Former LLNL postdocs are PECASE recipients

Former Laboratory postdocs Fotini Katopodes Chow and Logan Liu were among the recently announced winners of this year's Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Both were nominated by LLNL.

Chow, currently an assistant professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, received the award for research conducted as an LLNL postdoc from 2004-2005. LLNL nominated Chow with the following citation: "For original contributions to atmospheric flow simulation in areas with complex terrain, and leadership in bridging the gap between meteorology researchers and weather forecasters."

Liu is now a professor in the Electrical & Computing Engineering Dept. at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He was nominated for innovative research in understanding the interactions between photons, plasmons, and electrons. His research has contributed to the development of novel miniaturized, sensitive and selective spectroscopic and sensing systems with applications in homeland security, renewable energy and healthcare.

Over the past decade, the Laboratory has successfully nominated 12 LLNL collaborators for PECASE awards, including 6 former postdocs.

President Obama named 94 researchers as PECASE recipients Sept. 26. This is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. Government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their careers. The full list of PECASE awardees is found on the White House press release.