The U.S. Department of Energy has selected UCSD physics professor Ivan K. Schuller among its recipients of the department’s most prestigious honor, the E.O. Lawrence award. Schuller was among seven scientists — six of whom come from the University of California — recognized by Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham for “exceptional contributions” in the field of atomic energy.
“He has performed a great service to the United States,” the department stated in its biography of Schuller.
It recognized the professor for his research in the field of “metallic multilayers and superlattices,” which are types of semiconductors used on the atomic and molecular level. Schuller’s work with the materials used on this atomic and molecular scale has led to many new developments in the world of nanotechnology, the department said.
The D.O.E. has also credited him with several inventions and observations of the tiny materials used in creating microscopic devices.
“The future is going to be in the area of nanotechnology,” said dean of UCSD’s division of physical sciences Mark Thiemens, a one-time winner of the E.O Lawrence award himself. Thiemens said that Schuller’s work is crucial to the future of technology in creating mechanisms that become increasingly smaller.
Casey Miller, a campus postdoctoral fellow and Schuller’s colleague, said the professor possesses a “critical eye for detail.”
“All of the computers of today and tomorrow have fundamental pieces that were researched by Ivan,” Miller stated in an e-mail.
Schuller, who is currently conducting research at the Belgium Academy in Europe, said the honor was unexpected.
“I was certainly lucky to get this,” Schuller stated in an e-mail. “This was quite a surprise since there are many other people who have done quite a bit of work in many areas which are perhaps more important.”
In addition to his work with younger scientists, Miller also praised Schuller’s research.
“Ivan is a visionary, a great mentor … but above all, he is quite simply one of the greatest scientific researchers of today,” Miller said.
Though Schuller has instructed at UCSD since 1987, he has also performed research at the Argonne National Laboratory and has taught at campuses around the world.
This year, Schuller joined six other recipients of the award in other fields, five of whom also work for the University of California. The D.O.E. established the award in 1959.
For her work in identifying characteristics of HIV and developing a new database on the virus, Los Alamos National Laboratory researcher Bette Korber received the department’s award in the category of life sciences.
In addition, the department recognized two other scientists at the UC-run lab. Fred Mortensen, who researched safety and reliability of nuclear-weapon designs, received the award in the national security category. In environmental science, Gregory Swift was recognized for his research and design of engines powered by sound.
UC Santa Cruz astronomy and astrophysics professor Claire Max received the physics award for her work in “laser guide star adaptive optics.” The technology has helped astronomers correct blurred telescopic images caused by light in the atmosphere.
Richard Saykally, a UC Berkeley chemistry professor, was also to be honored for inventing new methods of studying the structure of special molecular ions.
