Dr. John Sarrao

Biography

John Sarrao became SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory’s sixth director in October 2023. His leadership guides a staff of approximately 2,000 in advancing scientific frontiers by exploring the universe at the largest, smallest, and fastest scales, and inventing powerful tools for scientists globally. SLAC conducts research that addresses real-world problems while advancing national interests and operates under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. Home to national user facilities including the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), the world’s most powerful X-ray laser, and the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL), SLAC hosts thousands of users each year and manages an annual budget of around $700 million. In addition to his role as lab director, John serves as a professor of photon science at Stanford University and is a senior fellow at the Precourt Institute for Energy. Prior to SLAC, he was the deputy director of science, technology, and engineering at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he led multiple directorates and served as LANL's chief research officer. John’s scientific research centers on superconductivity materials, particularly correlated electron systems and actinide materials. He has received several prestigious awards including the Department of Energy’s E.O. Lawrence Award and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Physical Society.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards