An honor and a commitment

In 2019, Los Alamos National Laboratory physicist Brian Albright was in Washington, D.C., on official travel when he received an unexpected call from Lab Director Thom Mason. “He was notifying me of my appointment as a Laboratory Fellow,” Albright recalls. “At the time, I felt a deep sense of honor, gratitude, and motivation—the appointment represents both a responsibility and an opportunity to give back to the Lab and its people.”

Established in 1981 by Director Don Kerr, the Laboratory Fellows comprise technical staff recognized for their sustained, outstanding contributions and their promise for continued professional achievement. Since the group’s inception, 300 Fellows have been named; about 90 are active, including 60 current employees, who represent roughly 2 percent of the Lab’s technical workforce.

The title of Fellow is more than an accolade. “According to our charter, the Fellows are a service organization,” Albright explains. “Fellows are expected to play an important role in the Lab community.” Collectively, they serve as thought leaders across science, engineering, and mathematics who model the professionalism and commitment to technical excellence that defines Los Alamos. Fellows advise Lab leadership; organize special studies, colloquia, and symposia; and sponsor the Fellows Prizes, awarded annually for excellence in research and leadership.

Fellows are uniquely positioned to help shape the Lab’s future research directions. They are charged with maintaining the institution’s scientific and technical proficiency by identifying emerging opportunities, addressing potential challenges, and ensuring that bold, creative ideas can thrive. “We take seriously our role in advancing scientific and technical excellence and in helping develop the next generations of leaders,” Albright says. “Where appropriate, we also challenge Lab leadership and offer suggestions in areas where we think the Lab can do better.”

Looking ahead, Albright identifies two major challenges for the Laboratory. The first is how to navigate an aging nuclear deterrent and stressed weapons production enterprise, even amidst advances in artificial intelligence and experimental capabilities. The second is ensuring the Laboratory has the right workforce and mix of technical capabilities to meet the demands of the first challenge. Albright explains that more than half of Los Alamos staff have worked at the Laboratory fewer than five years, creating hurdles for knowledge transfer, mentoring, and sustaining a culture of technical excellence. “It is telling that despite having our largest technical workforce ever, journal publication rates have declined, which is an issue the Fellows are actively studying,” he says. “The question is how we align our people and investments, striking the right balance between deep, targeted expertise in key strategic areas and broad, capability-based research that seeds the breakthroughs of tomorrow. Attracting and developing a workforce that can operate effectively across this spectrum is essential.”

Ultimately, Albright says, the nation doesn’t look to the national laboratories to conduct university-scale science. “Rather, they look to us to tackle the kinds of challenges that only we can address—work that requires a strong and enduring technical foundation.” The Laboratory Fellows help ensure that foundation by upholding the Lab’s scientific legacy while guiding its future. “Being a Fellow,” Albright reiterates, “is about inspiring curiosity, protecting scientific integrity, and ensuring that Los Alamos remains a place where transformative discoveries can and will happen.” ★