Welcome!
Please join us June 21–23, 2024 for a memorial symposium in honor of Lena F. Kourkoutis, Ph.D. '09, professor and alumna of the School of Applied and Engineering Physics at Cornell University.
Save the date! More details to follow.
Lena Fitting Kourkoutis (1979–2023) made foundational contributions to many fields of advanced and high-resolution electron microscopy by working across disciplines and bridging traditional boundaries between biological and materials research. This symposium will highlight topics—in microscopy and beyond—impacted by Lena’s research, including the development of high spatial and energy resolution measurements for atomic-scale structural and chemical insights of functional materials; cryogenic and in situ STEM techniques to probe correlated quantum phenomena; advanced quantitative and high resolution studies of in situ biological specimens; and techniques for accessing hard-soft and solid-liquid interfaces in their native state in systems such as energy storage and conversion devices. As a tribute to Lena and the far-reaching impacts of her scientific research, professional service, and community leadership, this symposium will bring together mentees, collaborators, and other distinguished researchers who were inspired by Lena.
Lynden Archer (Cornell University)
Gianluigi Botton (Mc Master University)
Peter Crozier (Arizona State University)
Yi Cui (Stanford University)
Berit Goodge (Max Planck Institute CPfS)
Robert Hovden (University of Michigan)
Pinshane Huang (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne)
Harold Hwang (Stanford University)
David Muller (Cornell University)
Julia Mundy (Harvard University)
Yue Yu (Chan Zuckerberg Imaging Institute)
Michael Zachman (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
Rooms for this event have been blocked at the Best Western University Inn in Ithaca and The Hotel Ithaca. Please book your room before May 8, 2024 using these links.
Lena is among the persons I think of first when I speak of our faculty's commitment to excellence in all aspects of their work. She brought out the best in those around her. Her brilliance, humanity and grace touched faculty, staff and students in every corner of Cornell.
Lena was an outstanding researcher. She led the world in developments of quantitative cryogenic scanning transmission electron microscopy and catalyzed a push to expand the reach of electron microscopy to systems that previously could not be imaged at high spatial resolution. She was also an outstanding citizen of the department and the university. Lena’s all-around excellence truly placed her in a class by herself, and she was deeply loved and admired by her students and faculty colleagues.
When working with undergrads, Lena was able to engage students of all abilities, especially those who really needed encouragement to excel. She reached everybody, and she took time to meet students one-on-one if they needed extra help.
