Benjamin Manard, an analytical chemist at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Lester W. Strock Award from the Society of Applied Spectroscopy. The Strock Award is given annually to researchers who have made significant contributions to the field of analytical atomic spectrochemistry through their publications, as the laboratory announced.
The Society highlighted Manard's work, which spans the past five years, noting his concentration on "elemental and isotopic analysis of nuclear materials using a variety of different analytical techniques," according to the commendation. The award particularly recognizes his advancements in methodologies, which include new sample introduction methods, and innovative detection strategies. Despite the depth and complexity of his work, the acknowledgment does not stray into hyperbole or elaborate description, rather it conveys a straightforward appraisal of his scientific achievements.
Since joining ORNL in 2018, Manard has established himself as an expert in trace element and isotopic analysis. His role as a senior R&D staff scientist has placed him at the forefront of ORNL’s Ultra-Trace Forensic Science Center and he heads the Chemical and Isotopic Mass Spectrometry group there. This facility is known for its state-of-the-art mass spectrometry capabilities.
Manard's educational background traces back to a bachelor of science in chemistry from Georgia Southern University, followed by a doctorate from Clemson University in the same field. After completing his education, he received a Glenn T. Seaborg postdoctoral research fellowship at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he also served as a staff scientist, eventually. His scholarly contributions include authorship of over 60 journal articles, 10 of which have been featured on the covers of scientific publications. He is also a serving member on the editorial board of Applied Spectroscopy Practica.
The presentation of the 2024 Strock Award will occur during the Society's annual meeting in October, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The event will coincide with the SciX Meeting, put on by the Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies. In a previous acknowledgment of his work, Manard has also been the recipient of the Department of Energy’s Secretary of Energy Achievement Award in 2021. ORNL, managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy's Office of Science, is a major hub of scientific research in the physical sciences in the United States, aiming to tackle some of the most critical challenges of our era.
