The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers Valentino Cooper, Howard Wilson and Jiaqiang Yan have been named Fellows of the American Physical Society, or APS, a distinction recognizing their outstanding contributions to their fields.
APS, which represents more than 50,000 physicists globally, awards fellowship status to members who have made exceptional contributions to physics through basic research, applications and education. This year’s ORNL honorees have each made significant impacts in their respective fields, advancing scientific discovery and technology with significant benefits for society at large.
Valentino Cooper, who leads the Materials Theory, Modeling and Simulations section in the Materials Science and Technology Division at ORNL, was recognized for his development of theoretical and computational methods that elucidate the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of advanced materials. Cooper’s research supports next-generation energy and information technologies by focusing on materials down to the atomic and electronic levels.
Cooper is also the director of the DOE funded Energy Frontier Research Center on Fast and Cooperative Ion Transport in Polymer Electrolytes, or FaCT, where he leads a multidisciplinary team that works to understand and control correlated ion and proton transport at multiple length and time scales in polymer-based electrolytes. This work is focused on overcoming the current limitations of energy storage and conversion technologies. Raised in Freeport, Bahamas, Cooper draws inspiration from his parents and his early fascination with science. He is particularly passionate about mentoring early career scientists and designing new materials that address current U.S. energy challenges. Read more about Cooper and his work here.
Howard Wilson, the Fusion Pilot Plant R&D lead in ORNL’s Fusion and Fission Energy and Science Directorate, was honored for his contributions to the understanding of magnetic fusion devices. His work focuses on plasma turbulence and instabilities that impact fusion reactor performance. Wilson’s career spans roles in both the United Kingdom and the U.S., including leadership of the York Plasma Institute at the University of York and serving as the first director of the U.K.’s STEP fusion pilot plant program.
At ORNL, he applies his expertise to support the science of accelerated fusion energy delivery, advocating for a collaborative approach that integrates multiple disciplines. Wilson envisions ORNL as a hub for fusion innovation, leveraging its enormous breadth of fusion-relevant capabilities, including in materials science, plasma physics, advanced manufacturing advanced computing and many other technologies. His goal is to establish partnerships that can drive the creation of a sustainable fusion energy delivery infrastructure, as well as a strong, skilled workforce. Read more about Wilson and his work here.
Jiaqiang Yan, a leading scientist in ORNL’s Correlated Electron Materials group, Materials Science and Technology Division, was acknowledged for his pioneering work in the synthesis and characterization of novel materials. Yan’s research includes projects on quantum spin liquids, cleavable topological magnets and high entropy oxides, contributing to a deeper understanding of materials with unique electronic, magnetic and thermal properties.
As one of the most highly cited researchers worldwide, Yan’s work ranked in the top 1% of citations in his field for the past five consecutive years, underscoring the importance of his work with quantum materials. Read more about Yan’s work here.
Each year, APS Fellow nominees are limited to a small fraction of the society’s membership, reflecting the prestigious nature of the honor. ORNL’s newest APS Fellows will receive their certificates at the upcoming APS meeting in spring 2024.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for DOE’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science. – Galen Fader
