Dear Foundry Community,
Spring is a busy season at the Molecular Foundry, and this one is no exception.
On March 24 we marked the Foundry’s 20th anniversary since opening our doors to users. It was a wonderful occasion to reflect on two decades of collaborative science and to look ahead at what comes next. If you weren’t able to join us in person, you can find highlights from the event on the anniversary website. The celebration was followed by an on-site meeting of the Foundry’s Scientific Advisory Board, whose members provided valuable perspective on where we are and where we’re headed. We are grateful for their time and thoughtful engagement.
Looking ahead to summer, registration is now open for our Annual User Meeting (AUM), to be held August 21-22. This year’s meeting will once again bring together staff, users, and collaborators for two days of science talks, poster sessions, user feedback, and community building. Travel grant applications and poster abstract submissions are both due June 12, and the registration deadline is July 20. Visit the AUM website for details and to register. We hope to see many of you there.
Our Spring proposal call recently concluded with strong participation from the community. We accepted 291 proposals in total, including 37 from our joint call in Critical Minerals and Materials with the Joint Genome Institute (JGI). This partnership offers researchers a unique opportunity to request the capabilities and expertise of both user facilities in a single proposal, integrating genomics with nanoscale science to address challenges in the sourcing, recovery, and utilization of critical minerals and materials. The response to this call exceeded our expectations and we look forward to the discoveries that will emerge from these collaborations with a new research community.
Expanding the ways researchers can collaborate with us is a theme that also ran through our annual staff retreat a few weeks ago. There, a central focus was planning for the Foundry’s future in automated and autonomous discovery, a rapidly evolving area that aligns with national research priorities, including the Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission. We also actively explored opportunities to more deeply incorporate AI into operations workflows at the Foundry. These conversations are helping us chart a path that positions the Foundry and our user community at the forefront of this exciting shift in how science is done.
I’m also delighted to share news of several recent recognitions for Foundry staff. Brett Helms received the Henry H. Storch Award in Energy Chemistry at the 2026 ACS Spring Meeting, recognizing his outstanding contributions to energy-related chemistry research. John Turner received the Chuck Fiori Award for Outstanding Technologist in the Physical Sciences from the Microscopy Society of America (MSA). The MSA Society Awards honor distinguished scientific contributions to the field of microscopy and microanalysis, and this is a well-deserved recognition of John’s dedication and expertise. Finally, Peter Ercius was selected as an MSA Fellow—a distinction the Society awards annually to senior members who have made significant contributions to the advancement of microscopy and microanalysis through scientific achievement and service to the community. Please join me in congratulating Brett, John, and Peter on these honors. They reflect the exceptional quality of the people who make this place what it is.
As always, I welcome your ideas, questions, and feedback. The Foundry’s strength comes from the breadth and engagement of our community, and I look forward to continuing to work with all of you.
All the best,
Ashfia
Ashfia Huq Director, Molecular Foundry
Read the May 2026 Newsletter
