Plenary Speakers

Plenary Speakers

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Thomas F. Kelly, PhD

Founder and CEO at Steam Instruments, Inc

Dr. Thomas F. Kelly has been active in the fields of analytical electron microscopy, atom probe microscopy, and structural and superconducting materials since 1977. He co-authored a book on LEAP technology in 2012 and a foundational book on Atomic-Scale Analytical Tomography in 2022. His work has been recognized by the Innovation in Materials Characterization Award from MRS, the prestigious Nelson W. Taylor Lecture at Pennsylvania State University, the MAS Peter Duncumb Award, and Fellowship in MSA, MAS, IFES and KSM. He has won three R&D 100 Awards. He was elected member of the US National Academy of Engineering in 2021.

Dr. Kelly earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering with Highest Honors from Northeastern University in 1977 and a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1982 where he studied rapidly solidi?ed stainless steels using analytical electron microscopy. He was a tenured professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1983 to 2002. In 1999 he founded Imago Scienti?c Instruments where he created the Local Electrode Atom Probe that has become the commercial atomic-scale tomographic instrument in worldwide use today. Imago was acquired by CAMECA Instruments in 2010. In 2018, he founded Steam Instruments and is currently President and CEO. Steam Instruments is developing new imaging mass spectrometer technology and instrumentation. 

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Wah Chiu, PhD

Wallenberg-Bienenstock Professor, Stanford University

Director, Division of CryoEM and Bioimaging, SLAC National Accelerator Lab

Wah Chiu is a leading investigator in the field of cryogenic electron microscopy (CryoEM), known for his substantial contributions to the technique's development and application. His work has enabled near atomic-level structural determination of biochemically purified macromolecules, significantly advancing our understanding of the intricate structure-function relationships of various biological entities. Chiu has also been instrumental in creating metrics that quantitatively assess the resolvability of CryoEM structures at resolutions ranging from 1 to 4 Å. This work has provided researchers with valuable tools for evaluating and interpreting structural data.

Recently, Chiu's research focus has expanded to include the development of cryogenic electron volume imaging and tomography, integrating cutting-edge machine-learning techniques for image analysis. This innovative approach aims to characterize subcellular structural features of vitrified tissues, organoids, and cells in situ, addressing both normal and pathological states.