Stony Brook University Professor Receives Funding From National Nuclear Security Administration

Baosheng Li

Li’s research is to investigate the behavior and physical properties of materials under extreme conditions of pressure and temperature. He uses state-of-the-art techniques that involve synchrotron X-ray and ultrasonic techniques to “see”, in real time, the change of crystal structure of materials, measure the speed of sound traveling in these materials in response to extreme pressure and temperature conditions. The data derived from these measurements can be used for designing and synthesizing novel functional materials, modeling and predicting material behaviors at conditions inaccessible by direct sampling, such as the deep interior of planets and events with high speed impact.

The award is part of more than $20 million in NNSA grants awarded to 28 researchers from 18 states. This award was made possible through the NNSA’s Stewardship Science Academic Alliances (SSAA) program.

“It provides a great opportunity to apply the techniques that we developed in the last fifteen years to materials of interests to DoE’s Stewardship Stockpile program,” said Li.

“NNSA is committed to funding research that will increase the safety, security and reliability of our nuclear stockpile and further President Obama’s commitment to securing nuclear material around the world,” said NNSA Administrator Thomas D’Agostino. “These grant recipients are working on cutting-edge research that is the bedrock of our future as a nuclear security enterprise.  The money we invest today will advance scientific and national security goals, and I want to personally congratulate the recipients of these awards for their involvement in our mission.”

One of the Stewardship Science Academic Alliances’ objectives is to be a long-term recruiting tool to help the national laboratories attract the next generation of nuclear security professionals. Approximately 70 SSAA-supported students have been hired at the labs since the program’s inception in 2002. 

The award recipients and amounts are listed by state. For more information, please check our website at http://nnsa.energy.gov/dsup/ 

Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science in the nation’s national security enterprise. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability, and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; reduces the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad. Visit www.nnsa.energy.gov 

Li resides in East Setauket with his wife Bianjia Li and two children, Jennifer and Thomas Li. – See more at: http://commcgi.cc.sunysb.edu/cgi-bin/am2/admin.cgi#sthash.kIRmaaMY.dpuf