Six researchers from the CU Boulder Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) have been recognized as Distinguished Associates in 2024 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). 

The honor is conferred by the Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML) to associates for their outstanding scientific achievements and contributions to the lab’s mission. 

“These distinguished associate awards to six University of Colorado Boulder research faculty members demonstrate the importance of PREP to advancing NIST’s mission to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness,” said Paul Beale, professor of physics and PREP Program Manager. 

Calibrating gravitational wave observatories 

Anna Vaskuri received the award for contributions to the Judson C. French Award. The award citation reads “for reducing the uncertainty in calibration of the world network of gravitational wave observatories.” Vaskuri is a senior research fellow in the Long Wavelength Sensors and Applications Group. 

Advancing ion-traps for quantum computing 

Benedikt Hampel was recognized for contributions to the Bronze Medal awarded to NIST scientists Daniel Slichter, Varun Verma, Dietrich Leibfried, and Richard Mirin. The award citation reads “for the realization of the first single-photon detector integrated with an ion trap for the high-fidelity state readout of a trapped-ion quantum bit.” Hampel is a postdoctoral fellow in the Faint Photonics Group. 

Sensors to unlock mysteries of the early universe 

PREP researchers Gregory Jaehnig, Dante Jones, Matthew Koc, and Robinjeet Singh, along with NIST Research Engineer Richard Lew, were recognized as Distinguished Associates for their work contributing to the Gold Medal. The award citation reads “for developing the novel sensors that enable the most advanced cosmic microwave background observatory to unravel the mysteries of the early universe.”  

• Gregory Jaehnig, postdoctoral fellow in the Long Wavelength Sensors and Applications Group 

• Dante Jones, post-baccalaureate in the Long Wavelength Sensors and Applications Group 

• Matthew Koc, senior research fellow in the Device Fabrication Group 

• Robinjeet Singh, senior research fellow in the Device Fabrication Group

“These awards recognize these researchers' outstanding contributions to quantum measurement science and engineering and ensure that CU Boulder and NIST-Boulder continue their world-leadership in these fields,” said Beale.