University
of California President Mark G. Yudof today (Jan. 22) appointed Paul Alivisatos
interim director of the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
which is managed by the university. Alivisatos will replace Steve Chu, former
director of the laboratory, who was sworn in as U.S. Secretary of Energy on
Jan. 21.
The appointment takes effect immediately, though it is subject to confirmation
by the full UC Board of Regents at the board's Feb. 3-5 meeting.
"Paul Alivisatos is a pre-eminent scientist with superb leadership and
management experience," Yudof said. "I am confident that he will provide
excellent leadership for the Berkeley Laboratory during this transitional period
as it continues addressing some of the greatest scientific and energy challenges
confronting our country."
Prior to this appointment, Alivisatos was the deputy director of Berkeley Laboratory
serving as the lab's chief research officer, overseeing the discretionary research
budget, key research initiatives and technology transfer functions. In addition,
he assisted the director in developing the overall strategic direction and institutional
planning for the laboratory. Alivisatos is a leader of Berkeley Lab's Helios
solar research initiative, where he is spearheading ground-breaking research
on artificial photosynthesis and photovoltaic technology through the creation
of nano-inspired devices.
"Like many others, I have been inspired by Steve Chu's vision of how the
work done at Berkeley Lab could overcome some of the most difficult challenges
of our time," said Alivisatos. "I share that vision and welcome the
opportunity to lead this great national laboratory at such an historic moment."
From 2005 to 2007, prior to being named deputy director of LBL, Alivisatos
was associate laboratory director for physical sciences. From 2002 to 2008 he
was director of the materials sciences division and from 2001 to 2005 was director
of the Molecular Foundry at Berkeley Lab. Alivisatos has been a member of the
faculty at UC Berkeley since 1988, following the completion of his postdoctoral
work at AT&T Bell Laboratories. He is currently the Larry and Diane Bock
Professor of Nanotechnology and a professor in the departments of materials
science and chemistry.
Alivisatos is a scientific founder of Quantum Dot Corp. and Nanosys Inc., and
a board member of Solexant Inc. Alivisatos is the founding editor of Nano Letters,
a publication of the American Chemical Society.
Alivisatos has published widely and is the recipient of numerous awards and
honors, including the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award, the Eni Italgas Prize for
Energy and Environment, the Rank Prize for Optoelectronics Award, the Wilson
Prize, the Coblentz Award for Advances in Molecular Spectroscopy, and the Department
of Energy's (DOE) Awards for Sustained Outstanding Research in Materials Chemistry
and Outstanding Scientific Accomplishment in Materials Chemistry. He has held
fellowships with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the
American Physical Society, the American Chemical Society and the Alfred P. Sloan
Foundation. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Alivisatos holds a Ph.D. in chemical physics from UC Berkeley and a bachelor
of arts in chemistry from the University of Chicago.
The appointment of Alivisatos was made by President Yudof consistent with UC
policy, following consultation with the Department of Energy, Regents' Chairman
Richard C. Blum and DOE Lab Oversight Committee Chair Norman Pattiz. Compensation
for Alivisatos was approved by interim action of Regents' Compensation Committee
Chair Bruce Varner. Both the appointment and compensation are subject to final
confirmation by the Board of Regents at its February meeting.
Alivisatos as interim director is proposed to receive an annual salary of $406,980,
representing a 14 percent administrative stipend above his current salary of
$357,000. (UC Regents approved Alivisatos' current salary of $357,000 and DOE
has approved reimbursement of $338,000; the unreimbursed amount will be paid
from the fee earned under the contract.) Per university policy, he will receive
an annual automobile allowance of $8,916. Per policy, Alivisatos is eligible
for participation in the UC Mortgage Origination Program. Alivisatos also will
receive standard pension and health and welfare benefits and standard senior
management benefits, including senior manager life insurance, executive business
travel insurance, executive salary continuation for disability, and an administrative
fund for official entertainment and other purposes that comply with university
policy. As a member of the UC tenured faculty in a senior management position,
Alivisatos is eligible to accrue sabbatical credits.
The university expects to announce a national search for a new director in
the coming weeks. This search will include the formation of a committee to advise
the president of the university on the selection of a new director.