Eric D. Isaacs

Eric D. Isaacs is an American physicist and scientific administrator known for his research in condensed matter physics and his leadership of major research institutions. His career has spanned significant roles at Argonne National Laboratory, the University of Chicago, and the Carnegie Institution for Science. Isaacs has been influential in advancing nanoscale science and the development of large-scale research facilities for the study of novel materials.

Early life and education

Isaacs completed his undergraduate studies in physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He then pursued his doctoral degree at the University of Chicago, where his research focused on experimental investigations of correlated electron systems using advanced spectroscopic techniques. His graduate work laid a foundation for his future explorations in quantum materials and their electronic properties.

Career and research

Following his doctorate, Isaacs began his professional career as a staff scientist at Bell Labs, then part of AT&T Corporation, during a period renowned for breakthroughs in solid-state physics. His research there involved pioneering studies of semiconductors and low-dimensional systems using tools like scanning tunneling microscopy. He later joined the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C., where he served as the director of the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory and expanded his work on materials under extreme conditions. His scientific contributions are documented in numerous publications in journals such as Science and Physical Review Letters.

Leadership at Argonne National Laboratory

Isaacs served as the Director of Argonne National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory managed by the University of Chicago, from 2009 to 2014. During his tenure, he oversaw the laboratory's strategic direction in energy storage, nuclear energy, and computational science. He played a key role in advocating for and advancing major facilities, including the Advanced Photon Source and the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility. His leadership emphasized strengthening partnerships with industry and academia to translate basic research into technological innovation.

University of Chicago and other roles

After his directorship at Argonne, Isaacs returned to the University of Chicago as a professor in the Department of Physics and the James Franck Institute. He also assumed the role of Executive Vice President for Research, Innovation, and National Laboratories, overseeing the university's stewardship of Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. In this capacity, he helped shape national science policy and fostered interdisciplinary initiatives across the physical sciences, biological sciences, and engineering. He later served as President of the Carnegie Institution for Science, guiding its historic mission in fundamental scientific discovery.

Awards and honors

Isaacs has been elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society for his contributions to the understanding of strongly correlated materials. He is also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His service has been recognized through various appointments to advisory boards for entities like the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy's Basic Energy Sciences program.

Category:American physicists Category:University of Chicago faculty Category:Argonne National Laboratory