Scott Backhaus, PhD

Scott Backhaus is currently a senior researcher in the CU Physics Department and the Cryogenics Team Lead in the Quantum Electromagnetics Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He is also an independent consultant to Camus Energy, a startup company focused on monitoring and control of electrical distribution networks. He previously served in multiple roles in his 20-plus years at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), including Manager for DOE Office of Electricity programs and DHS Critical Infrastructure programs, team lead for LANL’s component of the DHS National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Group, and principal investigator for several research projects in energy infrastructure optimization and control.

My advice to students...

Scientific leadership and leadership of others from a science perspective are very different things. The former is grounded in observations, fact, and logic. The latter also involves opinions and beliefs that, although they may run counter to fact and logic, must be effectively incorporated to achieve good outcomes.