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About LaserNetUS

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Our mission is to advance and promote intense ultrafast laser science and applications by:

  • Advancing the frontiers of laser-science research;
  • Providing students and scientists with broad access to unique facilities and enabling technologies;
  • Fostering collaboration among researchers and networks from around the world.
U.S Department of Energy’s Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)

LaserNetUS supports students

The network allows graduate and undergraduate students access to laser facilities. The experiments at these facilities provide data for students' Ph.D. theses and students' publications. In 2019 alone, 80 students, 36 postdocs, and 86 staff scientists from users groups participated in LaserNetUS experiments.

Join the ecosystem

as a:
  • User Facility Member
  • Research Group Member
  • Single Investigator Member
  • Private Sector Partner
Have a question about membership?
Please contact us.
Join the ecosystem
Our members include

Our members include

Colorado State University, University of Michigan, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Ohio State University, University of Texas at Austin, the University of Rochester, the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, University of Central Florida, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

Coordinator

LasernetUS Coordinator
Chandra Breanne Curry

 

Dr. Chandra Breanne Curry, the current LaserNetUS Coordinator, plays a pivotal role in the effective operation and management of the LaserNetUS program. With a keen focus on strategic planning and leadership, Dr. Curry oversees and manages the various initiatives, events, and subcommittees that constitute the LaserNetUS network.

One of Dr. Curry's primary responsibilities is to ensure the smooth functioning of the LaserNetUS committees. She provides guidance and support to the committee chairs, facilitating coordination efforts and ensuring that the program's overarching objectives are met.

As the primary user liaison for the network, Dr. Curry coordinates user support and feedback, ensuring that user needs are addressed promptly and effectively. Her role extends to media relations and outreach, where she presents at conferences and collaborates with subcommittees to disseminate information about LaserNetUS to potential users and stakeholders.

Dr. Curry's collaborates closely with the LaserNetUS Network Facilities Committee and the Scientific Advisory Board to develop long-term plans that identify key areas of research and development. Additionally, she ensures LaserNetUS remains in alignment with the broader strategic goals of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, particularly within the recently established Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) program.

Through her strong leadership and strategic direction, Dr. Curry contributes significantly to the advancement of high-power laser research and development in the United States. Her multifaceted role as LaserNetUS Coordinator underscores her dedication to fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of the program.

Get in Touch

U.S Department of Energy
Energy.gov

Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
- Department of Energy

Building a Network we believe in

Below you’ll find the LaserNetUS organizational chart. Navigate on the left-hand side to meet the different committee members, panelists, key players, and contacts who make our organization a success.

Network Facilities Committee
Douglass Schumacher
Douglass Schumacher
Douglass Schumacher
Chair
Mingsheng Wei
Mingsheng Wei
Mingsheng Wei
Vice-Chair
Sallee R. Klein
Sallee R. Klein
Sallee R. Klein
Member
Christoph Niemann
Christoph Niemann
Christoph Niemann
Member
Howard Milchberg
Howard Milchberg
Howard Milchberg
Member
Felicie Albert
Felicie Albert
Felicie Albert
Member
Lieselotte Obst-Huebl
Lieselotte Obst-Huebl
Lieselotte Obst-Huebl
Member
Jorge Rocca
Jorge Rocca
Jorge Rocca
Member
Todd Ditmire
Todd Ditmire
Todd Ditmire
Member
Cameron Geddes
Cameron Geddes
Cameron Geddes
Member
François Légaré
François Légaré
François Légaré
Member
Mike Chini
Mike Chini
Mike Chini
Member
Donald Umstadter
Donald Umstadter
Donald Umstadter
Member
Gilliss Dyer
Gilliss Dyer
Gilliss Dyer
Member
I-USE: Intense-light USers Engagment Committee
Ronnie Shepherd
Ronnie Shepherd
Ronnie Shepherd
Chair
Amina Hussein
Amina Hussein
Amina Hussein
Co-Chair
Jennifer Elle
Jennifer Elle
Treasurer
Meriame Berboucha
Meriame Berboucha
Meriame Berboucha
Outreach
Farhat  Beg
Farhat Beg
Student Liaison
Scott Feister
Scott Feister
Scott Feister
External / Membership
Jun Ren
Jun Ren
Jun Ren
Student experience
Elizabeth Grace
Elizabeth Grace
Elizabeth Grace
Facility Liaison
Mario Manuel
Mario Manuel
Mario Manuel
Target support
Scientific Advisory Board
Roger Falcone
Roger Falcone
Roger Falcone
Chair
Roman Hvězda
Roman Hvězda
Roman Hvězda
Member
Pravesh Patel
Pravesh Patel
Pravesh Patel
Member
Evdokiya (Eva) Kostadinova
Evdokiya (Eva) Kostadinova
Evdokiya (Eva) Kostadinova
Member
Kevin Fournier
Kevin Fournier
Kevin Fournier
Member
Derek Schaeffer
Derek Schaeffer
Derek Schaeffer
Member
Donna Strickland
Donna Strickland
Donna Strickland
Member
Ronnie Shepherd
Ronnie Shepherd
Ronnie Shepherd
Member
Sean Finnegan
Sean Finnegan
Member
Diagnostics Committee
Christine Krauland
Christine Krauland
Chair
Sophia Malko
Sophia Malko
Sophia Malko
Vice-Chair
Valeria Ospina
Valeria Ospina
Valeria Ospina
Member
Frances Kraus
Frances Kraus
Frances Kraus
Member
Franziska Treffert
Franziska Treffert
Franziska Treffert
Member
Dean Rusby
Dean Rusby
Dean Rusby
Member
Christopher McGuffey
Christopher McGuffey
Christopher McGuffey
Member
Mike MacDonald
Mike MacDonald
Mike MacDonald
Member
Maxence Gauthier
Maxence Gauthier
Maxence Gauthier
Member
Maria Gatu Johnson
Maria Gatu Johnson
Maria Gatu Johnson
Member
David Garand
David Garand
Member
Maria Pia  Valdivia Leiva
Maria Pia Valdivia Leiva
Member
Bjorn Manuel Hegelich
Bjorn Manuel Hegelich
Member
Ghassan Zeraouli
Ghassan Zeraouli
Member
Simulations Committee
Scott Wilks
Scott Wilks
Scott Wilks
Chair
Petros Tzeferacos
Petros Tzeferacos
Petros Tzeferacos
Vice-Chair
Warren Mori
Warren Mori
Warren Mori
Member
Igor Golovkin
Igor Golovkin
Igor Golovkin
Member
Jean-Luc Vay
Jean-Luc Vay
Jean-Luc Vay
Member
Yasuhiko Sentoku
Yasuhiko Sentoku
Yasuhiko Sentoku
Member
Dale Welch
Dale Welch
Dale Welch
Member
John Cary
John Cary
John Cary
Member
Alex Arefiev
Alex Arefiev
Member
Andreas Kemp
Andreas Kemp
Andreas Kemp
Member
Lin Yin
Lin Yin
Lin Yin
Member
Adam Sefkow
Adam Sefkow
Adam Sefkow
Member
Proposal Review Panel
Arianna Gleason
Arianna Gleason
Arianna Gleason
Chair
The panel also includes 10-20 confidential members with a balanced representation of the organizations and disciplines across High Energy Denstity (HED) and high-intensity laser science. Confidentiality in the PRP process is strictly upheld to protect LaserNetUS users, the PRP members, and scientific integrity.

Proposal Review

The Proposal Review Panel (PRP) is responsible for the evaluation of LaserNetUS proposals for scientific and technical merit. It was established as an independent and confidential committee to provide unbiased recommendations for awarding experimental time across all participating facilities. 

Dr. Arianna Gleason (SLAC/Stanford) is the Chair for Cycles 4-6.

Testimonials

Frances Kraus
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LaserNetUS was invaluable for completing my PhD research in plasma physics from Princeton. The creation of the network not only gave us access to high-quality lasers with capabilities exactly tailored to our goals, but also let me submit a successful proposal as a student researcher. Data from our campaign at Colo. State University made it possible for me to write my thesis and start off a career in high-density plasma physics.

Frances Kraus

Staff Research Physicist, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

Prof. Philip H. Bucksbaum
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I’m excited to see how LaserNetUS fills a critical need in North America identified in our NAS report “Opportunities in Intense Ultrafast Lasers: Reaching for the Brightest Light”, to establish and maintain a network of coordinated user facilities where any scientist from academia, national labs, or industry can propose research at a range of complementary petawatt-class lasers. This concept enables and accelerates research across a broad array of fundamental and applied science. The varied science that can benefit from LaserNetUS facilities ranges from elementary particles to high density plasmas, geoscience to medical science, and attosecond physics to high energy astrophysics. The enhanced cooperation and coordination brought about by the network promotes petawatt laser utilization for truly transformative science.

Prof. Philip H. Bucksbaum

Stanford University, Chair of NASEM “Opportunities in Intense Ultrafast Lasers: Reaching for the Brightest Light” report

Raspberry Simpson
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As a graduate student, LaserNetUS has been crucial for both providing me with the means to obtain my thesis data and also the training and expertise from the network of scientists, engineers and staff at these premier laser facilities. I’m very grateful for the access I’ve been able to have at these consortium of laser laboratories and also the opportunity to learn about the exciting research being done at each facility at the annual LaserNetUS meeting.

Raspberry Simpson

Former Graduate Student, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

How we impact Academia and Industry

LaserNetUS powers both academic institutions and the private sector, enabling game-changing research, R&D, and new applications, networking opportunities with strong commercial potential and societal benefits. It also enables the development of a talented workforce needed by national laboratories.

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World Changers Wanted

Become a member of the LaserNetUS community — and be at the forefront of scientific discovery.

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