At the Molecular Foundry, we have seen first-hand the advantage of working together across disciplines, and we have also experienced the great benefit of a culture that welcomes and encourages diversity of thought and that includes people from a multitude of backgrounds. We have established a standing committee to nurture and expand the open culture at the Foundry.
The Foundry has a IDEA strategic plan which attempts to articulate our values and state of affairs, specific and measurable short-term goals, and actions designed to achieve those goals. It is intended to be a living document that promotes conversation and transparency, sets priorities, and evolves with the organization’s needs.
Please feel free to e-mail the current chair or the committee with your questions, ideas, and feedback. You can also submit anonymous concerns using this form.
The Molecular Foundry is committed to building a thriving and supportive community, embracing the professional and personal diversity of our community. One tool to communicate our common values is our Community Agreement on Work-Life Balance, which is aimed at raising awareness, creating an inclusive environment among the Foundry community, and reflecting our shared expectations, values, and behaviors. The agreement was jointly developed by the Molecular Foundry Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability Committee (IDEA), and the Molecular Foundry Career Development Committee (CDC). This agreement is not intended to be a policy or code of conduct.
Helpful Links and Resources
Foundry Resources
| Molecular Foundry IDEA Charter |
| Molecular Foundry Career Development Committee & Career Resources |
| Community Agreement on Work Life Balance |
| Effective Email Writing Tips |
| Foundry Undergoes Assessment to Optimize Inclusion and Identify Sources of Implicit Bias |
| Molecular Foundry User Executive Committee (UEC) |
| Molecular Foundry HR contact information available on the staff page |
| Molecular Foundry Family & Medical Leave Information |
| The Foundry Culture |
Berkeley Lab Resources
Molecular Foundry IDEA Council
The Molecular Foundry’s Inclusion Diversity Equity & Accountability Council mission is to foster innovative actions that create an inclusive work environment that values the contributions of all employees and users. The goal of the Council is to help support a workforce that reflects and embraces the gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, weight, as well as the religious, political, and cultural views of the Foundry community. The council acts as an advisory body to the Foundry management team on matters regarding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accountability in:
- Hires, recruitment, retention
- User outreach and support
- Intercultural and interpersonal communication in work and safety-related protocols
- Awareness and appreciation of diversity and inclusion
- Healthy and sustainable work life balance
IDEA Council Objectives
- Identify and address emerging issues that can impact our diversity culture
- Create and propose new initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion at the Foundry
- Identify, develop and implement IDEA best practices across the Foundry
- Visibly recognize and communicate diversity and inclusion best practices achievements throughout the Foundry
- Create synergy between Foundry Facilities
- Act as clear point of contacts for the Foundry folk for matters concerning IDEA by developing support networks for IDEA issues
- Support or collaborate with the Berkeley Lab diversity and inclusion office on their action plans and initiatives
IDEA Committee Members:
Chair: Liana Klivansky
Vice-Chair: Adam Schwartzberg
| Suksham Barun | Liana Klivansky |
| Branden Brough | Tim Kodalle |
| Jim Ciston | Kristen McIntosh |
| Shannon Ciston | Anne Pham |
| Bruce Cohen | Adam Schwartzberg |
| Rohan Dhall | Debbie Tan |
| David Hom | Lauren Hughes (UEC Rep) |
WSEC Representative: Mary Scott
