Bill Strunk of ORNL’s Nuclear Science and Engineering Directorate received the ORNL Director’s Award for Outstanding Individual Accomplishment in Science and Technology during the Laboratory’s Awards Night event Nov. 18 at the Knoxville Convention Center.
Strunk was recognized for exemplary leadership of ORNL’s uranium science and engineering programs, which has led to enhancements in the nation’s nuclear security. He is also credited with the establishment of research and development capabilities and facilities that will enable ORNL to excel in vitally important areas of research.
Strunk, who works in the Enrichment Science and Engineering Division, also earned the Division Level Research Leadership Award.
Roderick Jackson of the Energy and Transportation Science Division received the Director’s Award for Outstanding Individual Accomplishment in Mission Support.
Jackson was cited for exemplary leadership in communicating the innovative science and technology behind the Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy Demonstration Project, a collaborative effort that integrates advanced systems for generating, storing and using electrical power for both buildings and vehicles. Jackson also received the Science Communicator Award.
A discovery that advances the understanding of quantum spin liquids in real materials received the Director’s Award for Outstanding Team Accomplishment. The multidisciplinary team’s efforts culminated in the observation of fractionalized quantum spin liquid excitations, which may represent a step toward solid-state technology for quantum computers.
The team, led by the Neutron Sciences Directorate’s Arnab Banerjee, also includes Adam Aczel, Craig Bridges, Garrett Granroth, Mark Lumsden, David Mandrus, Stephen Nagler, Matthew Stone, Alan Tennant and Jiaqiang Yan. The team also received the team Research Accomplishment Award. Winners were selected by committees and approved by ORNL director Thom Mason.
