FPN05-49

Fusion Scientist Receives Presidential Award

June 14, 2005

Fusion scientist Hong Qin received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.on June 13. Qin, a physicist at the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), was among 58 researchers supported by eight federal departments and agencies who received the award. The Presidential award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers who are beginning their independent careers. Each Presidential award winner received a citation, a plaque, and a commitment for continued funding of their work from their agency for five years. John H. Marburger III, Science Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, presented the awards.

Qin also received the DOE's Office of Science Early Career Scientist and Engineer Award at a separate ceremony at DOE Headquarters. He was among six from DOE national laboratories to receive the Office of Science honors, as well as the Presidential award.

"The Department of Energy is proud that these researchers are making important contributions, in a wide range of fields, to innovation and technology for energy, economic and national security," Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman said. "If the outstanding efforts of these scientists and engineers are any indication of the future, I have no doubt they will ensure America's scientific leadership far into the next century."

Both the Presidential and DOE awards cite Qin for his contributions to the physics of high-intensity particle beams, with application to ion-beam (inertial) fusion energy (IFE), and for his work on electromagnetic effects in magnetically confined plasmas, with application to magnetic fusion energy.

After receiving a B.S. and an M.S. in Space Physics from Beijing University in 1990 and 1993, respectively, Qin went on to receive an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Astrophysical Sciences from Princeton University in 1997 and 1998, respectively. He conducted post-doctoral research at PPPL before joining the research staff in 2000. Presently, he is a Research Physicist in PPPL's Theory Department and the Nonlinear Beam Dynamics and Nonneutral Plasma Division.

Fusion Power Associates congratulates Dr. Qin on this well-deserved recognition.