NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Janessa Rosick Feb. 20, 2025 702-762-9027
rosickjb@nv.doe.gov
Nevada National Security Sites researcher Dr. Amber Guckes receives Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
LAS VEGAS – Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS) lead researcher and technical manager Dr. Amber Guckes is the recipient of the 2025 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). The prestigious award identifies individuals achieving innovative and far-reaching developments in STEM for our nation’s future.
Recognized for her work to advance radiation detectors in support of the NNSS’ Stockpile Stewardship mission, Dr. Guckes will receive a $250,000 federal research grant to mature her research. A sample of her research is detailed in the NNSS Multi-Layered Avalanche Diamond (MAD) detector Site-Directed Research & Development project.
From Pahrump, Nevada, Dr. Guckes began her NNSS career as an intern, serving in the Nuclear Assurance and Stockpile and Experimental Operations directorates before her current role as manager of the Dynamic Instruments organization. She is a fixture in regional outreach, committed to inspiring future generations to pursue STEM educational and career pathways, and is an alumna of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, where she received a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering with an emphasis in nuclear engineering; a Master of Science in materials and nuclear engineering; graduate certificates in nuclear criticality safety engineering and nuclear safeguards and security; and a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering.
“PECASE showcases the tremendous contributions Dr. Guckes brings to innovative research and pioneering technical achievements at the national level,” said National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Field Office Manager Betty Huck. “Coupled with her collaborations with the national laboratories and serving as a STEM mentor in our communities, she exemplifies high-caliber leadership at the NNSS.”
Dr. Guckes is the second NNSS individual to receive the PECASE honor, following Dr. Marylesa Howard’s recognition in 2019. PECASE was established in 1996 to recognize scientists demonstrating exceptional leadership potential early in their careers. Nearly 400 professionals across 14 agencies were recognized in 2025, with Dr. Guckes representing the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration.
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The NNSS and its related facilities help ensure the security of the United States and its allies by: supporting the stewardship of the nation’s nuclear deterrent; providing nuclear and radiological emergency response capabilities and training; contributing to key nonproliferation and arms control initiatives; executing national-level experiments in support of the National Laboratories; working with national security customers and other federal agencies on important national security activities; and providing long-term environmental stewardship of the NNSS’s Cold War legacy.
The NNSS is managed and operated by Mission Support and Test Services LLC (MSTS). MSTS is a limited liability company consisting of Honeywell International Inc., Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., and HII Nuclear. The NNSS falls under the jurisdiction of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. The Site’s operations are government-controlled and contractor-operated, and are overseen by NNSA’s Nevada Field Office, headquartered in North Las Vegas.
For more information on the NNSS, visit www.nnss.gov.
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