The Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) recently elevated five of its researchers to Corporate Fellow status, bestowing upon them the lab's highest honor for remarkable career achievements and leadership within their respective fields. According to ORNL, Larry Baylor, Craig Blue, Bob Hettich, Mark Lumsden, and Jun Qu have been recognized for their influential contributions to the international scientific community and their roles in mentoring peers and guiding early-career scientists.
In a statement released by ORNL, Director Stephen Streiffer expressed his admiration for the new Fellows, highlighting their diverse expertise which spans fusion energy, advanced manufacturing, microscopy, neutron science, and material science. "Our five new Corporate Fellows represent ORNL’s breadth of talent and expertise that can be applied to the energy and environmental challenges we face as a society," Streiffer said. Notably, each of these scientists possesses an exceptional track record in their disciplines, holding leadership positions and being responsible for groundbreaking advances and, strategic partnerships that reinforce the laboratory's impact on technology and innovation.
Among the honored, Larry Baylor, an interim Fusion Nuclear Science, Technology, and Engineering section head, has been pivotal in advancing pellet physics and fueling systems for fusion devices. Known internationally for leading the team that developed the cryogenic shattered pellet injection technology, Baylor's work has been crucial in disruption mitigation across several fusion facilities worldwide. Craig Blue, another new Corporate Fellow, has been recognized for his nearly 30 years of distinguished R&D contributions in the field of materials and manufacturing science. As ORNL's chief manufacturing officer and defense manufacturing program director, he has aggressively fostered workforce development and played a significant role in foundational manufacturing and materials innovation.
Mark Lumsden, who leads the Spectroscopy section in ORNL's Neutron Scattering Division, has made considerable strides in the field of neutron scattering science. With a focus on the development of ORNL's inelastic neutron scattering capabilities, his work supports the scientific community's investigation into quantum materials. Bob Hettich is known as a founder of metaproteomics and has been instrumental in advancing biological mass spectrometry technologies. His research has broad implications, especially regarding our understanding of microbiomes. Lastly, Jun Qu, heading the Surface Engineering and Tribology group, is hailed as a significant thought leader in tribology, especially noted for his contributions to the study of ionic liquid lubricants.
ORNL, managed by UT-Battelle for the DOE’s Office of Science, stands as a beacon in the U.S. for physical sciences research. The Office of Science aims to tackle some of the country's most pressing challenges. The Corporate Fellows program at ORNL, through which these five researchers have been recognized, serves as a testament to the ongoing pursuit of innovation and science that changes the landscape of technology and knowledge in our society.
