Message from Carol
Dear Colleagues:
Congratulations to this year’s DOE Early Career Research Program (ECRP) awardees, Daniel Carney (Physical Sciences), Timon Heim (Physical Sciences), Aditi Krishnapriyan (Computing Sciences), Harrison Lisabeth (Earth and Environmental Sciences), and Callum Wilkinson (Physical Sciences)! It is exciting to see so many of our talented scientists recognized and supported by the DOE. The ECRP program was established to bolster the nation’s scientific workforce by supporting exceptional researchers at the outset of their careers, when many scientists do their most formative work.
Congratulations also to the Molecular Foundry, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this March. I hope many of you will be able to join in the celebration by attending the Foundry’s scientific symposium on March 24, either in person or virtually.
As we head into spring, it’s a great time to reflect on the growth and evolution happening across the Lab. This issue of Research News touches on the new and upgraded capabilities with the ALS upgrade and how they might benefit facility users, including many of our own researchers.
You’ll also read more about Genesis Mission and AI projects at the Lab. With the recent announcement of the Genesis Mission’s 26 Science and Technology Challenges, we expect the first related notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) in the next month. These will likely prioritize partnerships with other national labs and industry. I encourage you to talk to your leadership regarding potential interest and partnerships, as submission timelines are likely to be short. If you missed the AI Town Hall on Feb. 12, you can view the recording and explore the new AI internal resource hub. The town hall kicked off a series of AI for Science Collaboration events; the first of these will be on March 10, on the topic of getting your data AI-ready with Kjiersten Fagnan.
We’re also launching a communications campaign to showcase the impact of our research, starting with a focus on microelectronics. I encourage you to explore the Discovery to Delivery website and help amplify our stories by sharing them with your networks of sponsors, researchers, and others interested in Berkeley Lab’s most impactful research. Together, we can showcase how Berkeley Lab accelerates science that delivers solutions and improves lives.
Sincerely,
Carol Burns
Deputy Laboratory Director for Research
Chief Research Officer
Looking Forward to the Upgraded ALS
The historic modernization of the Advanced Light Source — also referred to as the “ALS Upgrade” or “ALS-U” project, is well underway. Many of the current beamlines will remain after the upgrade, and a handful will close, opening new opportunities for developments. Some of the flagship beamlines for the upgraded ALS have already been prioritized, prompting many ALS users and Lab scientists to start thinking about how these new and upgraded beamlines might be relevant to their research. These beamlines will take full advantage of ALS-U’s increased brightness and coherent flux.
Read about some of the planned beamlines and the new and upgraded capabilities they will offer.
3Q4: José Luis Rudeiros Fernández
José Luis Rudeiros Fernández is a research scientist in the Physical Sciences Area’s Accelerator Technology & Applied Physics (ATAP) Division. He designs and builds superconducting magnets for applications in particle accelerators, fusion energy, and medicine.
One of the early career scientist awardees of the Director’s Award in 2025, José Luis was recognized for his innovations in superconducting magnets, including the “Uni-layer” concept, a paradigm-shifting design that enables highly efficient magnets using strain-sensitive superconductors in a simple and affordable form. He discusses his work and shares some tips for a successful scientific career.
Join the Foundry’s 20th Anniversary Celebration on March 24
The Molecular Foundry will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on March 24. Participate in the celebration by attending the Foundry’s anniversary symposium, either in person or virtually. The symposium will feature:
-
panel discussions with distinguished former Foundry leaders, leading industry practitioners, and accomplished researchers who launched their careers at the Molecular Foundry,
-
a scientific poster session showcasing current research achievements and future directions, and
-
a networking reception to facilitate continued collaboration among attendees.
Register for the anniversary symposium by Friday, Feb. 27.
Visit the Foundry’s anniversary web page, to read about the impact the Foundry has had on industry, science, and science careers.
NEED TO KNOW
Partnership Requirements for Genesis Mission projects
Seed and model team leads at Berkeley Lab for all Genesis Mission projects should talk ASAP to the Public-Private Partnerships (P3) / ModCon partnership team for statements of work (SOWs), partner outreach agreements, and other required agreements based on DOE-approved Genesis templates.
Contacts: Peter Nugent, David Martin, Gail Chen (SPO), Sebastian Ainslie (IPO)
New Internal Resource Hub: AI for Science at Berkeley Lab
Are you interested in learning more about Genesis Mission or incorporating AI into your research? If so, you may find Berkeley Lab’s new AI for Science internal resource hub to be helpful. The LDAP-protected site includes:
-
trainings, tools, and events relating to AI, data science, and coding
-
lists of AI-related projects and contact info for PIs around the Lab
-
updates on the Genesis Mission and the Lab’s AI strategy
-
information about the supporting ecosystem for AI at the Lab.
Explore the new AI for Science internal resource hub.
View a recording of the Feb. 12 AI for Science Town Hall.
Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Reminder: Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) Requirements for Proposals and Awards
If you intend to submit a proposal for a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) (also known as Funding Opportunity Announcement or FOA) or Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) in the next six months, check to see if there is a requirement for an NDA to be submitted with the proposal. If an NDA is required, proposal sponsors are becoming more strict about submitting the NDA along with your proposal.
If you have recently received an award from a NOFO/FOA, BAA, or other funding source, check with IPO to determine whether an NDA and/or MTA is required to conduct your work under the award.
If an NDA and/or MTA is required, please contact ndas-and-mtas@lbl.gov as soon as possible to ensure that the agreement(s) can be completed in time to meet your proposal deadline or to enable work to begin under your award. Negotiation of these agreements often requires significantly more time than researchers anticipate.
GOOD TO KNOW
LDRD Call for Proposals for Fiscal Year 2027
A reminder that Berkeley Lab’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program’s call for proposals is currently active for FY2027 awards. LDRD is one of the principal means to seed innovative science and new research directions at the Lab. Proposals should align with the Lab’s and the DOE’s strategic directions. The deadline for the multi-Area proposals is March 13, while Area Priority and Early Career Development proposals are due on April 17.
Help Spread the Word about the Impact of Microelectronics Research at the Lab
How much do you know about the Lab’s research in microelectronics? Could you describe it to friends and family, sponsors, researchers outside the Lab, or industry representatives?
This February, we recently launched our Discovery to Delivery communications campaign to show how we turn decades of fundamental discoveries into real-world impact. Our first topic features our microelectronics research and capabilities, with an updated microelectronics web page as well as content on our LinkedIn and X social media channels. You can help amplify our stories by sharing them, either via social media or directly, with your networks of sponsors, researchers, and others interested in Berkeley Lab’s most impactful research.
Explore the Discovery to Delivery website.
Director’s Awards Nominations Open in April
Nominations for this year’s Berkeley Lab Director’s Awards will be accepted starting on April 1. These awards are the premier recognition at the Lab. Multiple categories provide several different opportunities for recognizing your colleagues. The process relies on a strong and broad set of nominations for individuals and teams. Please reflect on the important work your colleagues have done in the past 12 months and consider who you can nominate.
Read about the Director’s Awards categories and submission process.
