LSU Chemistry Professor Les Butler Named 2024 AAAS Fellow

LSU Chemistry Professor Les Butler has been named a 2024 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, in recognition of his distinguished contributions to the fields of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X-ray interferometry imaging.

Professor Butler joined the LSU Department of Chemistry in 1983 and has dedicated over 40 years to developing innovative X-ray and neutron methodologies with chemical, material, and plant science applications. Over the years, he built four NMR spectrometers and successfully secured funding to acquire two commercial solid-state NMR instruments, further expanding the capabilities of LSU’s research infrastructure.

His developments also include establishing an X-ray and neutron tomography/interferometry program. Butler was pivotal in constructing a tomography/interferometry beamline at the LSU’s synchrotron (Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices) and developing a laboratory-based tomography/interferometry instrument on campus. Both milestones were made possible through funding from the W. M. Keck Foundation and ultimately laid the groundwork for a startup venture.

In collaboration with the Louisiana Business & Technology Center (LBTC), Butler co-founded Refined Imaging LLC, a Baton Rouge-based startup where he serves as Chief Technical Officer. The company produces gratings for phase-contrast imaging and develops technologies to combat counterfeit manufacturing using blockchain verification. The company is also developing applications of grating interferometry for other fields, including early disease and cancer detection, nondestructive material evaluation, and the analysis of plant root systems.

In addition to his research, Butler served as a program officer for the Chemistry Division of the National Science Foundation from 2001 to 2002, managing an approximately $10 million portfolio in analytical and surface science and chairing major instrumentation review panels. He played a key role in determining federal support for advanced scientific equipment and infrastructure critical to the progress of chemical research.

Since 1976, Butler has been a dedicated member of the American Chemical Society (ACS). He has remained actively involved with the Baton Rouge Local Section, most notably serving as Section Chair during the 2022 Southwest Regional Meeting (SWRM). He is also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, serving as chapter president and serving on PBK national committees, reflecting his commitment to academic excellence and the sciences.

In June 2025, Professor Butler will be recognized at the AAAS Annual Fellows Forum in Washington, D.C., alongside other newly elected fellows, including LSU Chemistry Professor John Pojman. His induction continues a long tradition of LSU Chemistry faculty members being honored as AAAS Fellows over the past century.

LSU Chemistry's AAAS Fellows include: 

2024: Les Butler

2024: John A. Pojman

2022: Zakiya S. Wilson-Kennedy

2014: George Stanley

2010: Erwin Poliakoff

2010: Saundra McGuire

2010: Robin McCarley

2009: Barry Dellinger

2009: Steven Soper

2002: Isiah Warner

2001: Brian Hales

1980: Neil Kestner

1980: William Pryor

1971: Barbara Strawitz

1901: William Stubbs

For the complete list of the 2024 Fellows, visit the AAAS Fellows webpage.