Lawrence Livermore physicist Cole Pruitt received the 2025 Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) Achievement Award for Early Career Researchers for his work developing uncertainty-quantified optical model potentials, which predict how nuclear reactions unfold. While existing models are dependable for stable nuclei, Pruitt made predicting unstable systems more reliable, helping the FRIB guide their experimental priorities. As part of the award, Pruitt spoke at the Low Energy Community Meeting hosted by Texas A&M University in August 2025.
Diana Chen, the Large Optics Inspection System manager at the National Ignition Facility, has been named a Senior Member of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics. Chen was honored for her professional experience, active involvement with the optics community, and significant technical contributions to the field. Her areas of expertise include precision optical modeling, adaptive optics, laser system diagnostics, and design and sustainment of large-scale laser systems.
