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Dr. Lia Merminga stepped down as laboratory director on Jan. 13, 2025. Dr. Young-Kee Kim has been named as interim director. The new search for a permanent director will begin immediately.

Fermilab is advancing U.S. semiconductor capabilities through leading-edge research in energy-efficient and extreme-environment chips. This important work is driving breakthroughs for high-energy physics and future technologies.

In 2024, Fermilab made significant scientific progress, including advancing preparations for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment and conducting groundbreaking quantum research. The laboratory also continued its strong international collaborations — including involvement with the CMS experiment at CERN — and made strides in developing emerging technologies with wide applications beyond physics.

The coldbox, a vital piece of Fermilab’s new linear accelerator, is on a two-month voyage from France to its new home in Batavia, Illinois. It will be at the heart of the cryogenic system for the lab’s upgraded accelerator complex.

The PIP-II accelerator upgrade project at Fermilab officially completed its subproject dedicated to the early stages of facilities construction.

The Quantum Instrumentation Control Kit now features updated software and firmware and new companion hardware called QICK box. This Fermilab-developed system combines everything a scientist might need to conduct mind-bending research in a pizza-box-sized case.

Fermilab earned national recognition for its sustainability efforts, receiving three prestigious awards from the U.S. Department of Energy. The laboratory’s new Integrated Engineering Research Center was celebrated for its environmentally friendly design. The successful transition of 32% of Fermilab’s fleet to zero emission vehicles was also recognized.

Researchers used the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument to map how nearly 6 million galaxies cluster across 11 billion years of cosmic history. Their observations line up with what Einstein’s theory of general relativity predicts.

Particle accelerator beams can create significant damage to the targets used to generate particles for experiments. Researchers are designing targets to withstand material degradation from radiation damage, shock from thermal expansion and material fatigue — all caused by accelerated protons.

The new memorandum of understanding will elevate the collaboration between the Spanish Ministry of Science and Fermilab in developing detection systems and the physics of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment.