معرفی
Rick Kraus is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). He holds a Ph.D. in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Harvard University (2013), an M.S. in Applied Physics from Harvard (2013), an M.Phil. in Physics from the University of Cambridge (2008), and a B.S. in Physics from UNR (2007). His professional history includes roles as a Research Scientist (2014–2023) and Lawrence Postdoctoral Fellow (2013–2014) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
His research focuses on extreme conditions physics, including planetary formation mechanisms, shock wave dynamics, and material behavior under multimegabar pressures. Key areas include giant impact modeling, planetary interior structure, phase transition kinetics, and inertial fusion energy. He emphasizes uncertainty quantification in experimental-to-theoretical workflows.
Awards include the 2023 Neil Ashcroft Early Career Award, 2022 Early-Mid Career Award (LLNL), and the 2019 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). His work has been recognized in Discover Magazine’s Top 100 Discoveries (2015) and with multiple honors from professional societies.
- Education:
- Ph.D., Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University (2013)
- M.S., Applied Physics, Harvard University (2013)
- M.Phil., Physics, University of Cambridge (2008)
- B.S., Physics, University of Nevada, Reno (2007)
- Labs/Teams: Active in the NIF's TARDIS x-ray diffraction team and the Z to Planets project at Sandia National Laboratories.
- Grants/Funding: Supported by the Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
His research integrates experimental and computational approaches to address fundamental challenges in planetary science, materials under extreme conditions, and national defense applications.
