Crain's Chicago Business named Leah Guzowski, director for strategy and research programs at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, to its annual 40 under 40 list.
The publication selects 40 Chicago-area residents each year who have greatly contributed to their fields, such as business, government, philanthropy and the arts, before their 40th birthday.
Guzowski also serves as the leader of the interdisciplinary Systems Science Initiative and is a fellow of the University of Chicago's Computation Institute.
She works to develop and execute energy and global security strategies for programmatic growth. Her research focuses on applying new scientific tools, methods and technologies to economic policy, climate change and geo-political considerations to improve national and global security and to transition to a clean energy economy.
Guzowski said this award is recognition of not only her work, but of all the research taking place at Argonne.
"This prize is an indication of a positive movement happening at the laboratory," Guzowski said. "We're doing a lot of exciting things in terms of clean energy and energy policy, and we're trying some new strategies at the lab. And this is a recognition of that."
Prior to taking on a formal leadership position at Argonne, she was a principal investigator and involved in several programs, including, designing computational models that allow for better visualization of cities to improve energy, water and human health systems.
We're doing incredibly challenging and, therefore, exciting work at the lab," Guzowski said. "It's an honor to have the opportunity to highlight key efforts going on across the lab, such as upgrading user facilities, creating new models for partnerships and strengthening our regional visibility and impact."
Guzowski said her industry experience, ranging from Fortune 50 to small entrepreneurial ventures, has complimented her work at Argonne. She said it provides a useful perspective on different ways organizations do business, build teams and conduct research.
Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.
The U.S. Department of Energy's 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 the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit the Office of Science website.
###