Winners of 2025 FRIB Achievement Award for Early Career Researchers named

The FRIB Users Organization Executive Committee and the FRIB Theory Alliance Executive Board have announced the winners of the 2025 FRIB Achievement Award for Early Career Researchers. Erich Leistenschneider, a staff scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, is the recipient of the 2025 experimental award. Cole Pruitt, a staff scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, is the recipient of the 2025 theory award.

The selection committee stated:

Dr. Erich Leistenschneider’s research focuses on nuclear structure far from stability using mass spectrometry and precision measurement techniques. Dr. Leistenschneider’s publication record is outstanding and their technical innovations for stopped beam physics at FRIB enabled the commissioning of LEBIT’s Single Ion Penning Trap and the development of the future multipurpose Multiple Reflection Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (MR-TOF-MS), which will enhance FRIB’s precision measurement program. Their contributions to measurements in the tin region are particularly of note and high profile. Dr. Leistenschneider’s impressive scientific leadership and technical developments were noted by all committee members. 

Dr. Cole Pruitt’s research applies advanced statistical methods to develop optical model potentials with rigorously quantified uncertainties, resulting in significantly improved predictive capabilities compared to traditional best-fit parameter approaches. The committee noted that his work enables the propagation of optical model uncertainties to nucleosynthesis observables, opening the door to future studies that can assess the impact of specific model assumptions on astrophysical outcomes and guide experiments toward key nuclei of interest. In addition to his impactful research and strong publication record, the committee commended Dr. Pruitt’s scientific leadership and commitment to mentoring.

Erich Leistenschneider

Leistenschneider’s research involves high-precision measurements of very short-lived and scarcely produced atomic nuclei. His primary objective is determining the mass of these nuclei to provide direct insights into how tightly bound the protons and neutrons are within the nucleus.

“By understanding these binding energies, we gain crucial insights into the interplay of the fundamental nuclear forces governing these extreme systems,” Leistenschneider said. “This work is essential for building a complete picture of nuclear matter and even informs astrophysical models.”

Leistenschneider is excited to continue his research at FRIB. He is particularly looking forward to collaborating with the Low Energy Beam and Ion Trap (LEBIT) group, which he says has done an excellent job preparing and upgrading the mass spectrometers required to run his experiments.

“I believe FRIB will be pivotal in the quest to better understand nuclear matter in the coming years,” Leistenschneider said. “We hope that FRIB will enable us to probe extremely rare nuclear systems with unprecedented detail.”

According to Leistenschneider, FRIB will not only enable the production of a few samples of exotic nuclei that are still relatively unthinkable but will also provide large quantities of nuclei that can only be produced at a select few facilities. 

 “This leap in intensity will let us apply precision spectroscopy techniques to these frontier nuclei, significantly refining our understanding of nuclear structure in ways that are simply not possible with current technology,” Leistenschneider said.

Leistenschneider completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics at the University of São Paulo in Brazil. After earning his PhD in physics from the University of British Columbia in Canada, he moved to the U.S. to become a research associate at FRIB with LEBIT. He then became a senior research fellow at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland. He is currently a staff scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. 

Cole Pruitt

Pruitt’s research focuses on creating models known as “optical potentials,” which simulate the nuclear forces experienced by protons and neutrons as they travel through nuclei during accelerator experiments. By incorporating realistic error bars into the optical potentials, scientists can better understand when to expect new measurements of rare, highly unstable nuclei to deviate from the models.

“Adding uncertainty to models keeps us honest as scientists—can we say what don’t we know, and what kinds of measurements can help us learn more?” Pruitt said. “The more theorists are comfortable with uncertainty, the better we can support experimental measurements.”

Pruitt says he is looking forward to continuing his research at FRIB, citing its capability to produce large quantities of isotopes. 

“One of FRIB’s superpowers is making huge numbers of isotopes far from stability,” Pruitt said. “By doing transfer, knockout, and scattering measurements on these nuclei, we can test our nuclear reaction models to learn how nuclear forces change in neutron-rich systems, such as debris from neutron star mergers.”

Pruitt received his bachelor’s degree in biophysics from Brown University. He completed his PhD in chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL), where his work involved neutron cross section and radioactive beam measurements at several U.S. accelerator facilities, including FRIB’s predecessor, the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL). Through his collaboration with WUSTL’s nuclear theory group during his PhD tenure, Pruitt transitioned to reaction theory as a post-doctoral researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he now serves as a staff scientist working in modeling, design, and analysis for national nuclear security. 

The FRIB Achievement Award for Early Career Researchers recognizes outstanding original contributions to the field of nuclear physics through work at or relating to FRIB, performed by scientists early in their careers.

The recipients will present their work during the plenary session at the annual Low Energy Community Meeting and receive a stipend to support their participation.

Michigan State University (MSU) operates the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) as a user facility for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC), with financial support from and furthering the mission of the DOE-SC Office of Nuclear Physics.

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of today’s most pressing challenges. For more information, visit energy.gov/science.