About LaserNetUS
Mission & Vision
Our mission is to advance and promote high-power 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.
At LaserNetUS, we are committed to empowering the next generation of scientists and expanding the reach of what is possible with high-power lasers. We envision a future where LaserNetUS leads the world in high-power laser research, producing breakthroughs in fusion energy, material science, and other transformative fields. By facilitating access to state-of-the-art laser technology, we aim to be a cornerstone of technological invention, enabling findings that will shape the future of energy and scientific exploration.
Core Values
- Accessibility: Providing researchers—from students to seasoned scientists—access to cutting-edge laser facilities.
- Collaboration: Building global partnerships to accelerate research and discovery.
- Excellence: Upholding the highest research, technology, and scientific integrity standards.
- Innovation: Pushing the boundaries of laser science to develop new applications and technologies.
A National Initiative in Laser Research
Driving Laser Research & Community Engagement
LaserNetUS provides comprehensive resources to support the scientific community:
- World-Class Laser Facilities: Access to state-of-the-art laser systems for groundbreaking experiments.
- Research Proposal Support: Guidance through the proposal process to maximize success.
- Educational Opportunities: Hands-on experience for students and early-career scientists to support their academic growth.
- Team-Oriented Projects: Opportunities for researchers to share in pioneering laser technology projects.
- User
- Institutional Member
- Private Sector Partner
LaserNetUS Member Facilities Locations
- Colorado State University
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
- The Ohio State University
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of Central Florida
- University of Maryland
- University of Michigan
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln
- University of Rochester
- University of Texas at Austin
Supporting Research & Leading User Initiatives
Chandra Breanne Curry
LaserNetUS Coordinator
As the LaserNetUS Coordinator, Dr. Chandra Breanne Curry is pivotal in managing and steering the program's success. Focusing on strategic leadership, she oversees key initiatives, events, and subcommittees within the network, ensuring smooth operations across all LaserNetUS activities. As the primary user liaison, Dr. Curry is dedicated to supporting researchers by addressing user feedback and needs promptly and effectively.
In addition to her user support role, Dr. Curry actively leads outreach efforts, presenting at conferences and working closely with subcommittees to share LaserNetUS developments with potential users and stakeholders. Her involvement with the LaserNetUS Network Facilities Committee and the Scientific Advisory Board ensures that long-term plans align with the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science Fusion Energy Sciences program to extend high-power laser research activities across the United States.
Through her commitment, Dr. Curry strengthens collaboration within the scientific community and helps push the boundaries of laser science and technology.
Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
- Department of Energy
Building a Network of Excellence
Explore the LaserNetUS Organizational Chart to meet the committee members, panelists, and notable contributors representing our diverse, scholarly, and achievement-based association. Use the navigation on the left-hand side to learn more about the individuals shaping our organization.
Network Facilities Committee
I-USE: Intense-light USers Engagement Committee
Scientific Advisory Board
Diagnostics Committee
David Garand
Member
Maria Pia Valdivia Leiva
Member
Simulations Committee
Proposal Review Panel
Matthew Edwards
Chair
Matthew Edwards
Ensuring Fairness and Excellence in the Proposal Review
The Proposal Review Panel (PRP) plays a crucial role in evaluating proposals submitted to LaserNetUS, focusing on their scientific and technical merit. As an independent and confidential committee, the PRP ensures fair and unbiased recommendations for allocating experimental time across all participating facilities.
We welcome Prof. Matthew Edwards from Stanford University as the incoming Chair for Cycle 7.
Testimonials
My PhD would not have been possible without LaserNetUS; all experiments were conducted at LaserNetUS facilities. As a result, I had the unique opportunity to develop a platform not just specifically suited for one facility, but compatible and adaptable for different laser facilities. LaserNetUS additionally gave me the opportunity to collaborate with experts at user facilities, learn about all aspects of high-repetition-rate laser matter interaction experiments in the process, and develop skills to successfully lead complex experiments with a large team of scientists and students.
Dr. Franziska Treffert
Postdoctoral Researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
LaserNetUS meetings offer a unique gathering of scientists from the laser-plasma community, facilitating discussions about diagnostics and laser-plasma physics.
Dr. Simon Bolanos
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UC San Diego
LaserNetUS enables me to research X-ray spectroscopy at ultrafast, relativistically intense laser facilities. The experiment prospects open up possibilities for collaboration with national labs and Universities. This collaboration is critical to enhancing my knowledge and research skills in laser-plasma experiments. Furthermore, it will benefit my research career and allow me to communicate with senior researchers and scientists for research positions after my PhD graduation.
Shubho Mohajan
PhD Candidate at University of Alberta
Being PI on two LaserNetUS experiments has allowed me to put together my thesis and given me experience on a variety of laser systems, which would not be possible otherwise. The staff and support at the Texas Petawatt and the Advanced Laser Light Source made these projects possible, and their work is invaluable as an experimentalist.
Isabella Pagano
PhD Student at The University of Texas at Austin/LLNL
Participating in LaserNetUS has given us access to state-of-the-art facilities that make our research possible. I'm grateful to be able to not just network with, but work with various scientists and graduate students so early in my career, thanks to the collaborative platform that LaserNetUS provides by enabling user experiments. I believe this will help me as I begin to navigate a competitive job market in search of a postdoc position.
Smrithan Ravichandran
PhD Student in Chemical Physics at the University of Maryland, College Park
Through LaserNetUS, I have worked with a wide variety of different teams from countless universities and national labs. This has afforded me a great wealth of knowledge and experience to fall back on and learn from as I developed my experimental skills in the lab.
Ryan Nedbailo
Graduate Research Assistant (Physics) at the University of Texas at Austin
Participation in LaserNetUS has been invaluable to our research efforts. We have developed additional research programs as a result of collaborations forged during our campaigns. We will begin work on LD VHEE radiobiology studies soon with a strong and enthusiastic team. There are a plethora of opportunities and research areas in high-power laser research. Progress in the diverse research areas is supported by the professionalism and commitment to every campaign at LaserNetUS facilities. Students interested in a fast-paced, high-powered, and productive environment should pursue opportunities to participate in research at LaserNetUS facilities.
Dr. Jamie Inman
Biologist Research Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Discover Our Impact on Academia and Industry
LaserNetUS fuels advancement by providing open access to exceptional laser resources, enabling researchers to stretch the bounds of fields like fusion energy, material science, and medical technologies. Our network bridges academia and private industry, encouraging R&D initiatives with significant commercial and societal impact. We also play an essential role in training new scientists and engineers through hands-on experience at premier user facilities. Learn more about how LaserNetUS impacts academia and private industry by clicking the buttons below.
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