January 15, 2015 
RICHLAND, Wash. - 3 scientists at the D.O.E.'s Pacific Northwest National Lab have been elected to the rank of Fellow in the American Physical Society. David Asner, Don Baer and Chris Mundy were selected for the honor, which acknowledges exceptional contributions to physics, including outstanding research, important applications of physics, leadership or service to the physics community or significant contributions to physics education.
Asner's research focuses on searching for new particles, new interactions and new phenomena by understanding the most fundamental parts of the universe. He leads high energy particle physics experiments that re-create the conditions found in the 1st fraction of a 2nd after the Big Bang. Technology transfer from particle physics plays a role in a wide variety of areas, including the Web, grid computing (the predecessor to cloud computing), and new medical therapies, devices, and diagnostics that enhance and extend human life.
Baer's research advanced the molecular-level understanding of environmentally important interactions between nanoparticles and contaminants, mineral dissolution and material cracking. His research has applications to removing contaminants in water and understanding the impacts of nanoparticles on biological systems.
Mundy's research focuses on the complex processes that occur at the air-water interface. He was acknowledged for using quantum mechanics tools to form a molecular picture of the structure and dynamics of this important interface. Understanding these interfaces plays an important role in weather, medicine, and innovative materials that are exploited in the emerging field of nanoscience.
PNNL now has 13 active staff members who hold the rank of APS Fellow. The 3 new members will be recognized at their division meetings in 2015.
APS works to advance knowledge of physics through its research journals, scientific meetings, and education, outreach, advocacy and international activities. The organization has in excess of 50,000 members and selection as an APS Fellow is limited to no in excess of one half of one percent of the membership each year.
Tags: Energy, Fundamental Science, EMSL, Awards and Recognizes, Physics
EMSL, the Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab, is a national scientific user facility sponsored by the D.O.E.'s Office of Science. Located at Pacific Northwest National Lab in Richland, Wash., EMSL offers an open, collaborative environment for scientific discovery to researchers around the world. Its integrated computational and experimental resources enable researchers to realize important scientific insights and create new technologies. Follow EMSL on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Interdisciplinary teams at Pacific Northwest National Lab address many of America's most pressing issues in energy, the environment and national security through advances in basic and applied science. Founded in 1965, PNNL employs 4,300 staff and has an yearly budget of in excess of $1 billion. It is managed by Battelle for the D.O.E.'s Office of Science. As the single biggest 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 on PNNL, visit the PNNL News Center, or follow PNNL on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and Twitter.
