailey Joins Editorial Board of Soil Biology and Biochemistry
Vanessa Bailey was appointed to the Editorial Board of Soil Biology and Biochemistry, a leading journal that is a forum for research on soil organisms, their biochemical activities and their influence on the soil environment and plant growth. Publication themes include the biochemistry of pesticide and pollution decomposition in soil, microbial aspects of soil pollution, the composition of soil populations, modeling of biological processes in soil systems and the biochemical activities of soil organisms.
As a member, Vanessa will referee submissions and help monitor the journal's editorial policy in terms of scope covered and paper quality. She was chosen for this position because of her scientific reputation as a soil microbiologist and her thorough approach to manuscript review. (Posted 3/8/2007)
Vanessa Bailey Joins Editorial Board of Soil Biology and Biochemistry
Vanessa Bailey was appointed to the Editorial Board of Soil Biology and Biochemistry, a leading journal that is a forum for research on soil organisms, their biochemical activities and their influence on the soil environment and plant growth. Publication themes include the biochemistry of pesticide and pollution decomposition in soil, microbial aspects of soil pollution, the composition of soil populations, modeling of biological processes in soil systems and the biochemical activities of soil organisms.
As a member, Vanessa will referee submissions and help monitor the journal's editorial policy in terms of scope covered and paper quality. She was chosen for this position because of her scientific reputation as a soil microbiologist and her thorough approach to manuscript review. (Posted 3/8/2007)
Metting Named Chair of International Scientific Network
Blaine Metting was installed as Chair of the Microalgae Biofixation Network under the auspices of the International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Research & Development Programme. Metting, who is Biological and Environmental Sciences Product Line Manager at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, replaced outgoing chair Dr. Paola Pedroni of EniTecnologie, the research arm of the Italian oil company Eni.
The Microalgae Biofixation Network was organized based on an initiative by the U.S. Department of Energy and EniTecnologie. Its purpose is to build multi-institutional research collaborations and share scientific findings related to fundamental understanding of photosynthesis and microalgal productivity and applications to greenhouse gas abatement.
Metting was installed at a meeting of the Network at the University of California, Berkeley, February 16, 2007. Fifty international attendees from industry, academia and government attended the meeting. PNNL has been a Network member for 3 years.
PNNL is currently engaged in research with microalgae in the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory Biology Grand Challenge. The Marine Sciences Laboratory at Sequim, Washington, has DOE Office of Fossil Energy support to investigate the relationship between algal productivity and growth rate. (Posted 2/23/2007)
Michel Dupuis Named Specialist Editor for Computer Physics Journal
Michel Dupuis to serve another term as a specialist editor for Computer Physics Communications. Published by Elsevier, this journal contains articles on computational models in physics and physical chemistry, computer programs in physics and physical chemistry, numerical methods, algorithms and software.
As a specialist editor, a role he has held with the journal since 1998, Michel reviews articles submitted to the journal, providing comments and assistance to his colleagues around the world. He also suggests special topics and directions for upcoming issues.
The journal''s editorial board asked Michel to take this role because of his thorough and insightful reviews, his impressive publication record, and his extensive knowledge of theoretical and computational chemistry. He is known for his research in developing and applying theoretical and computational chemistry methods relevant to environmental chemistry, electrochemistry, biochemistry, catalysis, and nanoscience. (Posted 2/23/2007)
Governor appoints Gary Spanner to 3-year term on Sirti board of directors
Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire recently appointed Gary Spanner, Economic Development Office, to serve a three-year term on the Sirti board of directors. Sirti is a state agency in Spokane engaged in technology-based economic development for the Inland Northwest. Having a staff member from PNNL on the board is part of Sirti's strategy to better serve entrepreneurs in Benton and Franklin counties. Gary's term of office runs through June 2009. Sirti board members develop and produce policies and operating procedures, approve the annual operating budget and review annual progress. (Posted 1/22/2007)
Jonathan Young appointed to the National Research Council Standing Committee on Operational Science and Technology Options for Defeating Improvised Explosive Devices.
Jonathan Young has accepted an appointment to the National Research Council Standing Committee on Operational Science and Technology Options for Defeating Improvised Explosive Devices. The committee organizes studies to research, develop and implement advanced science and technologies to defeat the growing threats and strategies used to assemble and deploy IEDs. Jonathan will provide risk assessment and system engineering expertise. Jonathan''s years of experience in systems and safety engineering, safety analysis and his international recognition as a probabilistic safety assessor make him an excellent choice to serve on this committee. (Posted 1/8/2007)
Yanwen Zhang Receives Guest Professor Appointment at Peking University
Based on her international recognition and scientific advances in the area of ion-solid interactions, Yanwen Zhang has been awarded a unique offsite Guest Professor appointment at Peking University, one of the top universities in China. There, Yanwen will supervise graduate student research, enhance PNNL-Peking University collaborations, and contribute to strengthening fundamental ion-beam research at the university. (Posted 1/1/2007)
2007 Impact on Scientific Community
Don Stevens identified as one of top innovators and entrepreneurs for 2007
In its October 2007 issue, Seattle Business Monthly magazine named Maury White from Infinia Corporation and Don Stevens from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory among its Top 25 Innovators & Entrepreneurs for 2007. The magazine selected the 25 "emerging talents" based on recommendations from venture capitalists, academics, trade groups, and business leaders from various industries. White, Infinia''s Chief Technology Officer and one of its founders, helped develop the Kennewick, Wash. company''s Stirling engine technology for solar-electric generators, combined heat and power systems, and emerging-nation rural electrification. Stevens, a senior project manager and chemist at PNNL in Richland, Wash., is devising ways to convert cellulose-based byproducts, like poplar trees and corn stalks, into biomass-based fuel and products. (Posted 12/17/2007)
Dick Smith named to Scientific American 50 list of outstanding leaders
Dick Smith, a Battelle Fellow in the Fundamental and Computational Science Directorate, has been named one of 50 outstanding leaders in the 2007 Scientific American 50—an annual list of 50 key contributors in science and technology. Dick shared the honor for creating a new approach to neurological diagnostics with Desmond Smith of UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine.
Dick's research may help identify the earliest detectable stages of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurological diseases. Dick's findings indicate that many neurodegenerative diseases leave a biochemical calling card, or biomarker, that may be used to predict early stages of brain impairment. The understandings from this research may result in the discovery of drug targets for new therapeutic approaches. Many biomedical researchers also believe that detecting disease states before symptoms occur is key to reversing many as-yet-incurable diseases.
Dick's work led to the mapping of proteins in brain tissues. This mapping has allowed scientists to examine the location and abundance of large numbers of proteins within healthy brain tissue, which can be compared to protein portraits found within diseased brain tissues. These differences may help identify neurological diseases at a very early stage and proteins that might be targeted for drug intervention. It's hoped that such diseases might be curbed if caught and treated early enough.
"Dick Smith and his team have pushed the frontiers of proteomics instrumentation far beyond what was imagined just a few years ago," according to Doug Ray, PNNL's deputy director for science and technology. "By integrating new ideas into the tools available to conduct research, they have made comprehensive proteomic mapping possible."
This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health and PNNL's Biomolecular Systems Initiative.
Past Scientific American 50 winners include stem cell researcher Douglas Melton, Nobel prize-winning neurobiologist Roderick MacKinnon, former World Health Organization Secretary General Gro Harlem Brundtland, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and Apple CEO Steve Jobs. (Posted 12/10/2007)
Chuck Long Co-author on "Hot" Paper about Solar Brightening
Chuck Long and co-authors were recognized for their "hot" paper, reported recently by Essential Science Indicators (ESI). According to ESI, a hot paper represents a key paper in a specific field and reflects rapid and significant numbers of citations since its publication. Dr. Long's article, "From dimming to brightening: Decadal changes in solar radiation at the Earth's surface," appeared in the May 6, 2005, issue of Science. According to the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) and as reported in ESI, the article has been cited 72 times as of October 3, 2007.
The article discusses evidence showing a reversal in the "dimming" trend (a decreasing trend in downwelling solar energy reaching the Earth's surface) over three decades. Although the causes of these trends are not known, the authors do show that the dimming trend may have acted to somewhat mask the projected global greenhouse warming trend. With the current brightening trend, the projected greenhouse-warming signal might become more apparent.
The ISI uses a special filter to detect hot papers. This involves looking at recently published papers and unusual citation activity in a current period. A list of more than 14,000 journals is maintained by the ISI from which the ESI compiles science performance statistics and science trends data. Both the ISI and ESI are owned and funded through the Thomson Corporation, a leading provider of integrated information-based solutions to the scientific, academic, and government community.
Journal Reference: Wild, M., H. Gilgen, A. Roesch, A. Ohmura, C. N. Long, E. G. Dutton, B. Forgan, A. Kallis, V. Russak, and A. Tsvetkov. 2005. "From dimming to brightening: Decadal changes in solar radiation at the Earth's surface." Science, 308, Issue 5723, 847-850. [DOI:10.1126/science.1103215] (Posted 11/5/2007)
PNNL Researchers Contribute to Nobel Peace Prize for Climate Change Awareness
Researchers contributed to the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize won by Al Gore and the IPCC. (The Peace Prize medal is a registered trademark of the Nobel Foundation.)
Fifteen researchers in the Atmospheric Science and Global Change Division contributed to the recent Nobel Peace prize awarded to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Through their involvement in the IPCC, the following researchers are helping to shape how the world views climate change: Antoinette Brenkert, Leon Clarke, James Dooley, Sylvia Edgerton, James Edmonds, Meredydd Evans, Steve Ghan, Anthony Janetos, Nels Laulainen, Ruby Leung, Elizabeth Malone, Richard Moss, Hugh Pitcher, Paul Runci, and Steven Smith.
These climate experts have served as convening authors, lead authors, review editors and expert reviewers on IPCC reports, and seminal research from PNNL is cited throughout the reports. These scientists have also contributed intellectual frameworks that influenced IPCC assessments and the broader climate change community in areas as diverse as integrated assessment, technology's role in mitigation, carbon dioxide capture and storage, and social science contributions in addressing climate change challenges.
In a press release following the award announcement, IPCC chairman Rajendra Pachauri stated, "This is an honour that goes to all the scientists and authors who have contributed to the work of the IPCC," emphasizing the world - wide coverage and interdisciplinary work of the IPCC.
Through the years, the depth and breadth of ASGC contributions to a number of IPCC Assessment Reports demonstrate their standing as world class experts and their influence on the scientific, technical AND socio - economic understanding OF climate change.Congratulations to all on such a great honor.
For more information about their specific contributions to the IPCC, see the PNNL press release (Posted 10/25/2007)
Leung, Janetos, and Edmonds Invited to National Academies Workshop on Climate
Drs. Ruby Leung, Anthony Janetos and James (Jae) Edmonds were invited to participate in the workshop, "Strategic Advice on the U.S. Climate Change Science Program." Hosted by the National Academies, the three-day workshop took place October 15-17 in Washington, D.C. Speakers invited to this workshop are internationally recognized leaders in their field and were encouraged to share their views on the U.S. Climate Change Science Program's future and to help establish scientific objectives.
The workshop was held in response to a recent report by a National Research Council committee evaluating the progress of the U.S.Climate Change Science Program. They concluded that although good progress has been made in understanding and predicting temperature trends and environmental changes, U.S.climate research lacks focus and appropriate funding. The goal of the workshop is to shape the priorities and identify gaps in the U.S. Climate Change Science Program to ensure the long-term success of our nation's climate science. The workshop brings together a broad spectrum of scientists, resource managers, industry, and policymakers.
Dr. Leung is a research scientist and Laboratory Fellow. She gave a plenary presentation on predictive global and regional models, and shared her vision for the U.S.Climate Change Science Program.
Dr. Janetos is a research scientist and the director of the Joint Global Change Research Institute, a collaborative partnership between Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the University of Maryland. His plenary presentation focused on the need for the U.S.Climate Change Science Program to perform a new National assessment of climate change impacts.
Dr. Edmonds is a senior staff scientist, Laboratory Fellow, and Chief Scientist at the Joint Global Change Research Institute. He co-chaired a working Group on impacts, adaptation, and mitigation of climate change.
The National Academies is a private, non-profit institution, which advises the nation on scientific and technical matters.They bring together committees of experts in all areas of science and technology. These experts address critical National issues and give advice to the federal government and the public. Four organizations comprise the Academies: the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council. (Posted 10/19/2007)
Sotiris Xantheas Selected for Prominent Theoretical Chemistry Lecture
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Sotiris Xantheas was selected to participate in the Greater Boston Area Theoretical Chemistry Lecture Series. Sotiris was selected based on his research accomplishments in the field of hydrogen-bonded networks and the development of a new interaction potential for water from first principles electronic structure calculations.
For the lecture series, a committee of graduate students from Harvard, MIT, and Boston University select engaging speakers that appeal to a broad cross-section of the student population. As part of the series, each speaker spends a day at each of the three institutions visiting with faculty and delivers a 3-hour lecture at MIT on the evening of the third day. "The invitation to participate in the lecture series highlights the national recognition our work -- funded by DOE's Office of Basic Energy Sciences -- is receiving," said Sotiris. "Being a part of the series gave me the chance to interact with faculty and students, establish future collaborations and get fresh ideas about using our capabilities to open new research directions."
During his visit, which took place during September 24-26, 2007, Sotiris provided the next generation of scientists with opportunities to learn more about theoretical chemistry at PNNL. Also, he discussed opportunities to bring students to the Laboratory for collaborative projects next year. (Posted 10/1/2007)
Steve Ghan invited to speak at Gordon Research Conference on Atmospheric Chemistry
Steve Ghan was invited to speak at this year's Gordon Research Conference on Atmospheric Chemistry in August. Speakers at the Gordon Research Conferences are recognized internationally as leaders in the fields of the biological, chemical and physical sciences and are invited to discuss recent advances in their research. Steve focused on the incorporation of aerosol processes and properties in global modeling frameworks, discussing recent work in the field and introducing a path toward meeting future needs in a presentation titled "Aerosols and Gases in Global Atmosphere Models: Current and Future State of the Science."
Held annually since 1931, the conference brings together scientists with common professional interests for a week of intense discussion and examination of the most advanced aspects of their field. (Posted 9/10/2007)
Pak Chung Wong participates in international seminar on information visualization
Pak Chung Wong participated in an invitation-only seminar in Dagstuhl, Germany that brought together theoreticians and practitioners from around the world to discuss the studies of information visualization and their applications. The findings of the seminar will be released as a book published by Schloss Dagstuhl. (Posted 9/1/2007)
Jerome Fast invited to speak at the Gordon Research Conference
Jerome Fast was invited to speak at the Gordon Research Conference in July at Colby-Sawyer College, New Hampshire. Speakers at the Gordon Research Conferences are internationally-recognized leaders in their field and are invited to discuss the most recent advances in their research. The theme of this year's conference on radiation and climate was "Integrating multiscale measurements and models for key climate questions." In his presentation, Jerome discussed his recent research during a session on Regional Aerosol Models: Simulation of Chemical Weather. (Posted 8/1/2007)
Sotiris Xantheas Receives Marie Curie Fellowship - International Award to Share Expertise Abroad
Sotiris Xantheas was selected for a Marie Curie Fellowship for More Experienced Researchers within the Transfer of Knowledge Program. This award helps European institutions develop research capabilities by hosting expert researchers with specialized knowledge.
Through this fellowship, Sotiris will spend up to 2 months over the next 3 years at the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL) in the Foundation for Research and Technology—Hellas in Heraklion, Crete, Greece. His travel and local expenses for those visits will be covered by the fellowship.
In his first visit, Sotiris is working with IESL's researchers on establishing a capability for calculating excited states of molecular and ionic clusters. Initial case studies include the accurate calculation of the excited states of pyrrole and its complexes with rare gas atoms (such as argon, krypton and xenon) to explain the qualitatively different results obtained during photofragment slice imaging experiments performed at IESL. These experiments suggest that the clustering with selected rare gas carrier atoms (such as krypton and xenon but not argon) can selectively quench N-H bond fission.
Pyrrole is an ideal model for the study of more complex systems. It is an important source of nitrogen fuel in coal and heavy oils and plays an important role in the synthesis of biologically active compounds and other complexes.
This research is quickly leading to published results. A joint experimental-theoretical paper based on the results of the calculations entitled "Photofragment slice imaging studies of pyrrole and the Xe...pyrrole cluster" has been accepted in the Journal of Chemical Physics. (Posted 7/1/2007)
Subhash Singhal Appointed to National Academies' Committee
Subhash Singhal was named to a two-year term on the National Research Council's Technical Assessment Committee for the Army Research Laboratory (NRC is a branch of the prestigious National Academies). The committee assists the Army in assessing and improving the quality of its scientific and technical work. In his new role, Subhash will provide technical guidance to the Sensors and Electron Devices Panel.
Subhash, a Battelle Fellow and Director for PNNL's Fuel Cells Program, has conducted and managed major research, development and demonstration programs in advanced materials and energy conversion systems. He is author of more than 70 scientific publications and has edited 12 books, received 13 patents and given more than 205 invited presentations worldwide. (Posted 7/1/2007)
PNNL Staff Members Help Shape Global Understanding of Climate Change
Working Group I, "The Physical Science Basis": Ruby Leung, contributing author.
Working Group II, "Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability": Mike Scott and Tony Janetos, lead authors; Liz Malone and Antionette Brenkert, contributing authors.
Working Group III, "Mitigation of Climate Change": Jae Edmonds, lead author; Hugh Pitcher and Leon Clarke, contributing authors; Liz Malone, review editor.
The depth and breadth of contribution demonstrates PNNL staff members' standing as world class experts and their influence on the scientific, technical and socio-economic understanding of climate change. Congratulations and thank you.
For more information, visit the IPCC website (Posted 6/1/2007)
Bob Scherpelz Receives Award for Article in Russian Publication
Bob Scherpelz won an award for his article in the Russian journal Radiation Safety Problems. Russian counterparts submitted documents the team had prepared to the scientific