Albert, of the Laboratory's Materials Science and Technology Division, will be working with the associate director of the National Academy of Engineering program office on "The Impact of Academic Research on Industrial Performance: A Multi-Industry Study," a project funded by the Alfred Sloan Foundation.
The NAE Fellows program seeks to achieve three main objectives: to broaden the fellow's exposure to and understanding of major technology, engineering, and science issues facing the United States in both domestic and international arenas; to provide opportunities for fellows to work with academic, industrial and government leaders in technology, engineering research and education; and to furnish fellows with new perspectives on the impact of technological change on society and on the consequences of political, economic and social actions for technology development and deployment.
Albert applied for the fellowship, expressing interest in the "Managing Technology Innovation" program, she said. Other programs at the National Academy of Engineering include "Changing Nature of Engineering" and "Technology and Environment."
"I think they were looking for someone with a technical background, but they also wanted someone interested in United States science and technology policy. The people in the program office thought that I was sufficiently informed that it bore out my assertion that I was interested in the work that the NAE does," she said.
Albert earned her bachelors degree in metallurgical engineering from Ohio State University and her doctoral degree in metallurgical engineering and materials science from Carnegie Mellon University. Albert has worked at Los Alamos since 1993.
Albert will reside in Washington, D.C. during her year away from the Los Alamos.
Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, a team composed of Bechtel National, the University of California, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and Washington Group International for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.
Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.