Eight researchers have been named 2025 Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellows: James Colgan, Carl Ekdahl, Franz Freibert, Bryan Henson, Toshihiko Kawano, Charles Reichhardt, Tom Vestrand and David Zerkle.
“These eight researchers exemplify the highest standards of scientific excellence,” said Laboratory Director Thom Mason. “Individually, they have pushed the boundaries of discovery in their respective fields, and together, their collective contributions have not only advanced the Laboratory’s mission but also elevated our ability to tackle the most complex scientific and national security challenges.”
About the Fellows
James Colgan, of the Theoretical division, was named fellow for his sustained, outstanding scientific leadership in the field of atomic and molecular physics. He is a recognized international leading authority in the modeling of atomic processes in plasmas and the production and use of opacities for a range of applications that contribute to the Laboratory’s national security mission. He has authored more than 250 papers and more than 20 Physical Review Letters.
Carl Ekdahl, of the Engineering, Operations, and Physics group, was named fellow for his pivotal work at the Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test Facility and his contributions to the Advanced Sources and Detectors (Scorpius) project. He is an internationally recognized expert in the physics of intense relativistic charged particle beams. He has more than 350 publications, 70 of them in peer reviewed journal articles.
Franz Freibert, of the National Security Education Center and director of the G.T. Seaborg Institute, was named fellow for groundbreaking achievements in plutonium and actinide materials science, condensed matter physics, and materials production research and characterization. His contributions have enhanced current weapons physics and engineering performance methods. He fundamentally influenced the Laboratory’s nuclear defense mission and actinide science reputation. Freibert has 106 peer-reviewed publications.
Bryan Henson, of the Physical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy group, was named fellow for sustained, high-level achievement in advancing the understanding of the chemistry and physics of molecular condensed phases, with applications including ozone depletion and explosives. His insights into explosive thermal response have influenced work throughout the National Nuclear Security Administration, internationally. Henson has published more than 100 papers with thousands of citations.
Toshihiko Kawano, of the Nuclear and Particle Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology group, was named fellow for his scientific contributions that have transformed the field of nuclear data. He is one of the world’s foremost scientists in nuclear reaction physics and nuclear data, and his contributions span from fundamental theory to Laboratory mission-critical applications. He has more than 170 publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Charles Reichhardt, of the Quantum and Condensed Matter Physics group, was selected as a fellow for advancing the understanding of physics underlying a variety of non-equilibrium phenomena, the role of topological defects such as vortices and skyrmions, active matter, and his work supporting the Stockpile Stewardship Program. His work comprises roughly 350 peer-reviewed publications, which are highly cited.
Tom Vestrand, of the Space Remote Sensing and Data Science group, was named fellow for seminal discoveries in gamma-ray astronomy, high-energy solar physics, and optical time-domain astronomy. Vestrand led the development of the RAPid Telescopes for Optical Response system of robotic telescopes and the Thinking Telescopes project that paved the way for a new generation of autonomous optical telescopes that monitor the night sky for powerful cosmic explosions.
David Zerkle, of the Information Systems & Modeling group, was named fellow for scientific leadership in nuclear counterterrorism and providing technical analysis and government-wide education in support of improvised nuclear device defeat. He is an expert in modeling and simulation of nuclear threat devices and is a recognized authority in high explosives and countering weapons of mass destruction. He has more than 80 scientific publications.
About the Laboratory Fellows
A Fellow appointment at Los Alamos is an honor bestowed in recognition of outstanding achievement in science and/or engineering, recognizing the full breadth of Laboratory accomplishment from basic research to applied missions. Nominations are assessed on three criteria:
- Sustained, high-level achievement and/or leadership in advancing science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) or its application.
- One or more STEM discoveries, inventions or breakthrough applications of STEM that have made significant advances to a field of discipline, bringing widespread acceptance and recognition.
- Having become a recognized authority in a field or discipline as evidenced by citations, awards, Fellowships in prestigious societies and/or engagement at the national/international level because of their expertise.
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