A&A's Professor Bhuvana Srinivasan has been named a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers.

The award, announced by President Biden, recognizes Srinivasan's groundbreaking work in computational plasma physics, particularly her research advancing fusion energy concepts and plasma-based propulsion systems. Her selection stems from her NSF CAREER Award achievements in developing high-fidelity models for plasma dynamics.

As director of our PLASMAWISE Lab, Srinivasan leads research crucial to the future of both space exploration and sustainable energy. Her work spans from studying plasma-material interactions in thrusters and fusion devices to investigating instabilities in high-energy-density fusion and astrophysical plasmas.

"Professor Srinivasan exemplifies the innovative spirit and scientific rigor that drives our department forward," says Interim Chair Professor Uri Shumlak, who served as Srinivasan's Ph.D. advisor before becoming her colleague. "Her return to UW as a faculty member, now earning this prestigious recognition, showcases not only her exceptional talents but also her dedication to pushing the boundaries of aerospace engineering. Her work is instrumental in advancing both fusion energy and space propulsion technologies."

Srinivasan joined our faculty after serving as associate professor at Virginia Tech, where she held the Endowed Crofton Faculty Fellowship in Engineering. Her research has garnered support from numerous prestigious institutions, including the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

Beyond her research achievements, Srinivasan demonstrates strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in engineering. She serves on the Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee for the U.S. Department of Energy and as Member-at-Large of the Executive Committee for the American Physical Society Division of Plasma Physics.

The PECASE award, established by President Clinton in 1996, recognizes scientists and engineers who show exceptional leadership potential in their fields. This year, nearly 400 researchers received this distinguished honor across 14 federal agencies.