By programming cells with short lengths of synthetic DNA on their surfaces, scientists at the Lab’s Molecular Foundry control how different cell types bind together to form complex artificial microtissues for potential uses in medicine and in medical and biological research. Artificial tissues are presently used in medicine for a range of applications such as skin grafts, bone marrow transplants, or blood substitutes, as well as in basic medical and biological research. More>
A Message From Associate Lab Director for Operations Jim Krupnick
Harry Reed, head of Workforce Diversity for Berkeley Lab, has announced his retirement, effective Feb. 27, 2009. Harry has been with Berkeley Lab since 1982, serving first as a collective bargaining representative in Labor and Employee Relations.
In 1986, he became the Deputy Personnel Director and, two years later, the Personnel Director (now referred to as the Chief Human Resources Officer). He served in this position from 1988 to 1993.
That same year, he was instrumental in establishing the Laboratory's Office of Workforce Diversity, an office he directed for 16 years until his recent retirement. During this period, he played a pivotal role in the creation of the Laboratory's Diversity Council and in the development of the first Lab-wide Diversity Survey in 2005. He was also named the Laboratory's Ombudsman in 2006 by then director Steven Chu.
Harry's more than 25 years of service have been exemplary and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for his many important contributions and invaluable service to the Laboratory. I know the Lab community joins me in wishing Harry a wonderful retirement.
With Harry's departure, Vera Potapenko, Chief Human Resources
Officer, has agreed to lead the Laboratory's Diversity efforts and Diversity Council. Kamala Green, EEO Manager, will be assuming the duties related to Workforce Diversity. We are exploring options in relation to the Ombudsman role and will keep you posted.
People: Materials Scientist Appointed ALS Deputy Director for ScienceAdvanced Light Source Division Director Roger Falcone has announced the appointment of Robert Schoenlein as ALS Deputy Director for Science. Schoenlein is a scientist with the Materials Sciences Division and known to many at the ALS as the developer of Beamline 6, the ultrafast x-ray facility, and an expert in condensed phase physics. He has worked on projects ranging from the dynamics of biological proteins to the understanding of complex oxides, and with photons ranging from the infrared to x-rays. A 20-year Lab veteran, Schoenlein is an internationally recognized leader in optical sciences.
IT: Web Service Interruptions May Occur Sunday On Sunday morning, between 8 a.m. and noon, www.lbl.gov and several associated websites may experience sporadic loss of connectivity while backup equipment is being replaced. The IT Infrastructure Group will try to limit impact, but short interruptions to service may occur. Contact the Help Desk for questions.
Bicyclists are reminded that wearing helmets while riding at the Lab is required. Also, those who use Lab shuttle buses to transport their bicycles must inform drivers prior to loading or unloading bikes on the bus.
World of Science: The Periodic Table Celebrates 140th Birthday[Popular Science] Ah, the periodic table. The Rosetta Stone of chemistry, if you will. Well, today, this great tormentor of high school science students celebrates its 140th birthday, so let's take a quick look at a bit of the history behind this scientific gem. The groundwork of the period table was laid on March 6, 1869, when a study entitled “The Dependence of the Atomic Weights of Elements” was presented to the Russian Chemical Society by the hirsute scientist Dmitri Mendeleev (Note: Berkeley Lab helped discover 16 elements on the perioic table, including the first one ever named after a living scientist: Seaborgium). More>
Today at Berkeley Lab is produced by Public Affairs' Communications Department
