Vitalij Pecharsky, Ames Lab Scientist and Distinguished Professor at Iowa State University, dies
Vitalij Pecharsky, Ames National Laboratory Scientist and Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Iowa State University's Department of Materials Science and Engineering, died on Tuesday, Dec. 20, aged 68.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Vitalij Pecharsky,” said Ames National Laboratory Director Adam Schwartz. “He was an integral part of Ames Lab, a stellar researcher, and a colleague and friend to all of us.”
Pecharsky was an internationally respected materials scientist with expertise in rare earth elements, caloric materials and systems, materials for renewable energy and energy conversion, and electronic, magnetic, and hydrogen storage materials. His research in responsive rare earth materials was an integral part of Ames Laboratory’s world-recognized expertise in that area.
A principal area of Pecharsky’s research involved the development of magnetocaloric heat pumping systems, an environmentally friendly technology that could potentially reduce the energy used in heating and cooling by as much as one third. This work was built upon the discovery of the giant magnetocaloric effect, which Pecharsky discovered in partnership with his colleague and mentor, Karl Gschneidner, in 1997.
Pecharsky was also actively involved in research for the Critical Materials Institute, on projects that involved development of a cost-effective samarium-iron-nitrogen magnet, and low-impact mechanochemical extraction of lithium from mining ores.
He was also a dedicated advisor to young scientists, and over the course of his career mentored 53 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
Pecharsky earned his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Ivan Franko National University of L’viv in Ukraine in 1979, and served as an associate professor there until 1993. He was a visiting scientist at Ames National Laboratory in 1993 and became an associate scientist there in 1995. He was named a senior scientist in 2001.
In 1998, Pecharsky became an associate professor at Iowa State University’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering. He was named an Anson Marston Distinguished Professor of Engineering at Iowa State in 2007.
From 2010-2013, Pecharsky served as the Associate Chair for Research and Economic Development for the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
From 2016-2018, he served as the Director of CaloriCool, a consortium of research organizations dedicated to developing caloric cooling technologies.
He was an author of more than 500 articles in refereed journals, and served as Editor in Chief of the Journal of Alloys and Compounds.
Funeral services for Vitalij Pecharsky have been arranged by Adams Funeral Home in Ames, Iowa. Details are available at this link.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Performance Appraisal process begins in January
Ames National Laboratory’s 2023 performance appraisal process for P & S employees and Postdocs will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023 and end Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2022. All tasks in the process are completed through Halogen eAppraisal. Automated emails from Halogen will be sent to you when you have a task to complete. The review period for the appraisal is from Jan 1, 2022 – Dec. 31, 2022.
If you have multiple direct reports, we recommend that you plan ahead to ensure that your appraisals are completed within the timeframe.
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FY23Q1 Counterintelligence Bulletin now available
The Argonne Regional Field Office (ARFO) of Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence (CI) publishes an unclassified quarterly CI Awareness Bulletin for distribution at the three Laboratories under its responsibility— Ames National Laboratory, Argonne, and Fermilab. The current issue includes an overview regarding the extradition of an intelligence officer and their activities, a brief on how to protect our Laboratories, and some interesting historical information regarding the spy Mata Hari. An archive of the bulletin is kept in ServiceNow. Read Now
January Accountability Drill moves to new RAVE system
The next quarterly Ames National Laboratory Accountability Drill will be Thursday, Jan. 12. We will be using the RAVE system to send emails and record status responses. RAVE is the platform that ISU uses to send ISU Alert emergency notifications. Instead of using a google form, the accountability email will have a link to follow to indicate your status. Transitioning to this system will save administrators time by automating the email and recording process. Stay tuned for additional information in the new year.