Newswise — Physicist Kawtar Hafidi has been appointed Associate Laboratory Director, Physical Sciences and Engineering (PSE) at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory. 

Hafidi most recently served as the director of Argonne’s Physics division, a role she took in January 2017. During her tenure, Hafidi successfully established Argonne as an isotope producer laboratory by leading an effort between two of the laboratory’s research directorates: PSE and Energy and Global Security. Hafidi also established the Argonne Trace Radioisotope Analysis Center (TRACER), which provides a new, permanent home for the nation’s only laser-based krypton atom-counting machine.

“I am confident Kawtar will bring the right leadership to continue our breakthrough research, open up new collaborations and partnerships, and in the Argonne tradition, to convene the world’s leading scientists to solve the most complex problems,” said Argonne Director Paul Kearns.

Before leading Argonne’s Physics division, Hafidi was the laboratory’s Associate Chief Scientist for Laboratory-Directed Research & Development.

From 2013 to 2014, she was detailed to DOE’s Office of Nuclear Physics, where she demonstrated her ability to forge strong relationships within the U.S. physics community while managing a suite of major projects devoted to achieving America’s scientific missions in physics. She has a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics from Mohammed V University, and a master’s degree in Nuclear and Particle Physics and a Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics from the University of Paris XI.

Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation’s first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America’s scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s 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, visit the Office of Science website.