Alison Saunders
About Alison Saunders
Alison Saunders is an experimental physicist with expertise in x-ray plasma diagnostics and radiation transport modeling. She currently works at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where she leads high power laser experiments and collaborates with a diverse team of scientists and engineers.
Work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Alison Saunders currently serves as an Experimental Physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a position she has held since 2019. In this role, she leads high power laser experiments aimed at measuring the conditions of dynamically compressed high energy density materials. Her work involves collaboration with a diverse team of scientists, engineers, and technicians to achieve the scientific objectives of various experiments. Prior to her current role, she worked at the laboratory as a Postdoctoral Research Staff Member from 2018 to 2019 and as a DOE NNSA Science Stewardship Graduate Fellow from 2014 to 2018.
Education and Expertise
Alison Saunders has a strong academic background in physics. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Reed College, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley. Her expertise includes x-ray plasma diagnostics and radiation transport modeling. She has also gained experience in teaching and silicon wafer production throughout her academic and professional career.
Background in Research and Development
Alison Saunders has extensive experience in research and development within various prestigious institutions. She worked as a Graduate Student Researcher at both the University of California, Berkeley and Berkeley Lab. Additionally, she served as an Accelerator Systems Operator at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, where she was involved in particle accelerator operations. Her research experience also includes a position at the University of California, Davis as part of the Research Experience for Undergraduates program.
Professional Experience at Intel Corporation
Before her extensive work in experimental physics, Alison Saunders gained industry experience as an Intel Honors Intern at Intel Corporation from 2006 to 2007. This role provided her with insights into the technology sector and contributed to her foundational knowledge in physics and engineering principles.
Skills in Data Analysis and Experimentation
Alison Saunders possesses skills in analyzing large image-based data sets and conducting table-top laser atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) experiments. Her ability to work with complex data and experimental setups is essential for her current research in high energy density materials and contributes to her effectiveness in collaborative scientific environments.