Paul K. Kearns has served as director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory since 2017, leading groundbreaking advancements in fundamental science, energy solutions, and high-performance computing that are vital to U.S. economic and national security. With over 30 years of experience managing multidisciplinary research enterprises at organizations like INEEL, PNNL, and Battelle, Kearns has overseen innovative projects, including micro-grid deployment and cybersecurity technologies, and led strategic initiatives at international firms. Under his leadership, Argonne has upgraded the Advanced Photon Source and launched one of the world’s fastest exascale computers, maintaining U.S. leadership in technology and science. A fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Kearns holds advanced degrees from Purdue University and was honored as a distinguished alumnus in 2022. His commitment to advancing transformative research continues to drive progress at Argonne and beyond.

2025 NASA Symp

Advanced Materials for Extreme Environments

Space demands the toughest materials—lightweight, durable, resource-efficient and built to endure intense radiation and extreme temperatures. At Argonne National Laboratory, our researchers collaborate across academia, industry, and government to unleash discoveries in materials science, chemistry, and physics to drive breakthroughs in energy resilience, advanced manufacturing and computational modeling. From radiation-resistant coatings to advanced polymer composites, Argonne’s unique scientific and scale up facilities accelerate the commercialization of next-generation materials that can survive the harshest environments. As humanity pushes deeper into space, Argonne is working to deliver materials that will get us there.