SRNL Names University of South Carolina radiochemistry and materials scientist to joint appointment

Aiken, SC. (September 2020) – Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) has appointed Dr. Hanno zur Loye of the University of South Carolina to a joint appointment position to strengthen collaboration and exploration in the fields of radiochemistry and materials science.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. zur Loye join the lab,” said Dr. Vahid Majidi, Laboratory Director. “We (SRNL) are at a transformational time and Dr. zur Loye’s arrival is aligned with our long-term strategic plan to lead in scientific innovations and enhance our partnership with local universities and colleges for the future workforce.”

As a joint appointee, Dr. zur Loye will work closely with SRNL researchers on a variety of novel materials for waste treatment and detection as well supporting the vitality of radiochemistry and related sciences. “Radiochemistry, and the broader exploration of its crossroad with materials science, is the foundation of SRNL’s mission and will continue to be a core competency central to SRNL’s enduring stewardship of critical materials for the nation’s continued vitality and security” said Jake Amoroso, an SRNL researcher collaborating with Dr. zur Loye.

This joint appointment also provides a unique talent pipeline for both the university and the laboratory.

“This partnership will open more opportunities for our students to have hands-on experience beyond the classroom,” said Lacy K. Ford, dean of the University of South Carolina College of Arts and Sciences. “Students will be able to work in a national laboratory setting as interns, research assistants or postdocs, and we hope graduates may ultimately work there as employed scientists. Their work on scientific research of national importance will set the stage for a strong career.”

SRNL’s joint appointment program is a partnership with institutions to provide opportunity for faculty and students to work and conduct research in their specialized areas that are priorities for both the University and SRNL.

Dr. zur Loye received his Bachelor of Science Degree at Brown University in 1983 and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 1988. He currently holds the position as Director of the Center for Hierarchical Waste Form Materials (CHWM), a collaborative research Center funded through the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) program, which aims to develop the fundamental science from which novel waste form technologies can emerge. Dr. zur Loye’s research interests focus on the area of inorganic materials chemistry, where he is best known for his research in the field of crystal growth, particularly for applying high temperature solution routes to growing crystals of complex oxides. He is an internationally recognized leader in his research field and is the recipient of a number of national awards, including the Exxon Award in Solid State Chemistry, the IPMI Henry J. Albert Award, the South Carolina Governor’s Award for Excellence in Scientific Research, and the Charles H. Stone Award. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the American Chemical Society (ACS), and a Carolina Distinguished Professor at the University of South Carolina.

“I have greatly enjoyed and benefitted from working with the excellent scientists at SRNL during the past several years and am looking forward to the joint exploration of new waste form materials, including the crystal growth of new transuranic element-containing hierarchical materials,” said Dr. zur Loye. “My joint appointment will connect our state’s flagship university with our state’s national laboratory – a win-win for South Carolina.”

Dr. Hanno zur Loye, University of South Carolina, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has been appointed to a joint appointment position at Savannah River National Laboratory.

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