Tom Vestrand, Scott Crooker, Dan Thoma, Juan Fernandez, and Jeff Bedell are the 2007 Laboratory Fellows Prize recipients.
A reception for the newest fellows is at 3 p.m., Wednesday in the Physics Building Auditorium.
Vestrand of Space Science and Applications (ISR-1) and Crooker of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MPA-NHMFL) are receiving the Fellows Prize for outstanding research.
Thoma of the Lab’s Institutes Office (INST-OFF) and Fernandez of Plasma Physics (P-24) will be awarded the Fellows Prize for leadership.
A new Fellows Prize recognizing exceptional performance in the area of nonproliferation and national security was awarded to Bedell of International Research, Analysis and Technical Development (IAT-1).
“These individuals embody the excellence in scientific research and leadership essential to the Laboratory’s success; their contributions are indispensable to accomplishing our mission,” Laboratory Director Michael Anastasio said.
Laboratory employees nominate staff members for the Fellows’ Prize. A committee of Lab Fellows reviews the nominations and makes recommendations to the director.
Outstanding research
Vestrand joined the Laboratory in 1999. He is principal investigator and architect for the Thinking Telescopes Project and the RAPTOR (Rapid Telescopes for Optical Response) robotic telescopes. His work has a significant impact on the Laboratory’s programmatic missions and has helped position the Laboratory to make important contributions to national needs.
Crooker has been on the scientific magnet lab staff since 2000. Some of his work has been recognized with highly cited articles in Nature, Science, and Physical Review Letters, as well as with invited and plenary talks at the American Physical Society’s annual meetings, the Gordon Conference, and several other national and international seminars.
The Fellows’ Prize for outstanding research in science or engineering recognizes individuals for outstanding research performed at the Laboratory that was published within the last 10 years and that has had significant impact on its discipline or program.
Leadership
Thoma joined the Laboratory as a Postdoctoral Fellow in 1992 in the Materials Science and Technology (MST) Division. By 1997 Thoma was both a team and project leader and active with the national materials community through several professional societies. Thoma’s support for the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS) was recognized with the TMS Distinguished Service Award.
Fernandez began his career at the Lab in the former Controlled Thermonuclear Research Division in 1985. The group achieved international recognition for developing the concept of magnetic injection. He later joined Physics (P) Division where he gained worldwide recognition for his expertise in laser-plasma instability physics. For the past five years, Fernandez has led P Division’s short pulse laser project.
This Fellows’ Prize is awarded for outstanding leadership in science or engineering and to recognize the immense value of leadership in science and engineering at the Laboratory.
Nonproliferation and national security
Bedell is senior project leader for nuclear export control, international safeguards policy program, related nuclear proliferation assessments and studies. He also serves as lead technical adviser to Energy and State department delegations to the Zangger Committee and the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
Powerful Light Pulses Imitate Stars, Make Fusion Reactions Clearer
Milagro Telescope Zooms in on New Regions of Space
Library Researchers Make Searching More Predictable
