Laboratory scientists Petr Chylek, Keith Despain, Joyce Guzik, Rajan Gupta, and Beth Nordholt are the newest Laboratory Fellows, signifying the Laboratory's highest honor for technical accomplishment.
The five scientists were selected for sustained high-level achievement in programs important to the Laboratory. They made a fundamental or important discovery that lead to their widespread use, or have become a recognized authority in their field, including outside recognition and an outstanding record of publications.
"Approximately 2 percent of the Laboratory's current technical staff members hold the title of 'Fellow' at any one time," said Laboratory Director Mike Anastasio. "The Fellows play an important role in demonstrating and maintaining the scientific excellence of the Laboratory. On occasion, I and other senior leaders will charge the Fellows to assess issues where their experience and advice is particularly useful. In welcoming these five new Fellows, I want to thank the entire group of Fellows for their sustained contributions to the Laboratory. They all bring honor to the Laboratory."
Petr Chylek of Space and Remote Sensing (ISR-2) is a world-recognized expert in optical sciences, aerosol physics, atmospheric science and climate change research. He is a fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the Optical Society of America.
Keith H. Despain of Thermonuclear Applications (X-2) has made sustained, high-level achievements in nuclear weapons programs, is a recognized authority in weapons design, and has provided distinguished and exemplary service to laboratory programs.
Rajan Gupta of Elementary Particles and Field Theory (T-8) is a leading figure in the international high-energy physics community, having made pathbreaking contributions to the development of lattice quantum chromodynamics and computational high-energy physics. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society.
Joyce Guzik of NAVY-1 (X-2-N-1) has a sustained record of high-quality contributions to the nuclear weapons program, and has produced a substantial body of internationally recognized work in astrophysics. She also is recognized for her unclassified work on stellar evolution and pulsation.
Jane E. (Beth) Nordholt of Applied Modern Physics (P-21) has established an international reputation in space science, having developed mass spectrometry and oncentrator instrumentation deployed on the NASA Cassini, Deep Space 1 and Genesis missions. In addition, she has made substantial, high-level contributions to intelligence community programs, and is recognized and acknowledged for work in the area of quantum cryptology.
Twenty five nominations were submitted for the rank of Fellow. The eleven members of the Fellows Screening Committee reviewed the nominations and made recommendations to Anastasio.
