The Lab’s research culture is a priority for me; I believe that a vibrant research environment where researchers are eager to share their ideas and collaborate with each other is the key to unlocking opportunities for each researcher and for the Lab as a whole. Indeed, it has been the secret ingredient to our success.
This issue of Research News talks about opportunities: there is a story about the DOE’s Early Career Research Program (ECRP) and a Q&A with Susannah Tringe, who is an example of how the ECRP can open up opportunities for both the researcher and the Lab. There is also a story about Workforce Development & Education, which, along with the Lab’s other internship programs and with the help of many generous mentors at the Lab, is helping to broaden the opportunities in STEM for many.
This issue also touches on some aspects of our research culture. To ensure that we earn the trust of our colleagues and our stakeholders, the Research Compliance Office (RCO) is working to ensure that the Lab meets the highest standards of research integrity and research ethics. In addition, to support our commitment to open science, the RCO recently launched a new research data policy; this policy will help ensure that we share our research, methods, and data so that others can build on our work.
I would like to learn more about what each of you are working on. Please feel free to message or tag me on Twitter @LBNLResearch. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Carol Burns
Deputy Laboratory Director for Research
Chief Research Officer
OPPORTUNITIES
The DOE Early Career Research Program: A Strategic Opportunity for the Lab and Researchers
Congratulations to Benjamin Nachman (Physical Sciences Area), Marlene Turner (Physical Sciences Area), and Antoine Wojdyla (Energy Sciences Area), the Lab scientists who have been selected as awardees for the DOE Office of Science’s FY22 Early Career Research Program (ECRP). In addition, faculty scientists Matt Pyle (Physical Sciences Area), Daniel Stolper (Earth & Environmental Sciences Area), and Michael Zaletel (Energy Sciences Area) received Early Career awards through their UC Berkeley affiliations. Read more about the ECRP program and how to be a successful applicant.
PEOPLE
3Q4 Susannah Tringe, 2011 ECRP Awardee
Susannah Tringe is Division Director for Environmental Genomics & Systems Biology in the Biosciences Area and Lead for the Microbial Systems Group at the Joint Genome Institute (JGI). She received an Early Career Research Program (ECRP) award in 2011, an event that helped propel her career forward. She shares her thoughts about the ECRP.
STEWARDSHIP
Spotlight on Trust
Trust is one of the Lab’s five Stewardship values. According to our Stewardship website, “We strive to earn the trust of the public, the scientific community, our stakeholders, and each other by safeguarding our record of excellence, integrity, safety, openness, reliability, and accountability.” Read about how to build this trust with the Lab’s research integrity and research ethics policies and efforts.
The Summer Interns are Here!
If you’ve noticed more new faces onsite or in Zoom calls, it could be because the summer interns are here! June 6 marked the beginning of Workforce Development and Education (WD&E)’s summer term. Read what WD&E interns and mentors think about the program and what they are looking forward to.
NEED TO KNOW
A Research Data Policy for Berkeley Lab
Part of Berkeley Lab’s mission is our commitment to open science. We openly share our research, methods, and data so that other researchers can build on our work. Our new research data policy provides a Lab-wide framework for research data ownership, management, and sharing.
New Chemical Management System (CMS 2.0) to Launch in July
The Lab will roll out CMS 2.0, replacing the existing CMS system, on July 5. This new CMS system is more user-friendly with enhanced features that will ease inventory management tasks and improve chemical stewardship throughout the entire lifecycle, from work planning to disposal.
One key change is that chemical container data entry will be done when hazardous chemical/gas purchase is requested or performed instead of after chemicals are received. Purchase requesters will be asked in FMS or by the requisition preparer to indicate, for each requisition line, if a purchase is for a hazardous chemical or gas. If the answer is yes, a form similar to the current CMS container entry form needs to be completed. All submitted data will be transferred to CMS 2.0 automatically so no duplicate container entry is needed when chemicals are received. This change allows for more comprehensive chemical screening and approval at time of purchase to ensure safety and compliance.