Kansas State University

Graduate student to complete thesis research at US Department of Energy National Lab

Submitted by Communications and Marketing

A Kansas State University graduate student has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Graduate Student Research Program to conduct thesis research at a DOE national laboratory. 

Kurtis Borne, doctoral student in physics, will study at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California. Borne will use the LCLS II Free Electron Laser to observe and understand how atoms in molecules move during light-induced chemical reactions. 

"I am excited to receive this award, and am grateful to K-State Professors Daniel Rolles and Artem Rudenko, as well as Peter Walter at SLAC, for their encouragement and help during the application process," Borne said. "The overall narrative of this project is something we have been pursuing at K-State's J.R. Macdonald Lab. The experimental techniques and theoretical backing I will learn from this study opportunity will really advance our research."

The Science Graduate Student Research Program provides supplemental funds for graduate awardees to conduct part of their thesis research at a host DOE laboratory in collaboration with a DOE laboratory scientist in a defined award period. The award period for the proposed research project at DOE laboratories may range from three to 12 consecutive months.

"These graduate student awards help prepare new scientists for STEM careers that are vitally important to the DOE mission and the nation's economy," said Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette. "We are proud of the accomplishments of these outstanding awardees and look forward to seeing what they achieve in the years to come. They represent the future leadership and innovation that will allow American science and engineering to excel in the 21st century." 

The research projects are expected to advance the graduate awardees' overall doctoral research and training while providing access to the expertise, resources and capabilities available at the DOE laboratories.

Graduate students currently pursuing doctoral degrees in areas of physics, chemistry, material sciences, biology (non-medical), mathematics, engineering, computer or computational sciences, or specific areas of environmental sciences that are aligned with the mission of the Office of Science are eligible to apply to the Science Graduate Student Research program.