Dear Foundry Community,
It is with great honor that I write to you as the new Director of the Molecular Foundry. I am excited to join this exceptional community of scientists, researchers, and innovators. The Foundry’s reputation for excellence in nanoscience and its collaborative spirit drew me here, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation laid by my predecessors.
As we move forward together, I am committed to fostering an environment where transformative science flourishes, new ideas are welcomed, and collaboration across disciplines continues to drive innovation. The Foundry’s unique position as a national user facility gives us the privilege and responsibility to advance scientific understanding and address some of the most pressing challenges facing our society today.
In that vein, I am pleased to share the results of our Spring 2025 proposal call, which once again demonstrated the high level of interest in accessing the Foundry’s capabilities. We received 350 proposals, and after careful review by our external Proposal Review Board, we accepted 265 proposals across our seven facilities and Data Group. The approved proposals span an impressive range of scientific disciplines, from quantum materials to AI-guided materials design.
In March, the Foundry hosted a workshop: “Realizing the Potential for Low Temperature Electron Microscopy”. This two-day event brought together researchers from all five NSRCs and other institutions across the globe to discuss the current state of low-temperature electron microscopy, the challenges and opportunities in pushing towards even lower temperatures (4 K and below), and the potential impact on various scientific fields from quantum computing to biology. There is a clear need and interest across the scientific community to push electron microscopy towards lower temperatures for higher energy resolution, stability, and studying quantum phenomena. We are preparing a workshop report that will focus on capability gaps, technical credibility, and NSRC community interest – look for it later this summer.
The Foundry will soon be expanding its cryo-electron microscopy capabilities – both in tools and expertise. Earlier this month, we welcomed Dr. Stephanie Ribet a new staff scientist in our NCEM facility. She specializes in multidimensional electron microscopy techniques for challenging materials, integrating cryo-electron microscopy with computational approaches, focusing particularly on weakly scattering systems like soft matter and composite structures. We also welcomed Ian Quesada as our new Division Safety Coordinator, bringing over 15 years of ES&H and Hazardous Waste Management experience. He will take over next month when Carleton Falzone, a cornerstone of the Foundry’s safety practice, retires.
As we move through 2025, I am excited about the opportunities ahead for the Foundry. We will soon host our Annual User Meeting August 13-15, 2025 and I encourage you all to attend. This event offers a unique opportunity to connect with fellow researchers, explore collaborative possibilities, and discover the Foundry’s latest capabilities. This year’s program features keynote presentations from leaders in quantum computing and coordination chemistry of heavy elements, alongside breakout symposia that cover a range of topics at the forefront of nanoscale science. I also want to highlight the new summer school that will be offered for students and early career scientists this year. The 2.5 day program will focus on automation and integrating machine learning into materials research. It will be a wonderful opportunity to get hands-on experience with transformative tools for scientific discovery.
Whether you’re a longtime user or considering your first proposal, the meeting provides invaluable insights into maximizing our facilities for your research. Registration is open through July 14. I look forward to welcoming you in person as we celebrate another remarkable year of scientific achievement at the Molecular Foundry.
Our strength has always been our community—the array of scientists, users, and partners who come together to push the boundaries of nanoscience. I look forward to meeting many of you in the coming months, learning about your research, and exploring how we can continue to advance the Foundry’s mission together.
Please feel free to reach out with your ideas, questions, or just to introduce yourself. My door is always open, and I am eager to hear from you.
With warm regards,
Ashfia
