Eight researchers have been named 2026 Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellows: Abul Azad, Nicholas Dallmann, Diego Dalvit, Stosh Kozimor, Eric Nelson, Ruy Ribeiro, Ruth Skoug and Ping Yang.
"The Laboratory’s ability to tackle the nation’s most pressing scientific and national security challenges depends on our people," Laboratory Director Thom Mason said. "These researchers exemplify scientific excellence at Los Alamos and have played an important role in advancing both scientific discovery and our missions."
About the Fellows
Abul Azad, of the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, has demonstrated sustained scientific achievement in ultrafast terahertz optics, functional metamaterials and quantum photonics. These accomplishments earned him international recognition and election as a fellow of Optica. He has received several awards for strengthening the Laboratory’s capabilities in global security and weapons science, consistently advancing innovative research initiatives.
Nicholas Dallmann, of the Materials Physics and Applications — Quantum group, connects high-priority mission needs with emerging technologies across a broad set of capabilities, including quantum sensing and information, space, electromagnetics, radiation transport and effects, and other disciplines. His engineering and science success in rapidly developing solutions spans organizations and programs.
Diego Dalvit, of the Quantum and Condensed Matter Physics group, has made high-impact contributions across optical sciences. His pioneering work has been recognized by the scientific community, including election as a fellow of the American Physical Society and Optica. He has achieved world-leading status in fields including Casimir physics, quantum metamaterials and remote quantum sensing.
Stosh Kozimor, of Los Alamos’ Inorganic, Isotope and Actinide Chemistry group, is an internationally recognized authority in actinide chemistry and X-ray spectroscopy, delivering achievements that bridge fundamental discovery science with critical mission impact. His work includes fundamental actinide bonding science, characterizing heavy elements, and developing medical radioisotope production methods. His contributions have reshaped the field.
Eric Nelson, of the Laboratory’s Verification and Analysis group, has made significant contributions to multiple areas important to the Lab’s mission. He is an internationally recognized leader in weapons effects. His accomplishments include foundational work in establishing a validated basis for modeling early-time, high-altitude electromagnetic pulses. His expertise has significantly advanced the Lab’s Weapons Survivability program, and as one of the TITANS faculty, he has trained many early-career staff on weapon physics and modeling.
Ruy Ribeiro, who worked in the Theoretical Biology and Biophysics group, made sustained and exceptional contributions in infectious disease and immune system modeling, establishing himself as a leading scientist in mathematical, statistical and computational studies of viral infections and immune dynamics. He has trained more than 25 postdoctoral researchers at the Lab. He received the Secretary's Appreciation Award for participating in the Department of Energy’s Ebola Task Force Team.
Ruth Skoug, of the Space Science and Applications group, is one of a handful of researchers worldwide in space science who has mastered deep scientific expertise, cutting-edge instrumentation development and computational analysis. She delivers impactful space hardware for national security and science missions. Skoug led instruments on three major NASA missions and played lead roles in United States Nuclear Detonation Detection Systems instruments.
Ping Yang, of the Physics and Chemistry of Materials group, is an internationally recognized leader in theoretical and computational chemistry. Her work has advanced f-element science, separation chemistry and AI-driven molecular discovery. She has built a world-leading research program at the interface of electronic structure theory, heavy element chemistry and data-driven discovery. Yang’s work supports Los Alamos’ production science mission.
About the Laboratory Fellows
A Fellow appointment at Los Alamos is an honor recognizing outstanding achievement in science or engineering, reflecting the full breadth of Laboratory accomplishment from basic research to applied missions. Nominations are assessed on three criteria:
- Sustained, high-level achievement or leadership in advancing science, technology, engineering or mathematics or its application.
- One or more discoveries, inventions or breakthrough applications in science, technology, engineering or mathematics that have significantly advanced a field, bringing widespread acceptance and recognition.
- Recognition as an authority in a field or discipline, evidenced by citations, awards, fellowships in prestigious societies or engagement at the national or international level because of their expertise.
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