Peter Fuhr's varied career path has taken him from laser diode arrays in space to pioneering sensor technology applications on Earth. As a scientist at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Fuhr has been recognized for his contributions with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Research and boasts titles as a lifetime senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and a Fellow of the International Society for Automation, according to ORNL.
In a career defined by boundary-pushing innovation, Fuhr has invented a breath sensor for detecting mad cow disease in cattle and contributed to the production of electrically conductive fibers for paper money security. Fuhr's work on networked sensor systems for structures also led to applications that range from wildfire management to safeguarding infrastructure like the floodgates of Venice, Italy. However, it is his practical approach to real-world problems that truly marks his work.
A hallmark of Fuhr's approach is his combination of technology and creativity. At ORNL’s Hardin Valley campus, Fuhr founded the Grid Operations and Analytics Laboratory (GOAL), with a focus on grid timing, cybersecurity initiatives, and testing of utility monitoring and cybersecurity advancements. This initiative is part of a broader national push for secure and efficient energy systems.
In terms of team dynamics, Fuhr is known for his inclusive leadership style at ORNL, often gathering his team around a table for collaborative brainstorming sessions. Each team member’s opinion is valued, contributing to a collective decision-making process, as ORNL reports. Fuhr also encourages mentorship within his team, offering opportunities to early-career researchers and graduate students from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Fuhr's recent inventions also explore the potential of synesthesia by encrypting grid communication data into an ever-changing color palette. With a constant pulse on the latest technologies from AI to quantum communications, Fuhr looks for creative intersections among these fields to drive progress in sensing and communication. Peter Fuhr told ORNL, “What interests me is the intersection of different technologies. This is a great moment with better, cheaper batteries, microcontrollers, the Internet of Things – here I can bring all these innovations together.”
Fuhr’s belief in the inherent risk of scientific discovery underlies his entire approach to research and development. His drive to try new things, even when their success isn't guaranteed, keeps him at the forefront of technological innovation. ORNL acknowledges, “He believes in the principle that science involves risk. Why try something if you already know it will work?”
