Ames Laboratory celebrates 75th year on May 17
On Tuesday, May 17, Ames Laboratory celebrated its 75th anniversary as a Department of Energy National Laboratory. For the first time in two years, the Lab was able to host an in-person event for the State of the Laboratory address and picnic.
In honor of the 75th anniversary year, retirees were also invited to participate in the picnic, and all were treated to a serving of Materials Masterpiece, an Ames Laboratory themed flavor (peanut butter with cookie and candy mix-ins) developed in partnership with the Iowa State Creamery.
Also unique to this year was the designation of Ames Laboratory as a National Historic Chemical Landmark by the American Chemical Society. At an outdoor ceremony on May 17, a temporary marker was dedicated on the east side of Spedding Hall to commemorate the Ames Project’s contributions to the Manhattan Project during WWII.
Media from the day includes:
- 75 years of materials and energy solutions
- Ames Lab honored on its 75th Anniversary
- Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds proclaims May 17 'Ames Laboratory Day'
- Grassley, Ernst, Feenstra Recognize Ames Laboratory For 75 Years Of Service To The DOE
- Ames Laboratory celebrates 75 years of science in service to the nation
- Ames Laboratory earns Historic Chemical Landmark designation
75th Anniversary roundup: Coolest staff picture ever!
Please join us on Thursday, June 16 at 9 a.m. in the TASF parking lot for the Ames Laboratory 75th Anniversary staff
photo shoot. Please wear your anniversary t-shirt. If you haven't received a t-shirt yet please contact Laura Graves (lgraves@ameslab.gov).
Since June is also National Safety Month, we've got a bonus item for all - free 75th Anniversary safety glasses. We would like to have a picture of the largest number of people wearing safety glasses at one time (weird world record, perhaps?). Let’s show the world how we value science done safely!
Of course, snax will be provided. We can't have a celebration without carbs!
If you have any questions please contact Sean (sbwhale@ameslab.gov) or Marlee (marleeb@ameslab.gov). In case of inclement weather, the photo event will be rescheduled to 9 a.m. Thursday, June 23.
We Are Ames Lab: Planning & Performance Management
What is the Operations Department’s Name? Laboratory Planning and Performance Management
What does Planning and Performance Management do to support Ames Laboratory?
- Assures the DOE and ISU that we are complying with our contract and effectively accomplishing our mission. This allows us to keep operating, performing research, and acquiring funding for research.
- Provides professional development opportunities and safety and security training for all employees and contributors. We do more than compliance training but we do need to report our progress to DOE on a regular basis.
- Supports the Laboratory with all of its planning efforts including the Laboratory’s Strategic Plan, Annual Laboratory Plan, mission readiness, space management, and enterprise risk management.
- Works with Laboratory leadership to identify and prioritize opportunities for improvement within Laboratory operations processes and facilitates a cross-functional team approach to implementing process improvement projects.
- Assists in keeping valuable information readily accessible for business use while adhering to Government records management requirements.
Why is Performance Management important to Ames Laboratory? We take care of the rules so you can focus on your passion and contribution to the Ames Laboratory mission.
What is unique, interesting, or special about your team?
- If you have a sweet tooth or are looking for a book to read, stop by our office in 111 TASF. We have a candy bowl on our front desk that often makes appearances at training events. We also have 75 professional development books in our self-service Learning & Development Library.
- We like to help plan events to bring the Lab together such as book clubs, lunch outings to the Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom, or walks to the ISU Creamery during the summer.
Who is in charge around here? Chelsey Aisenbrey
Who’s a part of the Performance Management team?
Chelsey Aisenbrey, Director of Laboratory Planning & Performance
- Enabling and supporting the team in whatever they each need
- Strategic Planning
- Annual Laboratory Plan
- Performance Evaluation Measurement Plan (PEMP)
- Space Management
- Mission Readiness
- Risk Management
Erin Gibson, Learning & Development Manager
- New Employee Orientation
- Safety, Compliance, & Skill Training
- Development Programs (Scientist & Supervisor)
- Ames Laboratory Book Club(s)
Rhonda DeShong, Records Manager
- Preservation of records
- Communication of schedule changes and legal holds
- FOIA/Information Requests
- Laboratory Research Notebook storage/retrieval
- Confidential Document Destruction
Kent Hertzke, Program Specialist
- Administrative
- Budget
- Contract Deliverables
Nancy Turner, Project Coordinator
- Process Improvement Champions Team (PICT)
- Lab Plan project management and editing
- Performance Evaluation Management Plan (PEMP) project management and editing
- Instructional design and training support for Learning and Development
Molly Granseth, Assurance Manager
- Assessments
- Controlled Documents
- Process Improvement Champions Team (PICT)
- Issues Tracking (ALCATS)
Where can I find Performance Management?
Email: Performancemanagement@ameslab.gov
Office Location: 111 TASF
ServiceNow:
- Assurance
- Controlled documents: Plans, Policies, & Procedures; Forms
- Documents & Records Management
- Learning and Development (Training)
May IDEAs: Cultivating a Culture of Allyship & Diversity in Chemistry
Cultivating a Culture of Allyship
Join the Women @ SLAC ERG for a presentation on why it is crucial to promote equality and cross-gender partnership in the workplace and learn practical, research-based strategies for effective and meaningful allyship.
Men’s allyship for women in the workplace
June 8, 12-1 p.m. PDT, 2-3 p.m. CDT
Zoom link: https://stanford.zoom.us/webinar/94004886600
Zoom ID: 940 0488 6600
Zoom Password: 950913
Register now: Midwest Retreat for Diversity in Chemistry
Join a three-day retreat focused on skills development for underrepresented groups in chemistry careers (academia, industry, government, and nontraditional positions). The Midwest Retreat for Diversity in Chemistry is scheduled for June 24-26, 2022 at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. This is an event for you if:
- You are an ally for diversity in the field of chemistry
- You are interested in becoming an academic
- You are interested in industrial positions
- You are interested in advancing your career in the field of chemistry
- You are interested in looking at alternative careers in chemistry (government, education, etc.)
- You are interested in networking with other people in the midwest area
Register now at this link: https://www.mwrdc.org/
Ames Lab welcomes SULI students on campus for the first time in two years
This week Ames Laboratory will welcome summer SULI students on campus after two years of the program being
virtual. The 22 students will spend 10 weeks performing research under the guidance of laboratory staff scientists. Students have the opportunity to attend professional development learning opportunities through Ames Laboratory and ISU, attend the Energy I-Corps Workshop and present a poster of their research at the end of the summer. In addition, students can take part in the WDTS-sponsored Ignite-Off Competition. Thank you to the following mentors for hosting a SULI student: Jared Anderson, Rana Biswas, Baozhi Cui, Zhe Fei, Larrry Halverson, Marit Nilsen-Hamilton, Wenyu Huang, Kirill Kovnir, Durga Paudyal, Long Qi, Joseph Shinar, Prashant Singh, Julie Slaughter, Alex Travesset, and Javier Vela. We also welcome two scientists through the Visiting Faculty Program (VFP) both hosted by Durga Paudyal-- Santosh KC from San Jose State University and Huseyin Ucar from California State Polythechnic University-Pomona.
Innovation Partnerships Program Updates
Ames Lab Energy I-Corps Satellite Program: Summer Session 2022
How do you find industrial partners to take your new technology to the next level of development? Where do you find
the right people to champion your research and IP? How do you find the right partners to support cost share for applied DOE offices? We will explore these questions and more in a short four-session workshop led by Jean Redfield, Energy I-Corps founder and instructor, an advanced manufacturing business owner, and tech commercialization thought leader. The workshop is aimed at understanding how to find the right industry or market to transition your research, how to find the right people to talk to, and how to ask the right questions to understand where your technology fits.
A Short Course in Partner Discovery: Four 90-minute, virtual sessions
- What is Partner Discovery and why does it matter? June 9, 2022 1 p.m. CT
- Intro to Tools: Ecosystem Maps and Value Proposition Canvas, June 23, 1 p.m. CT
- Partner Discovery how-to based on Ecosystem Map, July 14, 1 p.m. CT
- Final Presentations to share Partner Discovery Experience, July 28, 1 p.m. CT
Sign up HERE.
Questions and more info: Contact Julienne Krennrich, jmkrenn@ameslab.gov, and Julie Slaughter, julies1@ameslab.gov.
IPP welcomes Jayna Grauerholz
IPP welcomed Jayna Grauerholz, JD, as our new Partnership Specialist on April 18. Jayna can be reached at jayna@ameslab.gov and 294-1254. Jayna will be primarily responsible for negotiating and executing our SPP and CRADA agreements, as well as working with PIs to manage these projects.
Reminder: Plan for FY22 year-end purchases
A friendly reminder as we approach the mid-year mark for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22): Procurement asks that requesters start planning now for their needed goods and services for this fiscal year. This is especially important for items with long lead times, such as scientific equipment and various IT products and services. Due to the pandemic and other global events, lead times are becoming longer than normal and continue to increase (Procurement has seen lead times from 24 weeks to one year for specific items). In order to ensure that items are received and paid for using FY22 funds, we ask that requesters submit their purchase requisitions well ahead of fiscal year end.
Announcements &Events
Join American Red Cross Camp Do Good, and save s'more lives
The Ames Laboratory Blood Drive has returned! Once again we've partnered with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive Tuesday, June 28 in 301 Spedding Hall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Schedule your appointment at this LINK. Let’s roll up our sleeves and help save lives! Each pint of blood donated can save up to three lives and touches the lives of so many more.
If you're unable to donate, you can also volunteer to help. Contact Occupational Medicine at om@ameslab.gov for more information.
Cardinal Women: Applications being accepted for next cohort
Applications are being accepted through Wednesday, June 15, 2022 for Cardinal Women, a growth opportunity specifically for women who are Iowa State University Faculty and Staff. Participants will engage in discussions designed to foster leadership development, goal orientation and purpose in their personal and professional spheres. Participants can expect to be challenged to reflect on their own experiences and to listen to the experiences of others. An explanation of topics and time commitment is here. An application form is available here. You will be asked to provide demographic information and a brief statement of interest and commitment.
Applications Due: June 15, 2022
Selection announcements: July 1, 2022
Questions: Tera Lawson (tjlawson@iastate.edu) or Denise Williams-Klotz (dnwill@iastate.edu)
Cardinal Women* Website: https://www.cardinalwomen.iastate.edu/
Join Ames Lab summer afternoon walks
Looking for an afternoon outing to get in some steps and maybe enjoy a sweet treat? Join your Ames Laboratory coworkers on walks to the Creamery ice cream shop or the gelato shops at the Hub or Dolce Freddo in the Memorial Union. There is no requirement to buy dessert, so if you are looking for a break in the day please come join us!
Please meet on the first floor of TASF at 2:30pm and the group will decide their destination for the short walk. Event dates are below. If you would like to be added to a Google calendar invite please email training@ameslab.gov.
June 6, 14, 22, 30
July 12, 20, 28
August 1, 9, 17
Enjoy Ames Municipal Band concerts this summer
The Ames Municipal Band hosts concerts at Bandshell Park (S. Duff Ave. and 6th St. in Ames) every Thursday night starting at 8 p.m through July 28. The free and family-friendly entertainment features musicals and film scores, light classical, marches, and other genres. Wave hello to Ames Lab employee Jonah Tibbits (Procurement), who plays the trumpet in the band! Updates and weather announcements are provided at the Ames Municipal Band Facebook page HERE.
Job opportunities at Ames Lab
Did you know you can find a current list of employment opportunities at Ames Laboratory on the Job Opportunities page at www.ameslab.gov? Share with friends and colleagues, or apply yourself! You can also find the page linked on the Employee Dashboard.