IDREAM Leadership

The IDREAM team is comprised of internationally recognized radiochemists, geochemists, physicists, computational chemists, and chemical engineers who individually have advanced many aspects of basic science in support of legacy environmental challenges.

	CAROLYN PEARCE, PH.D. Director, IDREAM Chemist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, with an appointment at Washington State University, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences Carolyn Pearce, Ph.D., brings expertise in solution phase geochemistry and radiochemistry to the IDREAM team. Her research focuses on the characterization of minerals relevant to radioactive waste storage and processing to determine reaction mechanisms and kinetics that affect radionuclide stability in waste forms and the subsurface environment. She was named director of IDREAM in March 2021.
	JAY LAVERNE, PH.D. Deputy Director, IDREAM Professor of Radiation Physics, University of Notre Dame Jay LaVerne, Ph.D., specializes in discovering radiation chemical effects with heavy ions. His research focuses include radiation track modeling, hydrogen atom formation in boehmite, and water decomposition with very short timeframes. He was named deputy director of IDREAM in September 2024.
	GREGORY SCHENTER, PH.D. Spatiotemporal Regime 3: Emergent Phenomena, IDREAM Laboratory Fellow, Physicist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Gregory Schenter, Ph.D., brings expertise in chemical physics and analysis to the IDREAM team. His research focuses on the development of statistical mechanical techniques to better understand molecular interactions and molecular processes in complex condensed-phase systems. He served as deputy director of IDREAM from March 2021 through August 2024.
	AURORA CLARK, PH.D. New Computational Tools & Theory Cross-Cut Lead, IDREAM Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, with a Laboratory Fellow Appointment at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Aurora Clark, Ph.D., brings expertise in computational chemistry to the IDREAM team. Her research interests include solution phase chemistry in controlled and manipulated chemical networks.
	XIAOSONG LI, PH.D. Early Career Network Director, IDREAM Associate Vice Provost for Research Cyberinfrastructure, University of Washington, with a Laboratory Fellow Appointment at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Xiaosong Li, Ph.D., brings experience in chemistry education and research computing to the IDREAM team. His chemistry research focuses on developing and applying time-dependent relativistic and non-relativistic electronic structure theories for studying excited state chemical processes that underpin energy conversion, photocatalysis, and ultrafast spectroscopies.
	THOMAS ORLANDO, PH.D. Radiolysis & Radiation Dynamics Cross-Cut Lead, IDREAM Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Thomas Orlando, Ph.D., brings expertise in radiation chemistry and interfacial radiolysis to the IDREAM team. His research interests include electron- and photon-stimulated interface and surface processes, environmental chemistry and planetary surface science, and biophysical chemistry.
	KEVIN ROSSO, PH.D. Interfacial Structure & Reactivity Science Lead, IDREAM Laboratory Fellow, Associate Director of Geochemistry, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Kevin Rosso, Ph.D., brings expertise in chemistry, physical sciences and geochemistry to the IDREAM team. His research interests include electron transfer reactions between aqueous ions, mineral surfaces, and bacterial enzymes.
	MIKE SPRADLING Operations Director, IDREAM Senior Advisor for Research Business Capture, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Mike Spradling brings experience in the development and delivery of science and technology programs for federal and industrial sponsors to the IDREAM team. His accomplishments include being a concept developer and capture manager for fundamental and applied research projects.

	ZHEMING WANG, PH.D. Science Thrust 1 Lead, IDREAM Chemist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory with an Appointment at Washington State University, Department of Chemistry Zheming Wang, Ph.D., brings experience in chemistry and geochemistry to the IDREAM team. His research interests include physical and biological sciences, atmospheric sciences and global change, and computing research.
	XIN ZHANG, PH.D. Synthesis & Materials Characterization Cross-Cut Lead, IDREAM Chemist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Xin Zhang, Ph.D., brings experience in surface science, crystal growth, materials synthesis, and characterization to the IDREAM team. His research interests include probing particle-mediated growth with a predictive understanding of self-assembly for energy applications and real-time imaging of mineral carbonation in supercritical carbon dioxide using high-pressure scanning probe microscopy.