New Mexico Research Symposium
The New Mexico Research Symposium (NMRS), collaboratively hosted with the New Mexico Academy of Science (NMAS), is an annual conference with oral presentations, a poster competition, and a keynote address. The conference is geared to undergraduate and graduate students from New Mexico’s colleges and universities. All accepted abstracts have the option to be published in the New Mexico Journal of Science. View past New Mexico Journal of Science issues on the NMAS Website.
Registration:
2026 NMRS Agenda:
LANL TRACs: Research Pathways for New Mexico Universities
Abstract:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is aligning its science, technologies and engineering (ST&E) enterprise around new Transformational Capabilities (TRACs) that focus LANL’s distinctive strengths on national-security needs over a 6 to10 year horizon. These TRACs complement near-term program work by creating integrated research pathways in the areas of Cross-Domain Threat Deterrence, Dynamic Extreme Physics, Nuclear Explosive Package Prototyping, Plutonium & Actinide Science, and Scientific Computing. This presentation will introduce the TRAC framework and describe how LANL’s evolving University Engagement Process will create new opportunities for New Mexico Consortium member universities and other institutions of higher education as key mechanisms for mission-aligned collaboration. As an example, the Seaborg Institute supporting the Plutonium & Actinide Science (PAS) TRAC will be highlighted as a model for connecting faculty expertise, graduate and undergraduate research, postdoctoral training, Laboratory Directed Research and Development enabled projects and LANL mission needs. The LANL goal is to strengthen New Mexico’s research ecosystem while building pathways for students and faculty to contribute to nationally important ST&E.
Bio:
Franz J. Freibert, PhD, is Director of the G.T. Seaborg Institute at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and a Laboratory Fellow, one of the Laboratory’s highest honors for sustained scientific excellence. As Plutonium & Actinide TRAC Center Leader, he provides strategic leadership for the nation’s premier center for education and research in actinide ST&E, advancing interdisciplinary programs and workforce development for the national and international actinide research community. Dr. Freibert earned his PhD in Condensed Matter Physics from Florida State University.
In his 30 yr. career at LANL, he has advanced plutonium science through research in microstructural characterization, mechanical and thermodynamic behavior, and the effects of self-irradiation and aging in actinide materials, strengthening predictive capabilities for national defense and energy security applications. Dr. Freibert has also provided operational, financial, and technical leadership across major DOE laboratory initiatives and serves as a subject matter expert within the U.S. and international actinide science community, including as Lead Science Advisor for the Actinide Research Quarterly, LANL technical publication.