During his career he also held several scientific leadership positions , such as the director of the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory ( SSRL ) .
He was the founding director of the Linac Coherent Light Source ( LCLS ) , the world 's first x-ray free electron laser .
During his career he also held several scientific leadership positions , such as the director of the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory ( SSRL ) and he was the founding director of the Linac Coherent Light Source ( LCLS ) , the world 's first x-ray free electron laser .