Sandia National Laboratories has an expert for you, from energy and computing to nanotechnology and physics, from homeland security and military defense to robotics and battery testing. To request an interview with one of our experts, call or email the associated Media Relations contact. Experts are based in Albuquerque,
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Community Education
STEM
Amy Tapia manages Sandia's Community Involvement team and is responsible for hands-on programs that encourage students to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers.
Contact: Lindsey Kibler -
Computing
Big Data
Erik DeBenedictis specializes in advanced computing, including supercomputers and supercomputing and research into new computational paradigms, devices, circuits and algorithms, the latter often called "Beyond Moore's law."
Contact: Neal SingerExascale Computing
James A. Ang manages Sandia's Exascale Computing Program (ECP). His primary role and responsibility are to define and execute the ECP research and development strategy for component, node and system architecture designs.
Contact: Neal SingerNeurocomputing
Brad Aimone is a computational neuroscientist whose research focuses on theoretical neuroscience of memory, design of neural computing architectures and neural machine learning algorithms, and the application of neural computing to high-performance computing systems.
Contact: Mollie Rappe -
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity (Livermore, CA)
Karim Mahrous, senior manager of Sandia's Mission Engineering Sciences group, is an expert in data sciences and cyberdata analytics.
Contact: Michael PadillaLevi Lloyd manages Sandia's Cyber Systems Research Program and is an expert in malware research and development, cybersecurity, mitigation and response.
Contact: Michael Padilla -
Energy
Biofuels (Livermore, CA)
Ben Wu, senior manager of Sandia's Biosciences Programs, has expertise in biochemical and thermochemical biomass conversion technologies.
Contact: Jules BernsteinJohn Gladden works in Sandia's Biomass Science and Conversion Technology department, where he leads the algae program.
Contact: Jules BernsteinEnergy - Tribal Lands
Sandra Begay manages Sandia's renewable energy technical assistance for tribes and has expertise in tribal energy installations, specifically off-grid solar systems, including hybrid systems, strategic energy planning and tribal technical internship development.
Contact: Kristen MeubHydrogen Technologies (Livermore, CA)
Joe Pratt leads Sandia’s Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure Research and Station Technology (H2FIRST) project and Zero Emission Maritime Program. He develops innovative hydrogen technology solutions for clean energy applications.
Contact: Michael PadillaChris LaFleur leads Sandia’s Hydrogen Safety Codes and Standards Program, supporting the development of science-based codes, standards and regulations for hydrogen technologies.
Contact: Michael PadillaRenewable Energy & Smart Grid
Ross Guttromson works on Sandia's electric grid power systems research with a focus on transmission system planning and expansion, including advanced operations, stochastic optimization, wide-area stability and control, and smart-grid interfaces.
Contact: Kristen MeubSolar Fuels
Tony Martino leads Sandia’s Solar Fuels Program, which develops high-efficiency production pathways for hydrogen and synthetic hydrocarbon fuels from concentrating solar technology, carbon dioxide and water.
Contact: Kristen MeubSolar Power
Clifford K. Ho works in Sandia’s Concentrating Solar Power Program in the area of high-temperature receivers.
Contact: Kristen MeubJoshua S. Stein conducts multidisciplinary research on the performance and reliability of photovoltaic energy systems with the aim of breaking barriers for the integration of renewable energy sources onto the nation’s electrical grid.
Contact: Kristen MeubWater Power Materials
Bernadette Hernandez-Sanchez leads Sandia's Marine and Hydrokinetic (MHK) Advanced Materials Program and the Department of Energy's MHK Composite Materials Database. Applied research and development from the programs provide solutions to materials and coatings problems that could hinder a device’s construction, performance, maintenance or reliability. She develops renewable energy materials, marine composites and coatings.
Contact: Media RelationsWind Energy
Todd Griffith works in Sandia's Wind Energy Technology department and is the technical lead for the Offshore Wind Energy Program. He researches large rotor technology development, aeroelasticity of renewable energy systems, structural health monitoring and prognostics management methods for renewable energy systems, and marine hydrokinetics technology.
Contact: Stephanie Holinka -
Environment
Climate Change
Mark Ivey, a specialist in atmospheric measurements and the Arctic climate, manages Sandia's climate research facilities for the Department of Energy in Alaska.
Contact: Neal SingerWater
Vincent Tidwell is a hydrologist with experience in water resource modeling, resource planning, water-energy-land interdependencies and climate impacts on humans and infrastructure.
Contact: Stephanie Holinka -
Homeland Security
Biological and Chemical Security
Jennifer Gaudioso leads Sandia’s International Biological and Chemical Threat Reduction Program. Her teams have visited facilities in more than 40 countries to consult on biosecurity and chemical security issues. She heads the World Organisation for Animal Health’s Collaborating Centre for Laboratory Biorisk Management.
Contact: Mollie RappeRadiation
Gus Potter does systems analysis studies on the risk and consequences of acts of radiological terrorism, including adversary motivation and capability, availability and security of radiological sources, consequences of using radiological devices and ways to mitigate threats and consequences. He has more than two decades of experience in determining radiation doses and associated effects on humans.
Contact: Mollie RappeRobotics
Jon Salton of Sandia's High Consequence Automation and Robotics group researches robotics, intelligent systems, miniature electromechanical systems and actuators, and advanced and multimodal mobility.
Contact: Mollie RappeStephen Buerger of Sandia's High Consequence Automation and Robotics group conducts research and development in physically interactive manipulation, energy-efficient and high-performance actuator technologies, autonomy and advanced controls for unmanned systems, advanced mobility, specialized small-scale electromechanical systems and sensors, and biomedical and human-interactive technologies.
Contact: Mollie Rappe -
Military/Defense
Physical Security
Jason Guldan manages Sandia's Security System Design and Engineering department, which provides analysis, modeling and electronic security engineering capabilities to the Department of Defense and Department of Energy. He has a broad background in physical security for critical national security assets.
Contact: Mollie Rappe -
Nanotechnology
Biological-inspired Nanoscience
George Bachand is a bioengineer who studies nanoscale processes and phenomena in biology and uses the knowledge to design and develop biomimetic nanomaterials, devices and systems.
Contact: Mollie RappeMicrosystems and Nanodevices
Rick McCormick, senior manager, leads departments in Sandia's Microsystems Process Science & Technology group in the Center for Microsystems Science, Technology and Components. The group works on silicon and compound semiconductor electronics, photonics and radiation effects for such applications as harsh-environment radiation-hardened electronics and photonics, exascale computing and satellite sensing and communication.
Contact: Media RelationsNanoscience
Hongyou Fan of Sandia's Materials Science and Engineering Center focuses on synthesis and integration of nanostructured materials and their applications in nanoelectronics and nanophotonics.
Contact: Neal SingerNanotechnology (Livermore, CA)
François Leonard specializes in nanoelectronics and nanophotonics, particularly carbon nanotubes, nanowires and metal-organic frameworks, with applications in next-generation electronics and photodetectors.
Contact: Michael Padilla -
Physics
Z Machine & High Energy Density Science
Daniel Sinars, senior manager of Sandia's Radiation and Fusion Physics group, oversees research on inertial confinement fusion and other high energy density (HED) science work. HED and fusion physics encompass laboratory research on extreme states of matter at pressures one million times greater than atmospheric pressure.
Contact: Neal SingerPhotonics
Patrick B. Chu manages Sandia’s Applied Photonics Microsystems department, which performs cutting-edge research in silicon photonics and nanophotonics for optical communication, sensing, radio frequency and quantum applications critical for national security.
Contact: Media Relations -
Science/Technology/Engineering
Additive Manufacturing
Mark F. Smith, deputy director for additive manufacturing in Sandia's Materials Science and Engineering Center, has been involved with additive manufacturing at various levels for more than 30 years. He works with additive manufacturing activities across Sandia and promotes interactions with university, industry and government partners.
Contact: Neal SingerBattery Abuse Testing Laboratory
Chris Orendorff manages Sandia’s Battery Abuse Testing Laboratory, the nation’s leading source for determining the safety and reliability of electric-car batteries.
Contact: Stephanie HolinkaLeigh Anna Steele leads Sandia's Battery Safety Testing Laboratory (BATLAb), part of the Power Source Technology Research & Development group. The lab provides safety and abuse testing on batteries, including rechargeable and nonrechargeable cells.
Contact: Stephanie HolinkaMaterials Science
Wahid Hermina manages Sandia's Materials Aging and Reliability group and has expertise in experimental and computational engineering sciences, material constitutive models, and microscale and nanoscale phenomena.
Contact: Media RelationsMichael Valley oversees materials science research and development, including creating new materials, computer modeling, biomaterials, self-assembled nanomaterials, materials characterization technologies and materials for applications ranging from national security to energy.
Contact: Media RelationsMicro Electro Mechanical Systems
Keith Ortiz manages Sandia’s Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Technologies department, which conducts research and development toward advanced MEMS devices.
Contact: Mollie RappePower Electronics
Bob Kaplar studies various aspects of power electronics with a particular focus on wide and ultrawide bandgap semiconductor materials applied to power conversion.
Contact: Media RelationsRobotics
Jon Salton of Sandia's High Consequence Automation and Robotics group researches robotics, intelligent systems, miniature electromechanical systems and actuators, and advanced and multimodal mobility.
Contact: Mollie RappeStephen Buerger of Sandia's High Consequence Automation and Robotics group conducts research and development in physically interactive manipulation, energy-efficient and high-performance actuator technologies, autonomy and advanced controls for unmanned systems, advanced mobility, specialized small scale electromechanical systems and sensors, and biomedical and human-interactive technologies.
Contact: Mollie RappeSemiconductor Materials
Jerry Simmons, laboratories fellow, initiates and guides programs in basic materials science and semiconductor device physics.
Contact: Neal SingerJeff Tsao is internationally recognized as a pioneer and leader in solid state lighting. He works on integrated science, technology and economic modeling in semiconductor and energy technologies and the “science of team science."
Contact: Mollie Rappe -
Space/Astronomy
Meteors
Dale Jackson researches ground- and space-based observations of meteors.
Contact: Mollie Rappe -
Technology Transfer
Small Business Partnerships
Del Salazar manages Sandia’s Small Business Program and leads the execution of Sandia’s small business subcontracting plan and supplier diversity efforts.
Contact: Nancy SalemMarie Myszkier is Sandia’s lead advocate for supplier diversity and specializes in identifying capable, qualified small businesses for Sandia’s purchasing needs.
Contact: Nancy SalemTech Transfer/Economic Development
Jackie Kerby Moore has experience in technology-based economic development, industry partnerships, technology commercialization and public-private partnerships. She works with the Sandia Science & Technology Park, New Mexico Small Business Assistance, Entrepreneurial Separation to Transfer Technology, Entrepreneurial Training, Center for Collaboration & Commercialization and Small Business Voucher programs.
Contact: Nancy Salem -
Transportation
Aviation Research
Dennis Roach has expertise in experimental and analytical assessment and nondestructive inspection of structures and mechanical systems. He specializes in damage tolerance and inspection of composite and metallic structures, including developing sensors for in-situ monitoring. He works to maintain aging aircraft airworthiness and extend advanced aviation technology to energy infrastructure, civilian industries and homeland security.
Contact: Mollie RappeBattery Abuse Testing Laboratory
Chris Orendorff manages Sandia’s Battery Abuse Testing Laboratory, the nation’s leading source for determining the safety and reliability of electric-car batteries.
Contact: Stephanie HolinkaLeigh Anna Steele leads Sandia's Battery Safety Testing Laboratory (BATLAb), part of the Power Source Technology Research & Development group. The lab provides safety and abuse testing on batteries, including rechargeable and nonrechargeable cells.
Contact: Stephanie HolinkaBiofuels (Livermore, CA)
Ben Wu, senior manager of Sandia's Biosciences Programs, has expertise in biochemical and thermochemical biomass conversion technologies.
Contact: Jules BernsteinJohn Gladden works in Sandia's Biomass Science and Conversion Technology department, where he leads the algae program.
Contact: Jules BernsteinCombustion Research Facility (Livermore, CA)
John Dec, an engine researcher and senior scientist at Sandia's Combustion Research Facility, is a renowned expert on low-temperature gasoline combustion, including homogeneous charge compression ignition.
Contact: Michael PadillaCraig Taatjes manages Sandia's Combustion Chemistry department, where he researches fundamental flame chemistry and the kinetics of elementary reactions important in combustion.
Contact: Michael PadillaPaul Miles manages Sandia's Engine Combustion department, which seeks to increase understanding of internal combustion engine processes that affect efficiency and emissions.
Contact: Michael PadillaHydrogen Technologies (Livermore, CA)
Joe Pratt leads Sandia's Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure Research and Station Technology (H2FIRST) project and Zero Emission Maritime Program. He develops innovative hydrogen technology solutions for clean energy applications.
Contact: Michael PadillaChris LaFleur leads Sandia’s Hydrogen Safety Codes and Standards Program, supporting the development of science-based codes, standards and regulations for hydrogen technologies.
Contact: Michael Padilla