Welcome Stephanie Sobotka, Director of Human Resources and Diversity
Stephanie Sobotka joined Ames National Laboratory on Oct. 21 in her new role
as Director of Human Resources and Diversity, replacing Lisa Negus. Though Sobotka joined the Lab from Emerson, in Marshalltown, this is her second time as an Iowa State employee. While at Emerson, she was responsible for the human resources team and workforce strategy of the Lifecycle Services business across North America. While there she also supported a team of researchers and engineers in product design. Prior to Emerson, Sobotka worked at Iowa State as an employee and labor relations consultant within University Human Resources. She is also a former Iowa State graduate, holding an MBA and other HR management designations. She lives in the country with her husband (Cody), three boys (Carson, Tatum, Hoyt) and one spirited dog (Allie). In her spare time, she enjoys attending her boys’ sporting events, running, and writing.
Erin Lucas joins Occupational Medicine Staff
Erin Lucas, PA-C, joined Ames Lab’s Occupational Medicine Staff as a certified physician’s assistant offering clinical
services, medical surveillance examinations, and reviews. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology from St. Olaf College, and her master degree in physician assistant studies at St. Ambrose University. Since graduation in 2017, she worked in family medicine at Primary Health Care in Des Moines. She joined Iowa State’s Thielen Student Health Center (TSHC) in May 2020, and remains employed at TSHC seeing patients two days per week. Her PA experience has consisted of providing preventative care, chronic condition management, and acute/urgent care for illness and injury. She enjoys helping others achieve and maintain their optimal health so they may thrive in their personal and professional lives. Originally from Mason City, Lucas now resides in Ames with her husband and two-year-old son.
Dr. Margaret Evans will transition to an oversight role, starting a reduced schedule on Oct. 28. Occupational Medicine is deeply grateful for Dr. Evans’ dedication and expertise over the years and are excited for her continued support in this new capacity. Please note, there will be no changes to the services provided—only to their delivery. Lucas will be available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Occupational Medicine is committed to ensuring a smooth transition and addressing any concerns promptly to meet your needs.
Accounting team welcomes Derek Johnson
Derek Johnson joined the Accounting team at Ames Lab in October. He grad
uated from North Park University in June of 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. After graduation, he stayed in Chicago for two years working for the retail brand Crate & Barrel as a part of their accounting team. Originally from Mason City, Derek says his and his wife’s relocation to Ames moves them closer to family and a new chapter of their lives.
In his free time Johnson enjoys writing and producing music, watching and hotly debating about the show “Survivor,” playing minecraft, playing Frisbee golf and other disc related activities, visiting family, and almost anything! Ask him about anything, and most likely he’ll tell you “That sounds like fun!” He is very excited to be working in accounts payable to support the great work that goes on at the Lab.
Education and Outreach seeks volunteers for 2025 Science Bowl
2025 SCIENCE BOWL planning is underway and Ames Lab needs your help! Education and Outreach is seeking volunteers for both the Middle School and High School Science Bowls. These events are scheduled Saturday, Feb. 8
and Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, respectively. Volunteers support these events by serving as judges, moderators, timers, and scorekeepers. More information about these roles can be found at this volunteering for Science Bowl informational link. Volunteers receive lunch the day of the event and a t-shirt!
These events are a lot of fun and support the youth of Iowa, encouraging their involvement in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Please consider volunteering for one or both events, using the 2025 Science Bowl Volunteer Sign-up form.
The more volunteers the better. If you have a family member or friend who would like to help out, please share this information with them. If you have any questions about Science Bowl volunteering, please contact Mary Ronayne at mronayne@ameslab.gov or stop in the office at 351 TASF.
Updates to purchase requisition process now available
The Purchase Requisition Submission Smartsheet will be updated on Nov. 1. The changes are minor and will help Procurement move your Purchase Requisitions with fewer follow-up emails and questions.
- If the purchase aligns with a current Work Planning and Control activity (formerly known as Readiness Review), you will add the WPC# to the Smartsheet Form.
- If the Vendor is coming on site, you will select the activity that most closely describes the reason for the Vendor’s visit.
The UPDATED Purchase Requisition for Goods and Services has “Attachment 1” embedded (REQUEST FOR EXERCISE OF OPTION, OR PURCHASE ORDER /SUBCONTRACT RENEWAL). By including the Incumbent Subcontractor Name and PO/Subcontract Number, you agree that the subcontract is appropriate for renewal and/or to exercise option years to the subcontract.
P-Card holders, you can now customize your Costpoint view
Did you know you can customize your screen view in Costpoint so you don’t have to scroll through several columns of information that you will not be using? Steps to adjust your view and make Costpoint more user friendly can be found in the Knowledge Article Instructions for p-card holders to customize their screen in Costpoint. Visit ServiceNow for full instructions on Entering a P-card Requisition in Costpoint.
Badging Project: Website updates and reminders for supervisors
We received so many great questions this month that we reorganized our website to help you find information more
easily. You can now find details and FAQs about the following topics on their own dedicated pages:
Not sure which one to pick? Learn which type of badge you need.
The Frequently Asked Questions page now has our most asked questions at the top so you can jump right to their answers.
If you are a supervisor, you need to bring your new employee(s) to the Badging Office in 105 TASF on their first day so they can pick up their Ames Lab Badge. Drop by during business hours or, if you prefer, you can schedule an appointment by email: badgingoffice@ameslab.gov or phone: 515-294-6076.
New employees will still need to visit Beardshear Hall to get their ISUCard. Onboarding resources, including the onboarding checklist in ServiceNow and the emails you receive from HR for new employees, are updated to reflect this change.
FY2025 Proposals and Agreements information now live on ServiceNow
Innovation Partnerships Program (IPP), responsible for Proposal Development, Contract Management, Intellectual Property, and Scientific and Technical Information (Publications), has released new information for the upcoming FY2025 proposal season.
Proposals
- DOE has renamed its funding opportunities to “Notice of Funding Opportunity” (NOFO), retiring the old name “Funding Opportunity Announcement” (FOA).
- Complete the Intent to Submit form as soon as you decide to apply as Prime or Collaborator to a NOFO.
- View available NOFOs and the Intent to Submit form on the Research Opps Dashboard.
- A NOFO may limit the number of submissions by the Laboratory. The CRO will coordinate and communicate the internal competition process and deadlines.
- The majority of Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science (SC) Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) and SC Lab Calls will require applicants to submit a Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Research (PIER) plan as an appendix to their proposal.
- Eligibility to serve as a PI for sponsored funding administered through AMES depends on an individual’s position classification.
- The DOE now requires the use of Science Experts Network Curriculum Vita (SciENcv), a cooperative venture maintained at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/ for proposal preparation.
- For questions or assistance, contact your division admin or email: proposals@ameslab.gov
Complete information is available at the linked FY2025 Proposal Kickoff and Reminders ServiceNow Knowledge Article.
Reminders about contracts, intellectual property, and publications
- To enter into a research agreement (CRADA, SPP or TSA) with another entity, please notify IPP by completing the Request for New Partnership Project Agreement Form
- To request an NDA or MTA, please complete the Request NDA/MTA form.
- Disclose any possible Intellectual Property to Beth Pieper (pieper@ameslab.gov) for review and processing. This includes disclosures led by sister Laboratories and partnering universities.
- Report Open Source Software OSS via the OSS Disclosure Form including software/code disclosed in Supplemental Information of a publication.
- Submit accepted manuscripts to sti@ameslab.gov prior to publication for all peer-reviewed journal articles.
- Changes are coming to public access requirements to federally funded research, including manuscripts, dataset reporting, and data management and sharing. The Lab will provide guidance as it comes available.
Complete information is available at the linked FY2025 IPP Reminders.
Professional Development Opportunities
Virtual Psychological Safety in the Workplace Training
While the concept of psychological safety has been around for many years, it was not until recently that workplaces began assessing and measuring its impact. Join this interactive virtual session on Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 9-10 a.m. with Lars Peterson, LISW, to explore the foundations of psychological safety and better understand what it is, what it isn’t, and why it is important for business. For a calendar invite with join information, please RSVP.
Announcements and Events
Did you miss your flu shot?
Flu season is upon us, and it is not too late to protect yourself and those around you! If you have not received your flu shot yet, good news: influenza vaccines are still available at Occupational Medicine. To receive your flu shot, please call Occ Med (515-294-2056) to set up an appointment. The team is ready to assist you and ensure you have a quick and easy experience.
Don’t wait any longer! Let’s work together to keep our workplace healthy this flu season. Your health matters!
2025 Benefits Open Enrollment
On November 1, 2024, ISU University Human Resources will kick off the annual open enrollment period which allows all benefits eligible staff to elect or change their health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, and eyewear plan for the upcoming 2025 calendar year.
It is important to review all elected benefits even if you are not planning on changing any of your elections. Employees are responsible for their open enrollment verification, and review of benefits elections and eligible dependent(s).
2025 Benefits Open Enrollment Period:
- Opens: 8:00 a.m. (CST) Friday, Nov. 1, 2024
- Closes: 5:00 p.m. (CST) Friday, Nov. 22, 2024
Check out ALEX too!
ALEX is an interactive tool that helps navigate benefit options, answer benefit-related questions, and uncover the best-fit for individuals and families from available benefit offerings.
The Open Enrollment Knowledge Base Article also provides instructions on how to review your current benefit elections and how to make changes during open enrollment.
One-day flu and COVID vaccine clinic Nov. 7
Join ISU WellBeing, Occupational Medicine, and Hy-Vee for a one-day COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Clinic, exclusively for faculty and staff members. It is the perfect opportunity to stay current with your COVID-19 vaccinations and ensure you're prepared for the upcoming flu season—all in one easy and convenient visit. Registration and insurance billing is required for some vaccine options; go to this link for more information and registration.
Thursday, Nov. 7
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
State Gym, Room 1218
Save the date: Gold Star Hall Ceremony is Nov. 13
Three former Iowans and Iowa State students who gave their lives serving our country will be honored during the university's annual Gold Star Hall Ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 13 (4:15 p.m., Memorial Union Great Hall). After the program, there will be a reception with food and drink, along with displays of personal items from each honoree (Sidney Peterson, Ringsted, World War II; Max Harvey Collins, Nevada, Korean War; and James Herrick Jr., Panora, Vietnam War). More about Gold Star Hall.
Learn more about the City of Ames Resource Recovery Center
A representative from the City of Ames Arnold O. Chantland Resource Recovery Center will be visiting the Laboratory on Thursday, Nov. 14. Lorrie Hanson will give a presentation about the facility, which was the first municipally owned and operated waste-to-energy facility in the nation and opened for business in 1975.
Date: Thursday, Nov. 14
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: 301 Spedding Hall
Safety Day is Friday, Nov. 15
The next Safety Day is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 15. Safety Day provides an opportunity outside of our regular work schedule to focus on safety practices, and collaborate across the laboratory to ensure a safe working environment. This event will focus on three areas: evaluating PPE, training requirements, and general housekeeping. Support will be provided for identifying and scheduling removal of unwanted/excess computer equipment. Additional information will be provided closer to the date of the event.