Mark Bird Accepts Magnet Science and Technology Director Position

April 17, 2007

Media Contact:
Mark Bird, (850) 644-7789
bird@magnet.fsu.edu
or Susan Ray, (850) 644-9651
sray@magnet.fsu.edu

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Stepping fully into the role he’s already assumed in interim capacity, Mag Lab magnet science and technology veteran Mark Bird has been officially named director of lab’s Magnet Science and Technology division.

Bird, who’s been a part of the lab since its 1992 inception, began his tenure in Tallahassee as an assistant scholar/scientist. By 1999, he was MS&T’s head of engineering services, and in 2003, he became the department’s head of engineering analysis. He stepped into the interim director role last year after John Miller left to head up the magnet system team for the U.S. International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Project Office.

During his time at the lab, Bird has created the resistive magnet group and led the development of the high field resistive magnets and the “Florida-Bitter” magnet technology. With more than 100 coils built to date, Florida-Bitter magnets have become the international standard for high field resistive magnets and are in place or being installed at four laboratories on three continents.

“Mark has excelled in his engineering prowess, and over the past nine months as interim director of MS&T, he’s shown equal talent in managing a very complicated organization,” said Lab Director Greg Boebinger of Bird’s appointment. “We’re pleased that he’s accepted this invitation and I look forward to years of continued great achievements from the Magnet Science and Technology division.”

The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory develops and operates state-of-the-art, high-magnetic-field facilities that faculty and visiting scientists and engineers use for research. The laboratory is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the state of Florida. To learn more, visit www.magnet.fsu.edu.