image: The Institute for Nanoscience at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) hosted its annual proposal planning meeting April 15, bringing together researchers from across the Lab to share ideas and build collaborations in support of future research initiatives. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen)
Credit: (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Institute for Nanoscience at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) hosted its annual proposal planning meeting April 15, bringing together researchers from across the Lab to share ideas and build collaborations in support of future research initiatives.
Held each year, the event supports the unique, cross-divisional nature of nanoscience at NRL. Unlike many research areas, which are siloed within divisions, nanoscience spans multiple disciplines—from acoustics to photonics to magnetic materials—uniting researchers under a common goal of discovery at the nanoscale.
“This event is about more than just planning,” said Konrad Bussmann, Director of the Institute for Nanoscience. “It’s about fostering intellectual curiosity and building connections that can lead to real breakthroughs.”
For the first time, the meeting featured direct presentations from principal investigators, showcasing successful project outcomes including publications, patents, and transition efforts. These summaries helped provide context for newer researchers on how to build and execute impactful proposals—those that could one day make it through the technology readiness pipeline and into the hands of the Fleet.
One of many projects, led by Dr. Jack Lyons of NRL’s Materials Science Division, is pursuing the realization of new bright nanocrystal photo-emitters, beginning with a theoretical survey of over 500,000 candidate materials to a selection of 28 compounds of high probability to show bright emissions, coupled with groups from Optical Sciences, Chemistry, and Electronics Divisions to fabricate and test these new materials.
With strong participation and promising new ideas on the horizon, the Institute is energized for the year ahead.
About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
NRL is a scientific and engineering command dedicated to research that drives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL, located in Washington, D.C. with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Key West, Florida; Monterey, California, and employs approximately 3,000 civilian scientists, engineers and support personnel.
For more information, contact NRL Corporate Communications at (202) 480-3746 or nrlpao@nrl.navy.mil. Please reference package number at top of press release.
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