photo of Suzanne Shenfil

Lisa A. Poyneer was inducted into the Science category in 2010.

My Story

Lisa A. Poyneer is an engineer at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory who is instrumental in the development of the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI), which will be the world's most powerful optical instrument of its kind once it is completed next year. The instrument will survey stars and take direct images of faraway planets about which little is known. Lisa's research was essential in winning the $24 million contract to pay for the GPI's development. Using algorithms she developed, the GPI promises a performance level that is up to 100 times greater than current instruments of its kind.