Dear Foundry Community,
As we move into the new year, there is a lot to look forward to at the Molecular Foundry.
First, a timely reminder: our Spring 2026 proposal call opens March 1, with a submission deadline of March 31. We welcome proposals across all areas of nanoscale science—from synthesis and microscopy to theory, nanofabrication, and data analytics. We especially welcome projects that have synergy with national science priorities including the Genesis Mission, and the Molecular Foundry’s strategic initiatives in materials for quantum computing, microelectronics, and accelerating design, discovery, and characterization at the nanoscale. If you’re considering submitting, I encourage you to join our informational webinar on February 26, where Foundry staff will walk through the proposal process and answer questions. Details are on our website.
I’m also excited to highlight a new opportunity this cycle: the Molecular Foundry and the Joint Genome Institute have launched a joint call for proposals in Critical Minerals and Materials, which also opens March 1. This is a first-of-its-kind collaboration that invites researchers to draw on the capabilities of both facilities in a single proposal, integrating genomics with nanoscale science to tackle challenges in the sourcing, recovery, and utilization of critical minerals and materials. If your research sits at that intersection, this is a unique chance to access two world-class DOE user facilities through one coordinated process. There will be an informational webinar for this joint call on February 27; I encourage anyone interested to attend.
On the community front, the Foundry recently hosted an AI/ML workshop that brought together researchers from all five DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers (NSRCs). It was a valuable gathering—a dedicated space for the NSRC community to share knowledge, compare approaches, and learn from one another. Conversations ranged from strategic scientific collaborative opportunities, data storage infrastructure and access to deeper questions about data management philosophy. Events like this remind us how much we can gain by looking across our community and building on each other’s work.
Finally, I want to make sure this is on everyone’s radar: March 24, 2026 is the Molecular Foundry’s 20th Anniversary celebration, to be held here at Berkeley Lab. We’re planning a wonderful event with panel discussions featuring former Foundry leaders, industry users, and researchers who got their start here. If you’d like to join us in person, please note that registration is free, but it closes February 28, so don’t wait. Visit the anniversary website to register and learn more. Twenty years is a milestone worth celebrating together.
Best regards,
Ashfia
Ashfia Huq Director, Molecular Foundry
Read the February 2026 Newsletter
