Catherine Snelson, assistant professor of geoscience at UNLV, has been named as a recipient of the 2003 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on young scientists at the outset of their careers.
The award, which is given by the Executive Office of the President of the United States , was conferred upon Snelson at a ceremony and reception at the White House on Sept. 9.
"In just a few short years, Catherine Snelson has established herself as a leading scholar in the field of geophysics," said UNLV President Carol C. Harter. "Her work demonstrates how important research is to the community this university serves. She is to be congratulated on accomplishing so much so early in her career."
Snelson, whose research focuses on the geological structure and composition of the Las Vegas valley, will also receive five years of additional funding from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Since 2002, Snelson has collaborated closely with the LLNL to assess the level of ground motion that would occur in the Las Vegas valley if underground testing at the Nevada Test Site were to resume in the future.
"Catherine has demonstrated extraordinary commitment and technical achievement in support of the defense program mission, and the laboratory congratulates her on her award," said LLNL Director Michael Anastasio. "Her collaboration will directly impact the National Nuclear Security Administration's ability to maintain long-term readiness at the Nevada Test Site. She is a great example of the nation's best young scientists."
Snelson's research has also become critical in identifying areas that would be most adversely affected by seismic events that occur in and around the Las Vegas Valley . As a result, her work has been used to better educate the public and government officials about earthquake preparedness.
According to Ronald Yasbin, dean of UNLV's College of Sciences, Snelson's applied research activities and outreach to the community is a hallmark of her young career.
"Ever since arriving at UNLV, Cathy has focused her important research endeavors on serving the educational and security interests of the community," said Yasbin. "She is clearly deserving of the recognition that she is now receiving."
In addition to the presidential honor, Snelson was also named as a recipient of the Early Career Scientist and Engineer Award from the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration's Office of Defense Programs. She was nominated for both awards by her colleagues at the LLNL.
Snelson, who joined the UNLV faculty in 2002, earned her bachelor's degree in geology from California State University at Hayward in 1995. She earned her master's and doctoral degrees in geophysics from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1998 and 2002, respectively.
UNLV is a doctoral-degree-granting institution with nearly 27,000 students and approximately 850 faculty members. More than 200 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees are offered. Founded in 1957, UNLV is located on 337 acres in dynamic Southern Nevada . The university is ranked in the category of Doctoral/Research Universities-Intensive by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
