NIST researchers Kathryn Beers and Joshua Bienfang have been awarded the prestigious Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). This is the highest honor given to early-career scientists and engineers by the U.S. government.
Kathryn Beers specializes in creating and studying flexible organic molecules called polymers, which are found in both natural biomolecules like DNA and various industrial applications. She has developed innovative methods for making nanomaterials that were previously impossible. Despite being in the early stages of her career, Beers has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers that have been cited more than 1,000 times and has taken on leadership roles in scientific organizations.
Joshua Bienfang is using advanced physics theories and telecommunications technology to develop quantum cryptography, a method for secure message transmission. His expertise in laser technology and high-speed electronics has allowed him to set new world records in quantum-cryptography transmission speeds by shooting particles of light through the air billions of times per second. This technology could potentially be used for highly secure encrypted wireless communications in the future.
The PECASE award provides additional funding from NIST for up to five years to support the research of Beers and Bienfang. The recognition of their work highlights the innovative research being conducted at NIST and the potential impact of their discoveries in the fields of polymers and quantum cryptography.
Keywords: Quantum, cryptography, encryption, particles, telecommunications
