Dr. Joel Brock, CHESS Director, received his B.S. in Physics with Departmental Honors from Stanford University in 1981 and his Ph.D. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1987. He joined the faculty of Cornell University’s School of Applied & Engineering Physics in 1989, where he served as Director from 2000 to 2007.
Dr. Brock’s research focuses on characterizing atomic-scale structure and dynamics in complex systems using synchrotron-based x-ray scattering techniques. His work has advanced time-resolved x-ray methods to study phase transitions, UHV surfaces, one-dimensional conductors, electrochemistry, batteries, fuel cells, and thin-film growth, spanning length scales from atomic to macroscopic and time scales from nanoseconds to days.
As Director of CHESS, Dr. Brock led the facility through several major transformations, including a shift to a multi-partner funding model involving NSF, AFRL, NIH, NY State, and Cornell University. He oversaw significant upgrades to the accelerator and x-ray experimental floor, as well as the development of new facilities for high magnetic field and plant science research. These enhancements have greatly expanded CHESS’s capabilities for operando and time-resolved studies.
Dr. Brock has also championed efforts to make synchrotron facilities and techniques accessible to non-traditional users. Under his leadership, CHESS has redefined its mission to deliver processed scientific measurements - such as chemical maps, stress tensor maps, atomic structures, and electronic states - rather than raw data, enabling researchers to more effectively advance their work.
Dr. Brock is affiliated with several interdisciplinary research centers at Cornell, including the Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR), the Center for Alkaline-Based Energy Solutions (CABES), the Cornell Energy Systems Institute (CESI), and the Atkinson Center for Sustainability. He serves on advisory committees for major international synchrotron facilities, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, and NSF CI Compass. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the Atkinson Center. His contributions have been recognized with multiple awards from Cornell’s College of Engineering for teaching, advising, and research.
Dr. Brock received the Hollomon Award and presented an overview of his research at the 155th TMS Annual Meeting and Exhibition, held in San Diego, California, from March 15–19, 2026.