Updated · Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (.gov) · May 5
Katherine Yelick approved as Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory director
Updated
Updated · Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (.gov) · May 5
Katherine Yelick approved as Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory director
13 articles · Updated · Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (.gov) · May 5
The UC Board of Regents backed her appointment on 5 May, with the UC Berkeley vice chancellor for research taking over on 1 July as the lab’s ninth director.
Yelick succeeds Mike Witherell after a national search, bringing prior leadership of Berkeley Lab’s Computing Sciences Area and NERSC, plus experience in DOE exascale and AI initiatives.
Berkeley Lab, founded in 1931 and managed by the University of California for the US Department of Energy, spans major science fields and has been associated with 17 Nobel Prizes.
As AI powers a new science mission, can Berkeley Lab's next director solve its looming energy crisis before progress stalls?
With national labs central to the AI race, how will Yelick secure America’s most sensitive data from new cyber threats?
Will the 'Genesis Mission's' push for productivity accelerate discovery or stifle the creativity of fundamental science?
Katherine Yelick’s Vision for Berkeley Lab: Advancing Exascale Computing and Responsible AI Leadership
Overview
Katherine Yelick has been appointed as the ninth Director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, effective July 1, 2026, following the departure of Mike Witherell. Her extensive background includes co-inventing key parallel computing languages and leading the ExaBiome project, which, along with her roles as Associate Laboratory Director and UC Berkeley’s Vice Chancellor for Research, contributed to her selection. Recognized with prestigious awards like the ACM/IEEE Ken Kennedy Award, Yelick brings a strong blend of scientific innovation and leadership. Her appointment marks a new chapter for Berkeley Lab, building on a legacy of excellence and poised to advance computing-driven scientific discovery.