Marc Janoschek, of Condensed Matter and Magnet Science, led the first experiment of its type with a multi-disciplinary team at the Spallation Neutron Source that utilized plutonium-242; many have said this is the most significant measurement on plutonium in a generation. His research focuses on the use of elastic and inelastic neutron scattering to elucidate complex behavior in materials exhibiting emergent phenomena. This important work supports the programmatic efforts of the Laboratory and helps Los Alamos maintain its position as the recognized leader in actinide science and correlated electron materials research.

Jennifer Martinez, of the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, is among the best-known nano-cluster scientists in the world. Her research focuses on the development of biosensors for threat reduction, tuberculosis and breast cancer and the synthesis and characterization of optical and biologically reactive polymers. This research has demonstrated the ability to control the synthesis and tailoring of the photophysical properties of small metal nano-clusters, which represents an emerging and interesting class of materials that can be used to create new biological detectors that overcome many difficulties of earlier approaches.

Jian-Xin Zhu, of Physics of Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, broadly impacted actinide science and nanotechnology work at the Laboratory by upending the conventional picture of when the transition to strong correlations occurs in delta and alpha plutonium. His research focuses on the development and application of quantum, many-body, first-principles electronic structure theory to strongly correlated electronic materials. Zhu's work on plutonium is an achievement in computational and theoretical physics that represents a dramatic leap forward; it has attracted a great deal of attention in the field of correlated electron systems.

Fellows' Research Prize Winners

Fellows' Research Prize Winners