Dorland , William (Deceased October 2024)
Professor of Physics
Institute for Research in Electronics & Applied Physics
EDUCATION
- Ph.D., Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, 1993
- M.S., Public Affairs, Princeton University, 1993
- B.S., Physics, University of Texas, 1988
BACKGROUND
Bill Dorland graduated with a B.S. in physics (special and highest honors) from the University of Texas in 1988, and received his Ph.D. in astrophysical sciences from Princeton University in 1993. He also earned a Master’s degree in public affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University in 1993, after completing a course of study focused on international science policy. He won the 2009 E. O. Lawrence Medal of the Department of Energy for his work on the theory and simulations of turbulence in nuclear fusion reactors. He is the 2024 recipient of the James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics "For pioneering work in kinetic plasma turbulence that revolutionizes trubulent transport calculations for magnetic confinement devices and inspires research in astrophysical plasma turbulence." He is a University of Maryland Distinguished Scholar-Teacher, and served as Director of the Honors College for six years. He works in plasma theory and computational physics.
HONORS AND AWARDS
- APS James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics (2024)
- University of Maryland Distinguished Scholar-Teacher Award (2010)
- Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award (2009)
- Fellow of the American Physical Society, Division of Plasma Physics (2005))
My research in energy technology is focused on improving the viability of magnetic confinement schemes for controlled nuclear fusion. More specifically, I am working on developing and testing theoretical descriptions of turbulence in magnetized plasma from first-principles. Turbulence enhances both the transport and absorption of energy in hot, magnetized plasma, and is the most critical remaining physics problem to be solved in the area of nuclear fusion energy research