Los Alamos chemist Jeffrey Pietryga named AAAS fellow

Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist Jeffrey Pietryga has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Members of the world’s largest professional society — scientists, engineers and innovators from across disciplines — are named fellows in recognition of their lifetime efforts to advance science or its applications. A longtime chemist at the Laboratory, Pietryga was recognized by the AAAS “for formative contributions to the synthetic chemistry of advanced nanocrystal quantum dots,” as well as “enthusiastic leadership and advocacy of science in the national interest.”

“This recognition speaks to the significant contributions Jeff has made to Los Alamos National Laboratory and to science in a range of fields and applications, especially nanocrystal quantum dot technology,” said Patrick Fitch, deputy director for Science, Technology, and Engineering at Los Alamos. “Jeff’s research has been invaluable in the development of effective, lower-cost photovoltaics that find applications in critical technologies.”

Currently the program manager for university collaborations at the Laboratory, Pietryga’s career at Los Alamos includes nearly a decade as the novel nanomaterials thrust leader at the Center for Advanced Solar Photophysics, an Energy Frontier Research Center. He helmed the operational coordination of center research activities and conducted research in advanced infrared-active nanomaterials. He continued active research while serving as deputy group leader for the Physical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy group at the Laboratory. Pietryga then moved into a full-time management position as group leader for the Inorganic, Isotope and Actinide Chemistry group until 2024, when he joined the National Security Education Center at the Lab, creating and fostering relationships with academic partners.

Since joining the Laboratory in 2003, Pietryga’s research has concentrated on the design and synthesis of new nanomaterials, with a particular focus on their application in electronic devices that harvest and use energy. He has managed multiple laboratories, including a transmission electron microscopy facility. He has also served as a mentor for dozens of postdocs and others in his multiple roles over the years. From 2012 to 2021, he was an affiliated faculty member with the Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering at New Mexico State University, participating in collaborative research, developing initiatives and mentoring students.

The AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journals Science, Science Translational Medicine, Science Signaling, Science Immunology, Science Robotics, and the digital, open-access journal Science Advances. AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes more than 250 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals.

The AAAS has awarded the distinction of fellow to 471 of its members this year. New fellows will be presented with an official certificate and a gold and blue rosette pin (representing science and engineering, respectively) during the AAAS Annual Meeting.

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