2026 LAD Laboratory Astrophysics Prize Goes to Daniel W. Savin

This post is adapted from a Laboratory Astrophysics Division press release:

The Laboratory Astrophysics Division (LAD) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) is awarding its 2026 Laboratory Astrophysics Prize to Dr. Daniel W. Savin of Columbia University and the American Museum of Natural History. The award recognizes his contributions to studies in X-ray astrophysics and early universe star formation and his extensive service to the laboratory astrophysics community.

The Laboratory Astrophysics Prize, LAD’s highest honor, is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to laboratory astrophysics over an extended period of time. For over three decades, Dr. Savin has been a leading figure in the laboratory astrophysics community. Two of his most impactful research projects relate to X-ray astronomy and early universe chemistry.

For over 25 years, Dr. Savin has been actively involved in professional community service. He has been invited by five different National Academy of Sciences committees to report on laboratory astrophysics. Since 2017, he has been the Laboratory Astrophysics Science Editor for the AAS Journals. He was a founding member of the AAS Working Group on Laboratory Astrophysics (WGLA) and served on the WGLA leadership for the five years of its existence, leading to the creation of LAD. Dr. Savin served on the LAD Steering Committee for its inaugural year and as Secretary 2013–2019.

Dr. Savin received his BA in Physics from Columbia University and his MA and PhD, both in Physics, from Harvard University. He was a Postgraduate Research Physicist at the University of California at Berkeley. He then became an Associate Research Scientist at the Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, where he is now a Senior Research Scientist. Dr. Savin is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society, and the AAS.

The LAD Laboratory Astrophysics Prize includes a cash award, a framed certificate, and an invited lecture by the recipient at a LAD meeting.