1. Education

2. Career
    Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (1995-1999)  Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (1999-2005)  Battelle Global Laboratory Operations (2005-2010)  Argonne National Laboratory (2010-present) 

3. Honors and Service

4. Contributions

5. References

6. Paul Kearns

Paul K. Kearns is an American biologist and laboratory executive who since 2017 has served Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. With more than 30 years of experience managing national laboratories in the U.S. and abroad, Kearns is known for deploying diverse scientific resources to achieve ambitious goals in energy, environment, and national security.

On November 17, 2017, Kearns was appointed the 14th director to lead Argonne National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary science and engineering research and development center in Lemont, Illinois, that accelerates science and technology to drive U.S. prosperity and security^[1]. Managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, Argonne unlocks new science and technological frontiers that secure America’s energy future and deliver economic growth.

As Argonne Director, Kearns has set the laboratory’s strategic vision to deliver leadership in science and technology, operational excellence, and world-class talent. He oversees multiple projects critical to Argonne’s mission of accelerating science and technology to drive U.S. prosperity and security. Working to upgrade the Advanced Photon Source^[2] and launch the first exascale computer in the U.S. at the [https://www.alcf.anl.gov/ Argonne Leadership Computing Facility]^[3] are critical to maintain U.S. leadership in science and technology. Argonne’s leadership of the [https://www.jcesr.org/ Joint Center for Energy Storage Research] reflects the laboratory’s long history of expertise and accomplishment in battery research.^[4]

Education

Kearns attended Purdue University, where he received a doctorate and a master’s degree in bionucleonics and bachelor’s degree in natural resources and environmental sciences.

Career

Kearns has managed complex research and development enterprises for over 30 years, enabling them to achieve ambitious goals in energy, environment, and national security.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (1995-1999)

At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Kearns directed the development of technical and contracting strategies the Hanford Tank Waste Remediation System, helping enable the safe processing and stabilization of World War II- era, high-level radioactive waste. Kearns and his award-winning staff conducted R&D activities for public and private sector clients, leading to the commercialization of technologies.

Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (1999-2005)

At the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Kearns oversaw the laboratory’s program in energy, environment, and national security. Kearns also was responsible for the safe operation of research and production facilities such as the Advanced Test Reactor, enabling testing of nuclear fuels and materials to be used in power plants, naval propulsion, and research and advanced reactors.

Battelle Global Laboratory Operations (2005-2010)

With [https://www.battelle.org/laboratory-management Battelle Global Laboratory Operations], Kearns developed and implemented an integrated business plan for a subsidiary of Battelle Memorial Institute established to work in partnership with Italian government and industry to address challenging problems in energy, security and the environment. Kearns was involved in Phase 1 of the [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254023075_The_SPIDERS_project_-_Smart_Power_Infrastructure_Demonstration_for_Energy_Reliability_and_Security_at_US_military_facilities Smart Power Infrastructure Demonstration for Energy Reliability and Security Joint Capability Technology Demonstration], a groundbreaking program that has bolstered the cyber security and energy efficiency of U.S. military installations. In collaboration with the University of Manchester and the United Kingdom’s National Nuclear Laboratory, Kearns helped conduct a study for the [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/technology-strategy-board United Kingdom Technical Strategy Board], to define the United Kingdom’s research and development investment strategy in nuclear energy.

Argonne National Laboratory (2010-present)

As Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Argonne National Laboratory from 2010 to 2017, Kearns helped make the laboratory more effective and efficient in its financial management, human resources and the development of scientific leaders and business professionals, safety performance, business systems, commercialization of new technologies, and facilities management. Kearns also prioritized efforts to make the lab workforce more diverse and inclusive.

Working with lab leadership, Kearns established new cross-cutting program development centers in energy storage and applied materials and guided the establishment of an independent energy storage start-up, [https://plusvolta.com/ Volta Energy Technologies].^[5] He helped modernize the laboratory by overseeing the construction of new state-of-the-art research laboratories, the Energy Sciences Building^[6] and the Advance Protein Characterization Facility^[7], and gaining approval for the construction of the Materials Design Laboratory^[8].

Named Argonne director on November 17, 2017, Kearns has managed the Laboratory’s scientific programs and operational support to deliver leading edge science and technology. Kearns has strengthened sponsor engagement and relationships and fostered a welcoming and inclusive culture that values diversity, innovation and collaboration, and driving improvement in Laboratory performance.

Honors and Service

• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science^[9]

• Member, Executive Committee, DOE National Laboratory Directors’ Council

• Member, U.S. Council on Competitiveness’ National Commission on Innovation and Competitiveness Frontiers

Contributions

[https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00005528 Effects of Trace Metals on Growth of Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) as Measured by RNA-DNA Ratios].

[https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00008507 Manganese-54 accumulation by Chlorella spp., Daphnia magna and yellow perch (Perca flavescens)].

[https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc792917/ Privatization Financing Alternatives: Blending Private Capital and Public Resources for a Successful Project]

[https://www.tib.eu/en/search/id/BLCP%3ACN031554705/Waste-Treatment-Technology-Development-to-Enable/ Waste Treatment Technology Development to Enable TWRS Phase 1 Privatization]

[https://inldigitallibrary.inl.gov/sites/sti/sti/2808449.pdf Defining Science and Technology (S&T) Needs for Long-Term Stewardship of U.S. Department of Energy Sites and Development of an S&T Plan]

[https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/797358 The Environmental Management Core Laboratories – A Collaborative Effort to Enhance Cleanup]

[https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/deca.1090.0140 Resource Limited Multiattribute Value Analysis of Alternatives for Immobilizing Radioactive Liquid Process Wastes Stored in Saluggia, Italy]

[https://inis.iaea.org/search/search.aspx?orig_q=RN:40093872 Nuclear Research and Development Capabilities Needed to support Future growth]

[https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/files/32909497/FULL_TEXT.PDF A Review of UK’s Nuclear R&D Capability]

References

Paul Kearns

• Aluminium Industrie Aktien
• Aluminium Industrie Vaassen BV v Romalpa Aluminium
• Aluminium Industrie Vaassen BV v Romalpa Aluminium Ltd
• Aluminium Industrie Vaassen BV v. Romalpa Alumnium Ltd
• Aluminium Industrie Vaassen BV v Romalpa Alumnium Ltd
• Aluminium Industry Abstracts
• Aluminium-ion battery
• Aluminium Konin
• Aluminium monoiodide
• Aluminium Museum
• Aluminium nickel cobalt
• Aluminium Oxide
• Aluminium oxide (compounds)
• Aluminium phosphide poisoning
• Aluminium poisoning
• Aluminium Polycarbonate iMac
• Aluminium powder
• Aluminium price-fixing conspiracy
• Aluminium Stadium
• Aluminium toxicity in people on dialysis
• Aluminium triethoxide
• Aluminium trihydride
• Aluminium wire
• Aluminium Wire Armour
• Aluminium–air batteries