[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 111 (Friday, June 25, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E700-E701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING DR. DUSTIN FROULA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOSEPH D. MORELLE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 25, 2021

  Mr. MORELLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dustin Froula, the 
recipient of the 2020 Ernest Orlando Lawrence award from the United 
States Department of Energy. Dr. Froula is Senior Scientist and Leader 
of the Plasma and Ultrafast Physics Group at the Laboratory for Laser 
Energetics and Associate Professor of Physics in the Department of 
Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester in my district.
  Professor Froula joined the University of Rochester in 2010 from the 
National Ignition Facility Inertial Confinement Fusion Directorate at 
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. His research interests lie in 
the fields of experimental plasma and laser physics and covers the many 
areas relevant to inertial confinement fusion and high-energy-density 
physics.
  The E.O. Lawrence award was established in 1959 in honor of a 
scientist who helped elevate American physics to world leadership and 
recognizes U.S. scientists and engineers in nine fields, at mid-career, 
for exceptional contributions in research and development supporting 
the Department of Energy and its mission to advance the national, 
economic and energy security of the United States. Dr. Froula received 
his award in Fusion and Plasma Sciences for innovative research in 
laser plasma physics including pioneering spatiotemporal pulse shaping 
techniques, focused laser plasma instability research, and novel high-
resolution Thomson scattering methods.

[[Page E701]]

  In addition to the Lawrence award, Dr. Froula has been previously 
recognized with the 2007 Department of Energy's Outstanding Mentor 
Award for his work with undergraduate and graduate students and the 
2019 American Physical Society's John Dawson Award for Excellence in 
Plasma Physics Research, ``for innovative experiments that demonstrate 
turbulent dynamo in the laboratory, establishing laboratory experiments 
as a component in the study of turbulent magnetized plasmas, and 
opening a new path to laboratory investigations of other astrophysical 
processes.'' In addition, he was selected as a fellow of the American 
Physical Society in 2017 for the ``development and application of 
Thomson scattering to understand thermal transport and the onset of 
laser-plasma instabilities in indirect- and direct-drive fusion 
experiments.''
  Dr. Froula's research addresses long-standing questions in plasma 
physics, including building a better understanding of how laser beams 
propagate through and interact with plasmas during laser-based 
experiments. His exceptional contributions have made him an 
internationally recognized expert in the theory and utilization of 
Thomson scattering, including co-authoring the definite reference text, 
``Plasma Scattering of Electromagnetic Radiation: Theory and 
Measurement Techniques''. He helped pioneer the development of using 
Thompson scattering as a measurement tool, and it has evolved from a 
rare and challenging experimental technique to a common and routine 
experimental diagnostic capability in fundamental plasma physics.
  Additionally, Dr. Froula has recently opened a new field of optics 
based on the concept of ``flying focus,'' a technique that enables 
researchers to better control the intensity of lasers over long 
distances. The technique has the potential to help researchers design 
the next generation of high-power, laser-driven particle accelerators, 
and light sources with novel wavelengths for studying complex materials 
and molecules.
  His work to date has been tremendous and his contributions to 
science, leadership and mentoring epitomize all the qualities that E.O. 
Lawrence strived for in his lifetime. In summary, Dr. Froula's 
colleagues and students know him as an outstanding, innovative 
scientist and mentor who inspires and involves graduate students in 
world leading plasma science research. I am proud to have Dustin as a 
constituent and awed by his numerous scientific achievements, including 
this very deserving award.

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