Jones appointed Argonne's deputy laboratory director

LEMONT - The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory has named Sean Jones as deputy laboratory director for science and technology.

Jones will begin his new role Oct. 9, serving as Argonne's senior science strategist, adviser and chief research officer.

Jones will join Argonne from the National Science Foundation. In his current role as assistant director of the NSF's Mathematical and Physical Sciences directorate, he oversees a $1.86 billion portfolio that includes five science divisions, domestic and international research facilities, and a suite of interdisciplinary research programs, centers and institutes.

While at the NSF, Jones stewarded the successful construction of two major astronomy construction projects totaling over $800 million, oversaw the operation of a large suite of national user facilities and major instruments, and created new initiatives in emerging fields such as biotechnology and precision sensing.

Prior to his time at the NSF, Jones served in positions across academia and industry, including at the University of Florida, Norfolk State University, Applied Plasmonics, Bell Laboratories of Lucent Technologies, and Luxcore Networks. He holds a doctorate and a master's degree in materials science and engineering from the University of Florida, and a bachelor's degree in ceramic engineering from Clemson University.

"Sean joins Argonne at a pivotal moment, as we prepare to launch a new era of science for the benefit of society," said Argonne Director Paul Kearns. "Sean's experience guiding and shaping a large portfolio of science programs, and his commitment to building a diverse next generation of science leaders, will drive us forward as we accelerate science for U.S. prosperity and security."