Low-Temperature Lab dedicated to distinguished physics professor Clayton Swenson
Ames National Laboratory and Iowa State University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy acknowledged the contributions of long-time researcher and Distinguished Professor Clayton Swenson, by dedicating the Low-Temperature Laboratory in Zaffarano
Hall in his name and memory. A ceremony, held Friday Jan. 20 and attended by Ames Lab and Physics Department emeriti and members of Swenson’s family (virtually), unveiled a plaque in Swenson’s honor.
Clayton Swenson was instrumental in developing low-temperature laboratory facilities and research capabilities at Ames Laboratory and Iowa State University over the course of his entire career, which spanned 52 years. He accepted a faculty position at Iowa State in 1955 with research experience in the Manhattan project at Los Alamos, and a graduate education at Oxford under Sir Francis Simon, who was a pioneer in the then brand new field of low-temperature physics. Before arriving at Iowa State, he had helped establish a low-temperature laboratory at Harvard University, and conducted research at MIT’s Cryogenic Engineering Laboratory.
Over the course of more than five decades, Swenson’s stewardship and development of the low-temperature laboratory’s capabilities was a direct contribution to Ames Laboratory and Iowa State’s discoveries and fundamental understanding of the quantum mechanical properties of many superconducting and other quantum materials.
Swenson also headed up facilities design for the construction of Zaffarano Hall, which was built in 1967, and housed the Low-Temperature Laboratory shortly thereafter and to this day.
Swenson was chair of the Physics Department at Iowa State from 1976-1984. He retired from Iowa State in 1987, and the Laboratory in 2004. He died in 2018, shortly before his 95th birthday.
First row, left to right: Doug Finnemore, Distinguished Professor Emeritus and co-founder; Jerry Ostenson, lab supervisor (retired); Paul Ness, technician (retired); Bruce Harmon (standing), Ames Lab scientist, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Second Row, left to right: Adam Schwartz, Ames Lab Director; Jamie Morris, Ames Lab Chief Research Officer; John Hill, Department of Physics and Astronomy, professor emeritus
Third Row, left to right: Makariy Tanatar, supervisor; Matt Kramer, Director, Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering at Ames Lab; Nicholas Kriegel, technician; Ruslan Prozorov, Ames Lab, professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Fourth row, left to right: Frank Krennrich, Chair, Department of Physics and Astronomy; Yuji Furukawa, Ames Lab scientist, professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy; Sergey Bud'ko, supervisor (past), Ames Lab scientist, Department of Physics and Astronomy, adjunct professor; Robert Howard, technician
A flipping good time: The Ames Lab pancake breakfast is back
The Ames Lab pancake breakfast, on hiatus the last three years due to the pandemic, is reviving in February. Chris Cakes will return with their large griddle to toss some pancakes-- come grab a plate and catch a few! Stop by 301 Spedding on Tuesday, Feb. 14 from 8-9:30 a.m.
January IDEAs: Poetry, LinkedIn Learning Resources, & Name Change Info
Iowa State Student Publishes “Thoughts of The Little Brown Girl” Poem
Iowa State student Durga Sritharan’s “Thoughts of The Little Brown Girl,” a poem detailing Sritharan’s experiences of being a person
of color in predominantly white environments, was recently published by the Journal Committed to Social Change on Race and Ethnicity (JCSCORE). She discusses her experience and her poetry in an ISU Daily Article published on Nov. 16, 2022.
LinkedIn Learning self-study resources now available
A professional development resource in Diversity and Inclusion topics is now available through an established LinkedIn Learning path for Ames Laboratory. The self-study courses provide valuable information on how to be an active participant in creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive culture. This professional development opportunity can be viewed at your own pace and can be included as an example in annual performance appraisals. This learning path can be accessed at this LINK. You must be logged in to LinkedIn Learning through the Iowa State University portal.
Name change resources now available in ServiceNow
On July 28, 2021, all seventeen U.S. national laboratories and many prominent publishers, journals, and other organizations in scientific publishing announced a partnership to support name change requests from researchers on past published papers. Resources are now available for Ames Lab employees in ServiceNow, including a FAQ and request Form. For more information, please read the original announcement.
New Employee Profiles: Trevor Gunderson & Allison Retz
Trevor Gunderson was recently hired as a Procurement Assistant. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Waldorf University and
received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management and Finance & Banking. While attending Waldorf, he received several prestigious awards and recognitions such as Presidential scholarship recipient for academic distinction; Dean’s List honors; NAIA Scholar Athlete for Football; North Star Athletic Association Scholar Athlete for Football; Peter Hillesland Memorial Scholarship recipient; Outstanding Academic Achievement award; and Alpha Chi National College Honor Society invitee. Trevor was also recently awarded the 2022 Lions Club Sportsmanship Award which is presented to one male athlete selected from all athletic programs at Waldorf, who has shown exceptional moral character.
Prior to joining the Laboratory, Trevor worked as an exterior painter and performed volunteer work in construction and landscaping. He also served in an internship at a Savings Bank with a banking, finance, and mortgage/real estate focus.
Trevor recently moved to Ames in December 2022. He grew up in Lake Park, Iowa. His hobbies include watching and betting on sports. He also enjoys boating in the summer. Trevor hopes to become an important part of the procurement team and Ames National Laboratory as a whole.
Allison Retz joined the Occupational Medicine team at the beginning of 
January. Allison's primary role as a Staff Nurse will be to offer a wide range of services including medical surveillance exams, clinical testing, laboratory testing, immunizations, health promotion and risk reduction education and counseling, and treatment for minor work related injuries and illnesses.
Allison has been working as a nurse for 11 years, most recently at Mary Greeley Medical Center. She has an 8-year-old daughter and lives in Ames. In her free time, Allison enjoys going for walks, cooking, and is a true crime fan. Allison is excited to join the Ames National Laboratory team and looks forward to meeting everyone!
75th Anniversary Round-up: Holiday Auction and Year-end Recap
In December, Ames National Laboratory wrapped up its 75th year with a trivia contest and holiday auction co-hosted by the 75th Anniversary Committee and the United Way Committee. After online auctions during the pandemic, the auction returned to an in person event in its 20th year to benefit a local food pantry as well as our fundraising efforts for the United Way. In 2022, the Lab raised over $4,575. Over the entire history of the holiday auction, the Laboratory has raised $78,986.17, supporting a wide variety of non-profit organizations in Story County.
The event capped off a year of public recognitions for Ames' seven and a half decades as a National Laboratory. To revisit our milestones, here is a list of links:
Ames Lab Director Adam Schwartz interviews with Iowa Public Radio
Teresa Wilhelm Waldof: “75 years of Innovation and Collaboration”
Ames Lab celebrates 75th anniversary with custom ice cream flavor
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds proclaims May 17 'Ames Laboratory Day'
WHO 13: Ames Lab honored on its 75 anniversary
75 years of materials and energy solutions
Grassley, Ernst, Feenstra recognize Ames Laboratory for 75 Years of service
Ames Laboratory earns Historic Chemical Landmark designation
VIDEO: 75 years of Ames Lab History
Ames Laboratory is now Ames National Laboratory
Iowa State University, Ames National Laboratory at Iowa State Fair
Announcements & Events
Director’s Excellence Award nominations are open for 2023
Nominations for the newly expanded Director's Excellence Awards are open now through April 17, 2023. All Laboratory employees – regardless of role – are eligible for this award. Please consider nominating a fellow employee who has brought positive change and improvement to Ames Laboratory through their demonstration of our core values. See the Director's Excellence Award 2023 knowledge article for more information on criteria and the nomination process.
Volunteer Opportunity: Science Bound
Iowa State University’s Science Bound program is looking for volunteers to serve as judges at the “Nothing Less Than Success” Science Fair. This event is required for all 8th grade Science Bound students and marks a milestone on their journey with the program. The Science Fair is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 at a location to be determined in Des Moines. Those interested may fill out this FORM. Questions can be directed to Alyssa Montero at alyssajm@iastate.edu.
Cybox notifications cluttering up your inbox?
Do you receive too many notifications from CyBox for them to be helpful? A new knowledge article is available in Service Now to help users customize the CyBox notifications they receive and enhance collaboration on Ames Laboratory projects: Enhance Collaboration with CyBox.
Iowa State moving to Workday Learn
Iowa State University has started their transition to Workday Learn (from Learn@ISU) with the following initial offerings being available:
- University compliance-related courses (including Title IX, Clery Act, and the Iowa Board of Regents Free Speech training)
- University Human Resources offerings
- LinkedIn Learning Courses
Ames National Laboratory required training will continue to be offered in Learn@ISU. Over the next nine months, the Lab will be transitioning to Workday Learn, and there will be more information forthcoming on that change.