Bio
Adam Aczel is currently the Triple Axis Spectroscopy Group Leader in the Neutron Sciences Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Adam received a Ph.D. degree in physics from McMaster University in 2010. After graduation, he became a postdoctoral fellow in the Neutron Sciences Directorate before becoming a staff scientist in 2013. He assumed the Group Leader position in 2024. Adam’s research interests include neutron scattering and muon spin relaxation studies of quantum materials, with a current emphasis on frustrated magnetism and heavy transition metal magnets. Adam started an appointment as the Communications Secretary for the Neutron Scattering Society of America in 2025 and he is one of the co-organizers of the National Neutron Scattering School that is hosted by ORNL each year.
Professional Experience
2024 - Present: Group Leader (Triple Axis Spectroscopy)
Neutron Sciences Directorate
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, USA
2013 - 2024: Staff Scientist
Neutron Sciences Directorate
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, USA
2010 - 2013: Postdoctoral Research Associate
Neutron Sciences Directorate
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, USA
Awards
2016: UT Battelle Team Research Award and UT Battelle Director’s Team Research Award: “For team effort culminating in the observation of fractionalized quantum spin liquid excitations”
Education
2005 - 2010: Doctor of Philosophy (Physics)
McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
2001 - 2005: Bachelor of Science (Physics Honours – Co-op)
University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada
Professional Service
2025 - Present: Communications Secretary
Neutron Scattering Society of America (NSSA)
2025 - Present: Co-director
National School on Neutron Scattering
2024 - Present: ORNL Point-of-Contact
US-Japan Cooperative Program on Neutron Scattering
2022 - 2024: Co-director
National School on Neutron and X-ray Scattering
2020 - 2021: Executive Committee Member, Chair (2020), Past-Chair (2021)
American Crystallographic Association, Neutrons Scientific Interest Group
2018 - 2021: Committee Member
NHMFL Pulsed Field Facility Advisory Sub-Committee
2018 - 2020: Secretary
SNS and HFIR User Group Executive Committee (SHUG-EC)
Professional Affiliations
American Physical Society, including GMAG, DMP, DCMP, and SESAPS
Neutron Scattering Society of America