Meet the Committee
Get to know the committee members driving collaboration and innovation across the IFE-STAR community.
Dustin Froula, University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Dr. Dustin Froula is the Principal Investigator for the IFE-COLoR hub at the University of Rochester, specializing in plasma and laser physics for fusion and high-energy-density research. He earned his Ph.D. from UC Davis and now serves as Director of Plasma & Ultrafast Laser Science & Engineering at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. His work has advanced laser–matter interaction physics, and his honors include the DOE Outstanding Mentor Award, APS Fellowship, John Dawson Award, and Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award.
Brenda Garcia-Diaz, Savannah River National Laboratory
Dr. Brenda Garcia-Diaz is the Program Manager for Fusion Energy at Savannah River National Laboratory. Dr. Garcia-Diaz is also the Director of the Fuel Cycle FIRE Collaborative that is developing innovative fuel cycle technologies, developing the fuel cycle workforce, and coordinating fuel cycle development efforts with companies throughout the fusion industry and the fuel cycle supply chain. Dr. Garcia-Diaz served as a committee member on the 2021 National Academy of Science report entitled “Bringing Fusion to the US Grid”. Her research spans corrosion mitigation, fusion materials, and accident-tolerant fuels, with leadership roles in multiple DOE programs, including SunShot and Fusion Energy. She has invented and demonstrated tritium extraction methods for molten lithium and FLiBe. Shehas received early career awards from SRNL, the State of South Carolina, theASM Silver Award, and is an ASM Fellow.
Tammy Ma, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Dr. Tammy Ma is the lead for the Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) Initiative at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the director of the STARFIRE Hub. She was part of the team at the National Ignition Facility that achieved the first-ever fusion ignition, producing more energy than consumed. Dr. Ma serves on the DOE Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee and has helped shape U.S. fusion research priorities. She has authored over 200 publications and received numerous honors, including the Presidential Early Career Award, APS Fellowship, and recognition as a Young Scientist of the World Economic Forum.
Carmen Menoni, Colorado State University
Dr. Carmen Menoni is a University Distinguished Professor and director of the DOE IFE STAR-supported RISE hub. She researches laser technologies for ultra-high intensity lasers, with applications in inertial fusion energy and gravitational wave detection. She has received major awards including the Joseph Fraunhofer and Willis Lamb Awards, and is a Fellow of Optica, IEEE, APS, AAAS, and SPIE. She is also co-founder of XUV Lasers and has held leadership roles in the optics and photonics community.
Liz Conrow, University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Liz Conrow serves as the IFE-STAR Program Coordinator and is the lead organizer for the annual IFE-STAR Conference and the IFE-SURE Symposium. Known for her ability to juggle multiple responsibilities, Liz thrives in busy, fast-paced environments and brings energy, organization, and dedication to every project she leads.
Alison Arnold, University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Alison Arnold serves as the Lead Communications Specialist at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) at the University of Rochester. In this role, she oversees communications strategies, public outreach, and institutional messaging to advance LLE’s mission and visibility. Alison is also a critical support to the IFE-STAR Program, contributing significantly to both the planning and execution of the annual IFE-STAR Conference, where her expertise ensures effective coordination and professional presentation of program activities.
