Group Leader, Detection Physics
Group Leader, Detection Physics

Biography

Jana Strasburg is a group leader for the Detection Physics group for the National Security Directorate (NSD) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). She is responsible for stewarding PNNL’s fundamental physics and ultra-low background radiation detection capabilities—managing the staff, equipment, and laboratory spaces. 

Strasburg started at PNNL in 2003 as an intern working on laser-based detection of chemicals relating to nuclear nonproliferation. Over the years, she took on increasing responsibility from project contributor, task lead, project manager, to principal investigator. From 2008 to 2010 she did an off-site assignment in Washington, DC, as a technical advisor to the Department of Energy - Office of Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development. 

Upon returning to the laboratory, Strasburg’s focused on projects that bridged measurement science, information analytics, and data science. In 2013, she began to serve in organizational leadership within NSD—including technical group manager of the Applied Physics group, division portfolio lead for the Signature Science and Technology Division, and NSD chief science and technology officer on an acting assignment.

Strasburg also led the Q-Camp pilot program which developed new approaches to accelerate innovation at the laboratory. In 2017, Strasburg gave a TEDx Richland presentation discussing the pilot and the lessons learned. She continues to work with project leaders to catalyze diverse, multidisciplinary teams to develop new ideas and accelerate progress. 
 

Research Interest

  • Innovation consulting
  • Innovation development
  • Instrumentation
  • Leadership and management
  • Optics
  • Physics
  • Research development
  • Strategic planning

Education

  • PhD in philosophy and physics, University of Washington
  • MS in physics, University of Washington
  • BS in physics, Pacific Lutheran University

Publications

2017