Bob Runkle, PhD
Bob Runkle, PhD
Biography
Bob Runkle is a physicist leading PNNL's autonomous discovery strategy that is bringing autonomy to our science. Having spent over 20 years in national security, Bob has a passion for reaching across fundamental science into applications.
Former roles include serving as a Division Director of Physical Detection Systems, serving as Chief Science and Technology Office for the National Security Directorate, and working in the Program Development Office as an account manager for Nuclear Security Science and Technology. Bob’s scientific contributions to national security include the development of algorithms for radiation detectors used for law enforcement and international border security. Bob has published 78 peer-reviewed articles with colleagues, including four review articles in the field of radiation detection. One his favorite sidebar activities is giving a lecture entitled 21st Century Battlefields: Technology as a Driving Force in Conflict to help people understand the current national security landscape. Originally from upstate New York, Bob joined PNNL in 2003 after receiving a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in nuclear astrophysics.