Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) is undergoing a leadership change, effective today. Dr. Lia Merminga has stepped down as laboratory director and Dr. Young-Kee Kim has been named as interim director.
Dr. Kim is currently the Albert A. Michelson Distinguished Service Professor of Physics at the University of Chicago and has led a distinguished career in experimental particle and accelerator physics. Among her previous roles, she served as Fermilab deputy director from 2006-2013. Dr. Kim holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics from Korea University and a doctorate in physics from the University of Rochester.
We have an exciting vision for Fermilab to drive scientific innovation into some of the most fundamental questions facing science, while at the same time driving excellence across lab operations to enable our long-term success. Dr. Kim brings a fresh perspective and new expertise to help ensure our success at this important moment,” said Paul Alivisatos, President of the University of Chicago and Board Chair of Fermilab management-and-operations contractor Fermi Forward Discovery Group (FermiForward).
Fermilab is immediately launching the search for a new permanent director. The laboratory will engage with staff, as well as the broader Fermilab community, to ensure high potential candidates are identified.
“I want to extend deep appreciation and thanks to Lia Merminga. Throughout her tenure she has displayed dedication and passion for high energy physics and Fermilab’s mission. Lia will continue to serve the lab’s mission, and we wish Lia all the best in her future endeavors,” Alivisatos said.
FermiForward is led by the University of Chicago and Universities Research Association (URA) and includes industrial subcontractor partners, Longenecker & Associates and Amentum. These new partners bring extensive experience in supporting national laboratories on delivering capital asset projects, effective governance and regulatory assurance approaches, and targeted business strategies.
FermiForward brings world-class scientific expertise and progressive capabilities that will drive Fermilab’s next era of groundbreaking scientific discovery. Their approach will ensure the lab effectively delivers on flagship initiatives such as the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (LBNF/DUNE) in Lead, SD and the Proton Improvement Plan-II (PIP-II) in Batavia, Ill., along with key projects in quantum science, muon research, microelectronics development, and more.
Additionally, FermiForward has assembled a coalition of academic research institutions to provide support and bring to the laboratory the best and brightest talent. In addition to University Research Association’s membership of over 90 research universities around the world, this coalition includes strategic, targeted partnerships and outreach to minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities to reach populations that have been underrepresented in the physical sciences.
With a clear vision for the future and a commitment to excellence, FermiForward is positioning Fermilab for success in scientific technology and innovation for years to come. Learn more about FermiForward at www.fermi-forward.org.
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is America’s premier national laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research. Fermi Forward Discovery Group manages Fermilab for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. Visit Fermilab’s website at www.fnal.gov and follow us on social media.
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