All together we had a total of 80 volunteers for both events. The success of these events is the direct result of the dedication and support from our volunteers, and we are deeply grateful to all of them.
We also want to thank two Iowa State fraternities for their help: Triangle Fraternity and Beta Theta Phi Fraternity.
Thank you everyone for wearing your badges! We appreciate you adjusting to this big change.
We are getting close to launching the PIV Badge process in Workday, which will guide employees through getting their PIV Badges and help the Badging Office track progress. You must obtain a PIV Badge if you are a permanent employee, joint employee, or postdoc. Foreign nationals in these positions will receive a PIV Badge after living in the U.S. for at least three years.
If you are eligible for a PIV Badge, here is what you can expect next:
- Early March: A focus group will test the Workday process to ensure it works as expected, and share feedback to improve job aids.
- Throughout March: New resources will be available on the Badging Project website to help you prepare for the PIV Badge process.
- After focus group testing is complete: A pilot group will be the first to go through the process to get their PIV Badges, and share feedback to improve the experience for colleagues.
- Date TBD: The Badging Team will host a virtual event to explain the process, show resources, and answer questions (watch upcoming Lab-wide communications for details).
- After the pilot group, the Badging Office will begin contacting employees, by birthday month, to start the PIV Badge process.
Thank you to everyone who signed up for the pilot group after Monday’s Town Hall! We reached our goal of 20 volunteers before the end of the business day. If you were one of the first 20 people to volunteer, you will receive an email from the Badging Office with more details in the coming weeks.
Questions? Contact us: Email badgingoffice@ameslab.gov, call 515-294-6076, or stop by 105 TASF.
By now you have likely seen a communication from Iowa State regarding changes to our TIAA retirement plan; these changes apply to Iowa State and Ames Laboratory plan participants, but no action is needed at this time per the communication Iowa State released to all employees on February 14, 2025.
The expected enhancements include:
- A new default investment option for those who opt out of managing their own investments. It automatically manages the investments and helps participants stay on track with retirement goals and guaranteed income upon retirement.
- Updated investment options that will replace some of the existing offerings. These new options will reduce some of the fee costs and help participants reach their savings goals.
- A self-directed brokerage option that will allow plan participants more investment opportunities outside of the core investment offerings. The feature also allows plan participants to invest a portion of the balance into a self-directed broker account.
The enhancements will take effect in April 2025. Throughout the upcoming transition, more information will be provided from Iowa State and TIAA in early March 2025. This communication will include a detailed transition guide that contains important information such as key dates, specification steps, upcoming information sessions, and other available resources.
Ames Laboratory continues hosting TIAA representatives onsite for employees to participate in individualized meetings. The next session will be held near the end of April 2025. Advanced communication and sign-up information will be sent to all personnel closer to the date.
In the meantime, if you have questions, visit https://www.tiaa.org/public/tcm/iastate or call TIAA at 800-842-2252, weekdays from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. CT.
The tenth annual CMI Winter Meeting was a success, with Ames National Laboratory well represented among the 150 attendees. The event highlights CMI students and early career researchers, who described their CMI research in dozens of oral and poster presentations. The top two in each category were recognized, and included Ames Lab’s Mikael Broders, an undergraduate research assistant, with best poster (shown right). His “Ce-Fe-B Permanent Magnets via Wet Chemical Process” is based on CMI work with Xubo Liu, a position that the Iowa State University junior in Aerospace Engineering sought to learn more about materials science after taking the one required course within the major on the subject.
The CMI Winter Meeting was the first in-person meeting for the newest cohort of the CMI Leadership Academy. The sixth cohort has 10 members from national laboratories, universities and industry. This includes two from Ames Lab: Harshida Parmar, postdoctoral research associate, and Rambabu Kuchi, Scientist I. The group learned about the CMI Education Toolkit as they created their own version of the kit, which they are encouraged to use in education outreach in their local area. Mentors for the group are Ruby Nguyen, Idaho National Laboratory (left) and Rod Eggert, Colorado School of Mines (right). Members of the CMI Leadership Academy are (front, from left): Chloe Tolbert, Idaho National Laboratory; Eunjeong Kim, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Rambabu Kuchi, Ames National Laboratory; Harshida Parmar, Ames National Laboratory; Chandra Nath, Purdue University; and (back, from left): Gaurav Das, OLI, Lesta Fletcher, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Subhamay Pramanik, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Zackary Adams, Phoenix Tailings; and Aaron Malone, Colorado School of Mines.
We have revised the 473 Foreign National Access Request form. Please get the updated version from Service Now and begin using it to process all new requests. If you send a worksheet to applicants to gather their information, be sure to update your worksheet so it is consistent with language and drop-down choices on the 473.
We removed sections that are no longer needed, such as the questions about family members, and revised the wording in the LPR, visa, and justification sections to clarify what information is needed. We also added drop-down choices for the Field of Research and Purpose of Visit/Assignment to better align with the DOE system that documents foreign national access requests.
If you have questions or concerns, contact Kendra Lee at kmlee@ameslab.gov
Project Management Essentials
Do you want to improve your ability to deliver high quality projects on time and on budget? Franklin Covey’s Project Management Essentials teaches key techniques and tools grounded in the foundational paradigm that “People + Process = Success.” This free course will be offered on Tuesday, April 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in TASF 205. RSVP to secure your seat. Contact Nancy Turner with questions, nturner@ameslab.gov.
Learning Session: Communicating with Impact
Join us for an in-person training session with Dr. Tina Coffelt to discover the keys to effective communication. The session will take place on Wednesday, April 23 from 10:30 a.m to 11:45 a.m. In this interactive session, you will learn how to:
- Analyze your audience’s unique needs to ensure your message resonates.
- Translate complex information into clear language for better understanding.
- Foster engagement with every interaction.
RSVP to take your communication skills to the next level, connect more effectively with your audience, and leave a lasting impact.
Core Strengths Workshop
Learning & Development will offer Core Strengths Relationship Intelligence training over two half-day sessions, Thursday, May 8 and Friday, May 9 from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
Core Strengths begins with a personalized, scientifically-validated Strength Deployment Inventory assessment. Your results combined with the training can help you better understand your motives, strengths, and working style. The training also focuses on conflict tendencies and how to more effectively manage conflict in the workplace.
If you are interested in attending the May sessions, a future session, or scheduling a team session, please complete our Core Strengths Interest Form. For questions or more information, contact Nancy Turner, nturner@ameslab.gov.
Director’s Excellence Award nominations now open
Nominations for the Laboratory Director's Excellence Awards are open now through April 16, 2025. All Laboratory employees – regardless of role – are eligible for this award. Please consider nominating a fellow employee who has positively impacted Ames Laboratory through their demonstration of our core values. See the Director's Excellence Award knowledge article for more information on criteria and the nomination process.
Argonne Counterintelligence seminar March 13
The Argonne Counterintelligence group will be presenting a virtual seminar on Thursday, March 13, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CT, entitled, "Spies at Los Alamos: A Presentation on the Project Y Spies." If you are interested in attending via Zoom, click here to join the online meeting.
Safety Day is March 14
Time: 9 a.m. to noon, with a virtual kickoff meeting.
Priorities:
- Housekeeping
- Training
- Chemical labeling and inventory management
- Lab postings updates
All personnel are expected to participate. More information will be provided in early March.
Research group leaders or another designated representative should be available for peer walk-throughs. Notify your division representative with the name of your designee by COB March 7 (Friday).
Feedback or ideas for future priorities? Contact your supervisor, or:
- Emrah Simsek (DMSE, emrah@ameslab.gov)
- Olena Palasyuk (CMI, opalasy@ameslab.gov)
- Damien Culver (CBS, culver@ameslab.gov)
Individual Development Resources page added to professional development website
The Professional Skills Development website now features an Individual Development Resources page, empowering you to take meaningful steps toward your career goals. Access tools and templates to create an Individual Development Plan (IDP), set measurable goals, and map your path forward. Plus, explore the Lab’s Mentoring guide for those interested in mentoring or being mentored.
You can also visit the website's home page for upcoming Professional Development opportunities, RSVP links, and resources from past sessions.