In a ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the organization honored Roberto for a number of materials sciences-related activities nationally and at ORNL including managing one of the nation's largest materials science and engineering programs.
Roberto's responsibilities have included the recent upgrade of the High Flux Isotope Reactor and management of the laboratory's nanoscience research programs. He has helped lead the establishment of DOE's Nanoscale Science Research Centers, including the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences currently under construction at ORNL.
"Jim's award is terrific news. He has played a major role at ORNL in building and sustaining one of the world's top advanced materials programs," said ORNL Director Jeff Wadsworth.
The 700,000-member Federation of Materials Societies comprises professional societies, universities and National Research Council organizations involved with materials science, engineering and technology. The federation's National Materials Advancement Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding capabilities in advancing the multidisciplinary field of materials science and engineering, and who contribute significantly to the application of the materials profession to national problems and policy.
Previous recipients of the award include the late Rep. George E. Brown Jr., chairman of the House Science Committee; Dr. Arden Bement, currently director-designate of the National Science Foundation; Dr. Jerry Woodhall, Yale University and National Medal of Technology Laureate; and the late Dr. John H. Hopps Jr., deputy undersecretary of Defense.
Before becoming deputy director in November, Roberto served as ORNL's associate laboratory director for physical sciences from 1999 to 2004 and directed the laboratory's Solid State Division from 1990 to 1999.
He has participated in a number of DOE, National Science Foundation and National Research Council studies and is a former president of the Materials Research Society and chair of the Division of Materials Physics of the American Physical Society. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Roberto completed his undergraduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received his master's and doctorate degrees in applied physics from Cornell University. He is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served as a programming language specialist.
Roberto resides with his wife, Jane, in Farragut. They have two adult children and two grandchildren.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a multiprogram laboratory managed for the Department of Energy by UT-Battelle.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
You may read other press releases from Oak Ridge National Laboratory or learn more about the lab at http://www.ornl.gov/news.