Jefferson Lab in the News
Hermann Grunder to Accept Directorship at Argonne National Laboratory
The Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) and the Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) announced that on November 1, 2000 the Lab's Director, Dr. Hermann Grunder will accept the Directorship of the Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago, Illinois.
President of SURA, Dr. Jerry Draayer, the DOE contractor for the management and operation of Jefferson Lab said, "SURA has enjoyed the dynamic leadership of Hermann Grunder as the Jefferson Lab Director for 15 years. While Hermann's leaving Jefferson Lab represents a loss, it also represents an opportunity for the outstanding and educated team that Hermann has built Lab to move aggressively forward on a clearly defined program bolstered by the support of an engaged scientific community and under the watchful care of community, state, regional, and national stakeholders."
"Argonne National Laboratory — one of the Department of Energy's major multi-program facilities — is gaining a truly visionary leader. Hermann Grunder is the right choice — he has proven himself time and again to be a smart and discerning manager for the overall benefit of science. The Jefferson Lab experience underscores the wisdom of the University of Chicago and the Department of Energy's choice. We thank Hermann for his leadership and are assured that he will continue to bring credit to the Department and bolster our Nation's scientific agenda."
"I have made it my career to serve where I am most needed in the national lab system. I am honored that the University of Chicago and the Department of Energy found my knowledge, experience and management style equal to the complex needs of a multi-program lab such as Argonne National Laboratory. While it will be difficult to leave Jefferson Lab the community that has been so supportive, I look forward to the challenges ahead," states Hermann Grunder.
Don Randel, President of the University of Chicago, which manages Argonne said, "Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago are delighted to have Hermann Grunder take its helm. He is a forceful, smart and dynamic scientific manager and his successes at Jefferson Lab and experience at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will serve him well at Argonne."
Dr. Grunder, who has served as Director of Jefferson Lab since, 1985, spearheaded the technology change of the CEBAF accelerator to superconducting, a move that decreased costs and increased the machine capabilities. Under his leadership the lab was completed on cost and on schedule and began operations in 1994. He has been instrumental in leveraging Jefferson Lab's resources to benefit the local community, in the form of educational outreach programs and economic development initiatives such as the City of Newport News-owned Applied Research Center building in which local universities, industry and lab personnel work together to apply technological advances to industry.
Dr. Christoph Leemann, Jefferson Lab Deputy Director, will become Interim Director while SURA conducts the search for a new Director. Dr. Leemann has been at Jefferson since 1985 where he has served as Associate Director for the Accelerator Division and most recently as Deputy Director.
"Dr. Grunder is leaving Jefferson Lab in excellent shape with an effective management team in place. SURA is confident that under the interim leadership of Christoph Leemann, and with strong backing from the Department of Energy and SURA member institutions, JLab will not just continue to operate as a world-class laboratory but will grow into an example of how through partnerships with academe, as well as industry, we will maintain our competitive edge in an increasingly sophisticated technological world", says Jerry Draayer.