Dear Foundry Community,
As Spring turns to Summer, there are a number of exciting opportunities blooming at the Molecular Foundry. Collaborating with our User community is one of the most fulfilling parts of our work and we are delighted to welcome new and returning users to the Foundry following our successful Spring Call for standard proposals. In early May, our Proposal Review Board, consisting of 55 external reviewers, evaluated 308 proposals which came from a broad range of research groups representing 107 different institutions. We look forward to working together with new and returning researchers on these projects!
In my last Director’s letter, I mentioned that Foundry was preparing for our DOE Quinquennial Review, which has now recently concluded. During this review, the Molecular Foundry had the opportunity to showcase the multifaceted impact and scientific output of our highly collaborative and multidisciplinary knowledge-based user facility model. We also highlighted multiple future plans and strategic goals to this team of expert external reviewers. The Foundry continues to renew our instrumentation and capabilities to keep us at the cutting edge of nanoscience through strategic capital investments in new equipment and staff expertise.
In addition to investing in new equipment, we have also been working hard to fill the staff positions that were left open by various departures and retirements over the past few years. We recently welcomed Dr. Deirdre Olynick as the Foundry’s Senior Business Manager. She comes to the Foundry with 7 years in business and operational strategy, added to the ten years she spent as a staff scientist in the Nanofabrication Facility. We are excited to have her back! Also joining us is Dr. Alexander Stibor, a new staff scientist in the Foundry’s Imaging Facility. His expertise includes advancing quantum instrumentation utilizing coherent electrons across various domains including microscopy, spectroscopy, quantum information science, surface science, and free-electron quantum optics. He is responsible for the low-temperature Quantum Spin-Polarized Low-Energy Electron Microscope (QSPLEEM) and the Field Emitter Characterization Setup.
We are thrilled about the opportunity to strengthen our collaboration with you at our Annual User Meeting on August 14-16, 2024. For the first time this year, the meeting will span three days and include symposia cross-listed with the Advanced Light Source Annual User Meeting. Our plenary sessions will feature keynote talks from Deji Akinwande and Aaron Wheeler, plus user highlight talks from a cross-section of our technical facilities. Nominations for awards (Best Student Paper, Best Postdoc Paper, Staff Service, and the inaugural User Meeting Travel Grant) are due by June 5, 2024, and registration for the meeting closes on July 15, 2024.
In closing, as I will soon step down from my position at the Molecular Foundry, I want to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible journey we’ve shared. It has been an honor to work alongside such a talented and dedicated team. Together, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones and made significant advancements in our field. I am confident that the Foundry will continue to thrive and thank you for your unwavering support and collaboration.
I will miss you.
Kristin
