Argonne scientists receive presidential award for advancement of science

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ARGONNE, Ill. (Dec. 19, 2008) � Assistant chemist Yugang Sun and physicist Robin Santra of the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory today received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) to recognize their contribution to the advancement of science.

The Presidential Awards are intended to recognize and nurture some of the finest scientists and engineers who, while early in their research careers, show exceptional potential for leadership at the frontiers of scientific knowledge during the 21st century. The Presidential Award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers who are beginning their independent careers.

�These awards recognize some of the outstanding people affiliated with the Department of Energy whose extraordinary talents are discovering the solutions to power and secure America 's future,� said Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman. �Each honoree has made a unique contribution to fulfilling the department's mission and to enhancing scientific knowledge at large. I am proud of the awardees and appreciative of their efforts.�

Santra was recognized for theoretical contributions to the field of atomic, molecular and optical science in the areas of high-order harmonic generation and strong-field absorption and ionization; and for scientific mentoring of students and the public.

Santra received his Ph.D. in theoretical chemical physics from theUniversity of Heidelbergin 2001. As a postdoctoral researcher, he worked at JILA, which is jointly operated by theUniversity of Coloradoand theNational Institute of Standards and Technology, and at theInstitute for Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physicsat theHarvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Santra joined Argonne National Laboratory in 2005. In 2007, he was awarded by theInternational Union of Pure and Applied Physicsthe Young Scientist Prize in Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics. He has published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles and has given 50 invited presentations.

Sun was recognized for developing ground-breaking techniques for chemical synthesis and nanofabrication of metal and semiconductor nanomaterials; and for educational activities for the community.

Sun received a B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry from theUniversity of Science and Technology of Chinain 1996 and 2001, respectively. Before joining Argonne in 2006, he was a post-doctoral research associate at theUniversity of Washingtonand theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where his research led to more than 10 patents.

He has published more than 80 peer-reviewed articles in high-profile journals includingScience,Nature Nanotechnology,Nano Letters Advanced Materials, and theJournal of American Chemical Society. The total number of citations to his work is more than 7,400, and he has 16 papers that have been cited individually more than 100 times. He has delivered more than 20 invited presentations at major international conferences and universities.

The winning scientists are among 68 researchers supported by nine federal departments and agencies who received the award. In addition to a citation and a plaque, each PECASE winner receives up to five years of funding from their agency to advance his or her research.John Marburger, Science Advisor to the President and Director of theOffice of Science and Technology Policy, presented the awards.

Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America 's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed byUChicago Argonne, LLCfor theU.S. Department of Energy'sOffice of Science.

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For more information, please contact Brock Cooper (630/252-5565 ormedia@anl.gov) at Argonne.