James P Vary

James P Vary is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Iowa State University and a former Director of the International Institute of Theoretical and Applied Physics (IITAP). He earned his PhD from Yale University and has been at ISU since 1975, building a high-energy nuclear theory group.

• Education: B.S. (1965, Magna Cum Laude) from Boston College, M.S. (1966), and Ph.D. (1970) from Yale University

His research spans strong interaction physics, ab-initio nuclear structure theory, quantum chromodynamics (QCD), and computational physics, with recent emphasis on quantum computing and fundamental symmetry tests. His publications and lectures have profoundly impacted nuclear theory globally.

• Scientific Honors: Fellow of the American Physical Society, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2023 Distinguished Scientist Award from the Chinese Academy of Sciences

He has served on governance bodies including the American Physical Society Council (2002–2005) and the DOE National Energy Research Supercomputer Center (NERSC) Users Executive Committee, demonstrating leadership in the academic community.