Mercer Times

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) and Princeton University have solidified their partnership through a new associated faculty program aimed at enhancing research collaborations and scientific innovation.

Emily Carter, PPPL’s senior strategic advisor for sustainability science and associate laboratory director for Applied Materials and Sustainability Sciences, expressed the importance of attracting scholars from various disciplines to diversify the Lab's research portfolio. Carter highlighted the collaborative opportunities the associated faculty program brings, stating, "The associated faculty program is a win-win for PPPL and Princeton University, given the opportunities it opens up with the DOE’s Office of Science."

Gene A. Jarrett, Dean of the Faculty at Princeton University, emphasized the significance of the program in advancing academic knowledge and scientific discovery, stating, "Associated faculty status enables our world-class Princeton University faculty to contribute to the research goals of PPPL and the DOE."

Yiguang Ju, a Robert Porter Patterson Professor at Princeton University, highlighted the critical importance of addressing climate change and energy sustainability, stating, "If you are looking at decarbonization, it’s not something a single principal investigator can do and have a huge impact."

Nathalie de Leon, an associate professor at Princeton University, expressed enthusiasm about the collaborative opportunities facilitated by the associated faculty program, emphasizing the organic growth of research programs.

Luc Dieke, associate professor at Princeton University, discussed his research in fluid mechanics and its connection to large-scale environmental changes, while Marissa Weichman, assistant professor of chemistry at Princeton, shared her excitement about deeper collaborations in sustainability research to mitigate climate change.

The associated faculty program serves as a bridge between Princeton University and PPPL, fostering enhanced collaboration and scientific advancements.