About
Calvin R. Howell is a Professor of Physics at Duke University within the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. Since 2001, he has held faculty positions at Duke, and in 2025 became the Director of the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL), a position he previously held from 2006 to 2016. His academic career at Duke includes progression from Instructor (1984-1985) to Assistant Professor (1985-1992), Associate Professor with Tenure (1992-2001), and ultimately Professor of Physics (2001-present).
Professor Howell's research is centered on experimental nuclear physics with emphasis on the quantum chromodynamics (QCD) description of low-energy nuclear phenomena. His work focuses on structure properties of nucleons and nuclei and reaction dynamics in few-nucleon systems. The macroscopic properties of nucleon structure and the residual strong nuclear force between neutrons and protons in nuclei emerge from QCD at distances where the color interactions between quarks and gluons are strong. His research spans multiple areas including neutron scattering, photonuclear reactions, fission product yields, and precision nuclear physics measurements.
Analysis of Professor Howell's recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a strong focus on fission product yield measurements across various actinide isotopes (235U, 238U, and 239Pu) using both neutron-induced and photon-induced fission techniques. His work combines experimental precision with applications in nuclear energy, nuclear security, and fundamental nuclear physics. Additional research threads include neutron-neutron interactions through deuteron breakup experiments, development of novel instrumentation like the HIFROST Dilution Refrigerator, and applications of nuclear physics techniques to plant biology through projects like PhytoPET.
Professor Howell has received significant recognition including:
- Dean's Diversity Award (2016)
- Samuel DuBois Cook Award for Service (2008)
- Fellow of the American Physical Society (2006)
He has secured substantial research funding with current grants including NEUTRON SCATTERING EXPERIMENTS FOR ACTINIDES USING MONOENERGETIC NEUTRON BEAMS (2025-2028), Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Graduate School Award (2017-2027), and multiple Department of Energy projects. His leadership extends to directing the REU Site: Undergraduate Research in Nuclear Particle Physics at TUNL and Duke (2022-2027). Professor Howell has also made significant service contributions, chairing the Tom Bonner Prize Committee for the APS Division of Nuclear Physics and serving on the Board of Trustees of the Southeastern Universities Research Association (2016-2019).
As Director of TUNL, Professor Howell leads a major nuclear physics research facility that facilitates collaboration between North Carolina's Research Triangle Universities. His laboratory work includes the High Intensity Gamma-ray Source (HIGS) facility, where many of his photonuclear experiments are conducted. He has also been instrumental in developing interdisciplinary applications of nuclear physics, particularly in plant biology research through projects like PhytoPET, a modular positron emission tomography system designed specifically for plant imaging.
