Florida State University announced on Mar. 27 that Mayly Sanchez, the Wyatt-Green Chair of Physics in FSU’s Department of Physics, has been named to the newly formed Office of Science Advisory Committee for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Sanchez is one of 20 expert scientists selected to advise DOE on scientific and technical issues and guide future research directions.
The appointment highlights the importance of bringing together expertise from academia, national laboratories, and industry science as DOE sets priorities for its research programs. The committee was established in 2026 and includes members from institutions such as Cleveland Clinic, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Google DeepMind.
“I’m so excited for the opportunity to shape how we do science and help determine the best directions for DOE’s research,” said Sanchez. She added that advances in technology present significant opportunities for progress across all areas of science.
FSU President Richard McCullough said, “Dr. Sanchez is an extraordinary scientist who will provide invaluable insight to DOE as it faces the next generation of complex scientific and technological questions. This recognition is a testament to her outstanding leadership and dedication to advancing scientific research. We’re proud to have her represent FSU at the national level.”
Sanchez leads research in several neutrino experiments including DUNE (Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment) at Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory near Chicago and Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota, as well as helping lead NOvA (NuMI Off-axis νe Appearance) experiment at Fermilab. She previously served on panels advising DOE on particle physics priorities until 2025.
Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson said, “Being named to SCAC is a significant honor that reflects a career defined by excellence and impact… Her work on this committee will undoubtedly influence the future of scientific discovery and energy security for years to come.”
SCAC’s responsibilities include setting research priorities among disciplines, identifying opportunities for collaboration between laboratories, integrating programs, and encouraging industrial participation.
College of Arts and Sciences Dean Sam Huckaba said he was pleased with Sanchez’s selection: “The appointment is not only prestigious… but it’s also important — it means that FSU will be well-represented during discussions of current scientific priorities and future directions at DOE.”
Sanchez has received several honors including an American Physical Society Fellowship in 2020; she was named among Latin America’s top ten women scientists by BBC in 2013; she earned two National Science Foundation awards—the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (2012) and Early Career Development Award (2011). After earning her doctorate from Tufts University in Boston in 2003, she conducted postdoctoral work at Harvard University before joining Argonne National Laboratory as a staff scientist; she later joined Iowa State University faculty before coming to FSU in 2022.
