Marek Kolmer, a scientist at Ames National Laboratory, has been awarded funding under the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science Early Career Research Program. He is one of 91 researchers selected by the DOE to receive funding for specific research objectives. The program was established in 2010 to support individual research programs of outstanding scientists at crucial early stages in their careers. It also stimulates development in disciplines supported by the DOE Office of Science.
“Investing in cutting edge research and science is a cornerstone of DOE's mission and essential to maintaining America’s role as a global innovation leader,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “The Biden-Harris Administration is funding scientists and researchers at our nation’s national labs and universities, early in their careers, ensuring they have the resources to expand scientific discovery and pursue solutions to some of the most complex questions.”
Through the Early Career Research Program, Kolmer will receive $550,000 per year for five years. This funding will support his research on understanding and application of quantum materials. Specifically, he will work on improving a specialized tool called a scanning tunneling microscope, which is used to study quantum materials. Quantum materials express unique physical properties caused by electron interactions at atomic and sub-atomic levels. These materials are the key to advancing a range of technologies, including quantum computing, electricity transmission, and a variety of sensor applications.
“There is huge progress in synthesis science where we can create materials with the highest precision possible, and that allows us to control the properties to a very high level,” said Kolmer. “The problem is the limited number of functional devices that could use all of the necessary information and can be in contact with these systems without disturbing them.”
Kolmer will rely on his expertise in scanning tunneling microscopy to address the knowledge gap between studying these materials and testing their expected functional properties. His new approach will use multiple probes to simultaneously provide information about the material and its properties. This information will illuminate the relationship between localized quantum characteristics and the resulting behaviors.
“I’m honored to be a recipient,” said Kolmer. “One of the highlights of working at Ames Lab and in the DOE system is that the development of people is very holistic. There are great experts and great capabilities, but also there is a lot of effort to maintain this balance between technical, discipline-specific expertise and developing as a leader, developing personal skills, developing communication. This holistic approach will be an important aspect for successful realization of this project.”
Ames National Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science National Laboratory operated by Iowa State University. Ames Laboratory creates innovative materials, technologies, and energy solutions. We use our expertise, unique capabilities, and interdisciplinary collaborations to solve global problems.
Ames National Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit https://energy.gov/science.