Physicist John Hill has been appointed director of Brookhaven National Laboratory, following a competitive international search. Hill has served as interim director since September. The appointment was announced to staff on May 21, positioning him to lead the U.S. Department of Energy laboratory through a significant decade. A key focus under Hill’s leadership will be the Electron-Ion Collider, alongside continued investment in facilities like the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) and emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum systems. “Brookhaven Lab is entering a significant decade, and I’m honored to take on this role at this time,” Hill said, outlining a vision for the lab that will shape science and technology for generations to come.
John Hill Appointed Director Following International Search
Physicist John Hill’s appointment as director of Brookhaven National Laboratory follows a comprehensive international search, demonstrating a commitment to sustained leadership for the U. S. Department of Energy facility. Hill served as interim director since September, and the appointment was announced to staff on May 21. The EIC, a partnership between DOE, Brookhaven, the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, and with strong support from New York State, aims to reveal insights into the fundamental forces governing matter. “John’s strong leadership experience and proven ability to spark enthusiasm and collaboration are critical to the next chapter in Brookhaven’s journey of discovery, and, in particular, advancing the EIC,” said DOE Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil. Hill affirmed, “The vision we have for our future is a powerful one, including delivering the nation’s next particle collider and advancing science across a range of critical areas.”
Electron-Ion Collider Advances Nuclear Physics Research
Brookhaven National Laboratory is expanding its capabilities in nuclear physics with the ongoing construction of the Electron-Ion Collider, a project central to the laboratory’s strategic growth under the newly appointed director, John Hill. The EIC project will leverage expertise from across the DOE’s National Labs and institutions worldwide, promising to unlock secrets at the smallest scales of reality. This upgrade will broaden the scope of scientific disciplines benefiting from NSLS-II’s capabilities, furthering discoveries in materials science and high-resolution imaging.
Brookhaven Lab is entering a defining decade, and I’m honored to take on this role at this time.
BSA Partnership Manages Brookhaven Lab Operations
Battelle’s executive vice president of National Laboratory Management & Operations, Juan Alvarez, highlighted the significance of the leadership transition at Brookhaven National Laboratory as physicist John Hill formally assumed the role of director, effective May 21. The appointment follows a comprehensive international search conducted by Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA), a partnership between Stony Brook University and Battelle, which manages and operates the laboratory on behalf of the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, with strong support from New York State. BSA’s selection of Hill underscores a strategic alignment with an ambitious future, particularly regarding the delivery of the Electron-Ion Collider and advancements in areas like artificial intelligence and quantum systems. This investment signifies a commitment to bolstering existing infrastructure alongside the development of new facilities, attracting over 7,300 guest researchers and facility users last year. “We are delighted to have John Hill selected to lead Brookhaven National Laboratory at a pivotal moment for science and national impact,” Alvarez stated, emphasizing Hill’s vision for transformative discovery. Hill’s experience within Brookhaven Lab spans over 35 years, having previously served as deputy director for science and technology and director of NSLS-II, positions that prepared him to oversee a team of 3,000 professionals.
We are delighted to have John Hill selected to lead Brookhaven National Laboratory at a pivotal moment for science and national impact.
DOE’s Genesis Mission Fuels AI & Quantum Science
Brookhaven National Laboratory’s future under newly appointed director John Hill will be closely linked to the Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission, a national artificial intelligence initiative designed to accelerate scientific discovery and bolster national security. The Lab is expected to become a key node in this network, leveraging AI not simply as a tool, but as an integral component of fundamental research, particularly within the ambitious Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) project. This commitment to both new and established facilities underscores a strategic vision for sustained scientific impact.
I am thrilled that, following a very competitive international search, John Hill has emerged as the very best leader for Brookhaven National Laboratory at this exciting juncture.
