Dean's Distinguished Lecture with Dr. Susan Seestrom
5/14/2021 | 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Dr. Susan Seestrom, Associate Laboratories Director, for Advanced Science and Technology (AS&T) and Chief Research Officer at Sandia National Laboratories
Dr. Susan Seestrom shared her perspectives from a career in research and in leadership working at two different DOE national security laboratories. She provided a brief overview of Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) and discusses its strong science, technology, and engineering foundation, specifically focused on engineering, microelectronics, materials, and high energy density science. She highlighted the importance of research collaborations, including Sandia’s enduring partnership with the University of Illinois touching on a few synergistic research and development activities. Finally, she talked about the lab’s commitment to inclusion and diversity, which helps ensure Sandia attracts, retains, and develops a world-class workforce.
About Dr. Seestrom
Dr. Susan Seestrom spent over 30 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), first arriving as a graduate student while pursuing her doctorate in experimental nuclear physics at the University of Minnesota. Susan subsequently joined Los Alamos as a Director's Fellow and continued on as a scientific staff member. Her research in nuclear physics ranges from studies of nuclear structure with medium energy probes to studies of weak interaction using neutrons.
Susan served in several leadership positions at LANL, including Associate Laboratory Director (ALD) for Experimental Physical Science and the first woman named the ALD for the Weapons Physics Directorate. She was also the first woman to chair DOE's Nuclear Science Advisory Committee and the National Science Foundation.
Susan is currently Associate Laboratories Director of the Advanced Science and Technology Mission and the Chief Research Officer at Sandia National Laboratories. In 2020, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) named her as a Fellow for her pathbreaking work in nuclear physics, especially her use of ultracold neutrons.