Dear Foundry Community,
As summer comes to a close, I want to update you on several important developments at the Molecular Foundry, from our recent Annual User Meeting to new capabilities and upcoming opportunities for our research community.
Our Annual User Meeting, held on August 13-15, brought together researchers from around the world to share nanoscale science spanning quantum computing, critical elements research, AI-driven materials science, and more. Keynote presentations by John Martinis (UC Santa Barbara and co-founder of Qolab) on scaling toward quantum supercomputers and Rebecca Abergel (UC Berkeley/Berkeley Lab) on f-element critical materials applications generated some good discussions and highlighted the varied research frontiers our community is pursuing in support of national scientific priorities. Before the main meeting, the Foundry hosted a comprehensive AI and Automation Summer School led by the Foundry’s Carolin Sutter-Fella and Shijing Sun from the University of Washington. The school aimed to address the growing integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in materials science research. The hands-on exercises demonstrated how automated synthesis combined with machine learning can accelerate materials optimization while minimizing human error—perfectly embodying our vision for the future of materials research.
The meeting also featured presentations on new and upcoming Foundry capabilities by staff scientists Stephanie Ribet, Peter Denes, and Shaul Aloni. Among the highlights was our CryoEPIC (Cryogenic Electron Ptychography and Imaging Center) initiative, a $10.3M LBNL investment that will be driven by the Foundry’s Stephanie Ribet and Agustin Avila Sakar, Berkeley Lab’s Cryo-EM Manager in BioSciences. This expansion includes three new JEOL instruments coming online between July 2026 and December 2026: a Cryo-TEM with automated workflows, a Cryo-FIB for integrated sample preparation, and a CryoGrandARM for advanced 4D-STEM and EELS capabilities. With 50% of instrument time dedicated to Foundry users and housed in the new BioEpic building on the Berkeley Lab campus, these capabilities will significantly enhance our ability to build cutting-edge workflows for soft materials research.
We also provided an update on our QIS infrastructure investments. Some, like the Quantum SPLEEM and THz STM, have been operational for a few years, while others, such as our QIS Cluster Tool and Cryo-PPMS, are coming to full operation soon. A new addition to our quantum capabilities will be the availability of a Rapid-Cycling Dilution Refrigerator through a partnership with the Quantum Systems Accelerator at LBL. This capability will enable the high-throughput characterization of decoherence at <20mK for up to 8 qubits with automated measurements and processing. Up to 40% of the available experimental time on this instrument will be available to Molecular Foundry users beginning in Spring 2026.
Finally, we recognized outstanding work through our annual awards, celebrating both user achievements and staff excellence. Min Gee Cho from Berkeley Lab received the Postdoc Paper Award for her data-driven analysis of nanocrystal shape evolution, and Eliza Neidhart from UNC Chapel Hill won the Student Paper Award for innovative work on converting polyolefin waste into reprocessable materials. Special recognition goes to Ari Gashi from our Nanofabrication facility for receiving the Outstanding Staff Service Award, acknowledging his exceptional dedication to supporting our user community.
The breadth of research presented at our User Meeting—from quantum computing to biological systems—highlights the evolving complexity and interdisciplinary nature of nanoscience. To help us navigate emerging scientific opportunities and maintain our position at the forefront of new research frontiers, we have assembled a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) with several new appointees. These distinguished scientists bring complementary expertise that will help guide our strategic direction, ensure we remain at the leading edge of scientific innovation, and are able to effectively serve our user community. Our SAB members are Antoine Snijders, Rampi Ramprasad, Waguih S. Ishak, Ursula Wurstbauer, Jennifer A. Dionne, Aron Walsh, David McComb, Thuc-Quyen Nguyen, Amanda K. Petford-Long, Dimitrios Argyriou, Jinghua Guo (chair of UEC), and Heike Riel.
The interdisciplinary spirit that defines our community continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in nanoscale science. Together, we’re not just advancing fundamental understanding; we’re creating the knowledge and technologies that will benefit society for generations to come. In that vein, I hope you will submit a proposal to our Fall Proposal Call that opens next week on September 2, 2025 through September 30, 2025. I look forward to seeing the innovative research that emerges from our collaborations.
Best regards,
Ashfia
