Dr. Kristin Persson of EETD has been the architect and force behind the Materials Project at Berkeley Lab. The project was recognized by the White House and resulted in $11 million for a new BES Center. Using this concept, a material can be designed on a computer before synthesis occurs, and using an extensive database, materials properties can be examined to establish trends and correlations that can lead to new discoveries. Kristin has forged multiple collaborations involving several academic, government institutions and industry. Using computation to narrow down the phase space has the potential to significantly increase the speed of innovation. This concept is at the forefront of research and has the potential to revolutionize materials discovery. We thank Kristin for being instrumental in this vital endeavor and give her this Director’s Award for Exceptional Scientific Achievement.