News Briefs: June 12, 2009
Poster symposium spotlights postdoc research
LLNL’s postdoctoral researchers presented their research Wednesday at the second annual Institutional Postdoctoral Poster Symposium in the old Central Café. More than 90 poster presentations were displayed during two sessions, highlighting the most exciting research of Lab postdocs performed in the last year.
"This year’s postdoc poster symposium was a tremendous success," said Kris Kulp, director of the Lab’s Institutional Postdoc Program Board.
"The symposium provides a unique opportunity for the Lab’s scientists to see, hear and talk about the exciting, cutting-edge work that our postdocs are doing. The posters were all high quality and the postdocs did a terrific job presenting their work. They bring an infectious creativity, energy and enthusiasm to their science that was abundantly demonstrated during the symposium."
Transformational Materials Initiative completed
The Weapons & Complex Integration and Science & Technology PADs celebrated the successful completion of the Transformational Materials Initiative. TMI was created under the strategic planning vision of Cherry Murray. It was the largest Laboratory Directed Research and Development Strategic Initiative under which the Laboratory has embarked. Goals include creating a new generation of multifunctional materials and sensors in support of long-term Laboratory mission needs.
TMI produced more than 50 published or submitted scientific papers, including several cover articles. Researchers also gave 60 invited or contributing talks, 16 records-of-invention and several issued patents. TMI also developed an extensive network of collaborations and externally funded projects that will out-live the original investment.
Juneteenth celebration set for June 18
Come enjoy "Poetry in the Park" to celebrate Juneteenth, also known as "Freedom Day" or "Emancipation Day," on Thursday, June 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Employee Picnic Area (by the old pool in front of Bldg. 219).
Spoken word artist Indigo will be speaking. She is a consummate artist, with truly engaging, story-telling-style poems that are captivating, evoking familiar imagery to which everyone can relate.
For more information, see the flier .
New Planning Financial Services Directorate
The new Planning and Financial Services (PFS) Directorate was announced by Frank Russo at a recent all-hands meeting of the Operations & Business Principal Directorate. The new PFS Directorate, in effect since June 1, is led by Linda Rakow as associate director and will integrate the activities of the CFO Directorate and the project controls functions previously in the O&B PAD.
"Integrating these functions will improve our ability to efficiently and effectively provide business management and financial services to the Laboratory," Rakow said.
Russo added: "This move supports the intent of the Baseline Operations Committee (BOC) chartered to develop a new institutional budget process based on sound project and performance management principles. It also supports the LLNS proposal commitments to expand the use of Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) within the Lab."
In a dual role, Rakow also will continue to report to the director as CFO and be responsible for establishing institutional financial policy, ensuring financial compliance with contract requirements and regulations, and certifying financial statements for the Laboratory.
As a result of this re-organization, the CFO Help Desk is now called the PFS Help Desk; the customer service phone number and hours of operation (8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m.) remain the same; however, the e-mail address has been changed. The PFS Help Desk specializes in providing support for LLNL’s financial community and their customers in the areas of LITE, Payroll, Oracle Projects, Planning & Controls and Lab Pricer.
