Early Career Research Program award winners Nina Balke and Gonzalo Alvarez (Ezekial A. Unterberg is not pictured).
Gonzalo Alvarez, Nina Balke and Ezekial A. Unterberg have received Early Career Research Program awards from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.
The five-year awards provide up to $500,000 in funding and are designed to support exceptional researchers during their crucial early career years, when many scientists do their most formative work.
The three ORNL recipients investigate complex problems and phenomena associated with strategic energy research goals.
Alvarez's project aims to advance theoretical modeling capabilities to understand nanoscale phenomena in strongly correlated electronic materials, such as high-temperature superconductors. Understanding these materials could provide insights for the development of new materials for solar cells, lighting and power transmission.
Balke's study seeks to enhance the fundamental understanding of the nanoscale processes that define a battery. Her research will combine microscopy with electrical and structural battery characterization techniques and advanced theoretical modeling.
Unterberg's research focuses on a major challenge for the ITER international fusion experiment and future fusion reactors: controlling the intense fluxes of heat known as edge localized mode, or ELM. These fluxes can seriously damage fusion reactor surfaces.
Stephen J. Pennycook has been named a Fellow of the Materials Research Society.
Stephen J. Zinkle has been named a Fellow of the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society.
Andy Wereszczak has been named a Fellow of the American Ceramic Society.
Carl Burtis has received the 2011 IFCC Henry Wishinsky Award for Distinguished International Services from the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine.
Ian Anderson has received the Executive of the Year Award from the Volunteer Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
Tina Curry, LeJean Hardin, Lindsey Marlar, Mark Robbins, Jason Smith and Andy Sproles received awards from Graphic Design USA for their work on ORNL promotional materials.