The newest flagship building on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory campus, the Integrated Engineering Research Center (IERC), has been officially named the Helen Edwards Engineering Research Center in honor of the late Dr. Helen Edwards, a particle physicist at Fermilab for 40 years.
U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., along with U.S. Representatives Bill Foster, D-Ill., and Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., introduced the bicameral resolution to name the building for Edwards as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024. The act was approved by Congress on Dec. 19 and signed by President Joe Biden on Dec. 23, 2024.
Helen Edwards was a towering figure in the world of accelerator science, renowned for leading the design, construction, commissioning and operation of Fermilab’s Tevatron accelerator. The Tevatron held the title of the world’s most powerful particle collider for 25 years and discovered the top quark in 1995 and the tau neutrino in 2000 — two of the three fundamental particles identified at Fermilab. Edwards passed away in 2016.
“As a leading force on the Tevatron, Helen Edwards inspired so many people at Fermilab with her dedication and resolve,” said Fermilab Chief Research Officer Bonnie Fleming. “Her legacy is a shining example to students, researchers and engineers today on the importance of working together to advance accelerator research. It is an honor to have one of the landmarks at Fermilab named after her.”
The Helen Edwards Engineering Research Center is an 80,000-square-foot, multi-story laboratory and office building adjacent to Fermilab’s iconic Wilson Hall. The new space is a collaborative laboratory where engineers, scientists and technicians tackle the technical challenges of particle physics and pioneer groundbreaking technologies. The building boasts operational efficiencies and supports the ongoing research and planning for the premier international experiment hosted by Fermilab, the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE).
The state-of-the-art building was recently recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy and has received industry awards for its innovative design that features numerous elements aimed at reducing waste and pollution while increasing water efficiency.
The engineering center was funded by the Department of Energy’s Science Laboratory Infrastructure program and is intended to meet current and future needs for research performed at Fermilab for the DOE Office of Science.
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.
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.
Microelectronics are essential to everyday life. They power the technology we use daily, like phones, watches and household appliances. However, the most advanced microelectronics are used in scientific experiments that push the limits of performance and accuracy. These innovations not only drive new discoveries but also shape the development of the next generation of commercial technology. Research funded by the U.S. Department of Energy plays a key role in maintaining national leadership in creating technologies that benefit science and industry.
Two projects led by DOE’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory have received funding from the Office of Science to advance microelectronics research. Fermilab is also collaborating on three additional funded projects, which are led by other DOE laboratories. In total, 16 microelectronics projects have received funding.
The Office of Science awards are part of DOE’s $160 million investment to support U.S. semiconductor innovation through a key provision in the CHIPS and Science Act. This provision aims to set up Microelectronics Science Research Centers. The MSRCs are intended to further microelectronics research and ensure that the U.S. continues to be competitive with other countries in science and technology.
“DOE-funded research is vital to advance the capabilities of high-energy physics instrumentation,” said Fermilab Microelectronics Division Head Farah Fahim, a principal investigator on one of the funded projects. “This research will ensure continued U.S. leadership in microelectronics innovation and enable technologies critical for future science, industry and global competitiveness.”
To advance DOE’s scientific program, future microelectronics technologies must enhance functionality and operate reliably in extreme environments, including high-radiation, cryogenic temperatures and other challenging conditions. The two funded Fermilab-led projects will focus on this area.
In addition, as the nation’s demand for power continues to rise, energy efficiency will be critical. Fermilab actively contributes to this effort as a partner in three other projects devoted to energy efficiency.
Fermilab’s funded projects include:
Vertically Integrated Artificial Intelligence for Sensing and High-Performance Computing
For this project, Fermilab and its partners aim to develop the next generation of detectors using three-dimensional heterogeneous integrated circuits — devices that combine separately manufactured components like chips, chiplets and other components into a single package that, together, provides enhanced functionality.
These detectors work in challenging conditions and produce large amounts of data. Using advanced artificial intelligence hardware enables faster data analysis and quicker discoveries. The team is also developing new ways to build tiny, stacked, chiplet-based systems that combine multiple functions into small, efficient packages, boosting performance while saving space.
Collaborating institutions are Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Arizona State University, GlobalFoundries, Nhanced Semiconductor and Cadence Design Systems.
Single Photon Detectors Integrated with Cryogenic Electronics
This project focuses on creating advanced technologies to detect tiny particles for scientific research. These detectors will use new materials to improve their performance and combine superconducting and traditional electronics to create large, efficient imaging systems. By testing these technologies in challenging conditions and developing tools for others to use, the project will share its innovations with the wider community, including industry.
Collaborating institutions include Argonne National Laboratory, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Synopsys and GlobalFoundries.
Fermilab is also a partner on the following selected MSRC projects to boost energy efficiency: AUREIS: Adaptive Ultra-fast Energy-Efficient Intelligent Sensing Technologies, led by SLAC National Laboratory; BIA: A Co-Design Methodology to Transform Materials and Computer Architecture Research for Energy Efficiency, led by Argonne National Laboratory; and Nano-Scale Research Center for Heterogeneous Integration Platforms, or NSR-CHIP, led by Sandia National Laboratories.
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.