From the Director: Changes in Staffing Levels

by Persis Drell

SLAC will be undergoing significant changes over the next few years. The initial focus of the laboratory was on the operations of the high-energy physics accelerator program. With time, the photon science program has grown. Now, SLAC is in the process of transforming itself into a multi-program laboratory with the onsite accelerators primarily focused on photon science. SLAC must also complete the transition from High Energy Physics (HEP) as the major stakeholder to Basic Energy Sciences (BES) as the major stakeholder in the DOE Office of Science. The laboratory must move from LCLS construction to operations, and must also prepare for the conclusion of the BaBar/PEPII run. In addition, SLAC is embarking on a major effort to improve management and operations effectiveness.

All of this will result in some changes in staffing levels at the laboratory. We will accomplish some of these changes through retraining and reassignment of existing staff. However, some positions at the lab will go away and we will need to create new positions which can then be filled in different areas by people with different skills.

To assist in the transition to a different set of workforce requirements, we are calling for volunteers who might consider being permanently laid off from university employment. We do not anticipate another voluntary layoff program in the foreseeable future, so if this is something that interests you, please discuss this option with us.

We need to have about 90 people volunteer to avoid an involuntary layoff program before the end of the fiscal year; also, please remember that the laboratory always has occasional small programmatic layoffs throughout any year and those will continue. Lee Lyon, Director of Human Resources, will send out an all-employee memo today that will describe the process for the voluntary layoffs. Once the number of volunteers has been determined, we will let those interested know what the next steps will be.

Pief Stories Now Online; Photos Displayed in ROB

by Amber Dance

(Photo - Pief Panofsky)
Pief Panofsky

A special exhibit of photographs featuring SLAC Founding Director Pief Panofsky is currently on display in the Research Office Building (ROB).

The photographs span decades of Pief's involvement in the lab, celebrating the life and career of this unforgettable man.

In addition, memories about Pief are now posted on the Archives and History Office website, where readers can share in the celebration of his life.

In several "Pief Stories," Pief is remembered for his kind nature and his belief in equality, which he showed when he invited Russian and Chinese physicists to collaborate with SLAC or when he took the time to converse with young scientists and students.

"Almost everyone who met him has at least one story about Pief," said SLAC Archivist Jean Marie Deken.

In the archive, the remembrances will become part of SLAC's official history.

"Pief Stories" is still open to new submissions, so the archives will continue to grow as more memories are added.

Word of the Week:
Hadron

by Brad Plummer

Subatomic particles that are made up of quarks, such as protons and neutrons, are called a hadrons. By comparison, electrons, being fundamental particles themselves, are not made up of anything smaller. Unlike SLAC's electron accelerator, CERN's Large Hadron Collider will study proton-proton collisions—a complicated proposition, considering the number of fundamental particles involved. Because protons contain three quarks, each proton-proton collision will actually involve six particles.

Journal Recognizes SULI Students' Work

by Neil Calder

SULI students (left to right) Siva Darbha, Rebecca Christopfel and Michael Wiczer.

Congratulations to Rebecca Christopfel, Siva Darbha and Michael Wiczer, who have been invited to submit their SLAC research papers to the Journal of Undergraduate Research and to present posters at the annual American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Boston this February.

The three undergraduates took part in the 2007 Summer Undergraduate Laboratory Internship program (SULI), which offers students the chance to work with mentors at the lab, doing scientific research and writing up their findings.

All SULI students at each of the Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories submit research papers as a part of their internship program. This year, the DOE selected only 22 papers for peer review.

"A special thank you to the students' mentors Apurva Mehta, Takashi Maruyama and Aaron Lindenberg, who dedicated their time and expertise to work with these young researchers," said Education Officer Susan Schultz. "SULI Program Manager Michael Woods and SULI Director Steve Rock also did a tremendous job managing the program and providing students with feedback on their writing."

Congratulations to Rebecca, Siva and Michael.

Events (see all | submit)

November 2: (10:00 a.m.) Open Enrollment Informational Meeting
November 5: (4:15 p.m.) Colloquium: How Do We Know That Human Activities Have Influenced Global Climate?

Access (see all)

Announcements
(see all | submit)

Lab Announcements

Grief Counseling Available at Help Center

Community Bulletin Board

Open Enrollment for 2008 Benefits ends on November 15

News (see all | submit)

India Digs Deep to Build Neutrino Lab Nature
How One Virus Uses Mimicry to Replicate Successfully Lightsources.org
Physicists Show How Electrons 'Gain Weight' in Metal Compounds Near Absolute Zero EurekAlert

<% Response.AddHeader "Last-modified", getArticleDate() 'Response.AddHeader "Last-modified","Mon, 01 Sep 1997 01:03:33 GMT" 'Monday, December 06, 2010 %>

View online at http://today.slac.stanford.edu/.

From the Director: Changes in Staffing Levels by Persis Drell SLAC will be undergoing significant changes over the next few years. The initial focus of the laboratory was on the operations of the high-energy physics accelerator program. With time, the photon science program has grown. Now, SLAC is in the process of transforming itself into a multi-program laboratory with the onsite accelerators primarily focused on photon science. SLAC must also complete the transition from High Energy Physics (HEP) as the major stakeholder to Basic Energy Sciences (BES) as the major stakeholder in the DOE Office of Science. The laboratory must move from LCLS construction to operations, and must also prepare for the conclusion of the BaBar/PEPII run. In addition, SLAC is embarking on a major effort to improve management and operations effectiveness. All of this will result in some changes in staffing levels at the laboratory. We will accomplish some of these changes through retraining and reassignment of existing staff. However, some positions at the lab will go away and we will need to create new positions which can then be filled in different areas by people with different skills. To assist in the transition to a different set of workforce requirements, we are calling for volunteers who might consider being permanently laid off from university employment. We do not anticipate another voluntary layoff program in the foreseeable future, so if this is something that interests you, please discuss this option with us. We need to have about 90 people volunteer to avoid an involuntary layoff program before the end of the fiscal year; also, please remember that the laboratory always has occasional small programmatic layoffs throughout any year and those will continue. Lee Lyon, Director of Human Resources, will send out an all-employee memo today that will describe the process for the voluntary layoffs. Once the number of volunteers has been determined, we will let those interested know what the next steps will be.

Pief Stories Now Online; Photos Displayed in ROB by Amber Dance Pief Panofsky A special exhibit of photographs featuring SLAC Founding Director Pief Panofsky is currently on display in the Research Office Building (ROB). The photographs span decades of Pief's involvement in the lab, celebrating the life and career of this unforgettable man. In addition, memories about Pief are now posted on the Archives and History Office website, where readers can share in the celebration of his life. In several "Pief Stories," Pief is remembered for his kind nature and his belief in equality, which he showed when he invited Russian and Chinese physicists to collaborate with SLAC or when he took the time to converse with young scientists and students. "Almost everyone who met him has at least one story about Pief," said SLAC Archivist Jean Marie Deken. In the archive, the remembrances will become part of SLAC's official history. "Pief Stories" is still open to new submissions, so the archives will continue to grow as more memories are added. Word of the Week: Hadron by Brad Plummer Subatomic particles that are made up of quarks, such as protons and neutrons, are called a hadrons. By comparison, electrons, being fundamental particles themselves, are not made up of anything smaller. Unlike SLAC's electron accelerator, CERN's Large Hadron Collider will study proton-proton collisions—a complicated proposition, considering the number of fundamental particles involved. Because protons contain three quarks, each proton-proton collision will actually involve six particles.	Journal Recognizes SULI Students' Work by Neil Calder SULI students (left to right) Siva Darbha, Rebecca Christopfel and Michael Wiczer. Congratulations to Rebecca Christopfel, Siva Darbha and Michael Wiczer, who have been invited to submit their SLAC research papers to the Journal of Undergraduate Research and to present posters at the annual American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Boston this February. The three undergraduates took part in the 2007 Summer Undergraduate Laboratory Internship program (SULI), which offers students the chance to work with mentors at the lab, doing scientific research and writing up their findings. All SULI students at each of the Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories submit research papers as a part of their internship program. This year, the DOE selected only 22 papers for peer review. "A special thank you to the students' mentors Apurva Mehta, Takashi Maruyama and Aaron Lindenberg, who dedicated their time and expertise to work with these young researchers," said Education Officer Susan Schultz. "SULI Program Manager Michael Woods and SULI Director Steve Rock also did a tremendous job managing the program and providing students with feedback on their writing." Congratulations to Rebecca, Siva and Michael.	Events (see all \| submit) November 2: (10:00 a.m.) Open Enrollment Informational Meeting November 5: (4:15 p.m.) Colloquium: How Do We Know That Human Activities Have Influenced Global Climate? Access (see all) Construction for Seismic Upgrade of Building 50 begins Monday Periodic closure of South Klystron Gallery Road Parking lot between B120 and B140 closed Alpine Gate & PEP Ring Road closed Gates 17 & 30 open 24-7 Research Yard bisected Announcements (see all \| submit) Lab Announcements Grief Counseling Available at Help Center Community Bulletin Board Open Enrollment for 2008 Benefits ends on November 15 News (see all \| submit) India Digs Deep to Build Neutrino Lab Nature How One Virus Uses Mimicry to Replicate Successfully Lightsources.org Physicists Show How Electrons 'Gain Weight' in Metal Compounds Near Absolute Zero EurekAlert
		Flea Market Linear Café Menu Employee Milestones Search the Archives Subscribe non-SLAC e-mail Send Us Your Feedback

<% Response.AddHeader "Last-modified", getArticleDate() 'Response.AddHeader "Last-modified","Mon, 01 Sep 1997 01:03:33 GMT" 'Monday, December 06, 2010 %> View online at http://today.slac.stanford.edu/.