PNNL

Steven Spurgeon, a materials scientist and microscopy researcher at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), has accepted an affiliate associate professorship at the University of Washington (UW) Department of Physics. The appointment will allow Spurgeon to expand PNNL’s microscopy expertise to build new programs with UW that could help address key Department of Energy challenges and PNNL missions. The appointment will also facilitate student exchanges and help create a talent pipeline for PNNL.

“I’m very excited to help UW grow their microscopy capability and demonstrate ways to integrate data science to drive novel experimentation,” said Spurgeon, whose research focuses on understanding the nanoscale properties of energy and quantum materials. “Problems in physics rely on understanding material chemistry and physical interactions at the atomic scale. The combination of microscopy and data science work I do at PNNL will help us understand these processes in a new way.”

The UW Department of Physics offers instruction from introductory general education through doctoral and postdoctoral education and encourages the involvement of undergraduates in research. Currently, more than 180 undergraduates participate in research within the department.

“This opportunity allows me to co-advise students and get plugged into the department,” said Spurgeon. “I’m looking forward to developing new programs and working with existing faculty to build relationships between institutions.”