Review Dates 2011-2012
Contact Mark Alper, mdalper@lbl.gov Standard Publication Acknowledgments(Contact Cheri Hadley crhadley@lbl.gov with questions) 1. AFFILIATION Authors of publications resulting from work funded through LBNL must list their LBNL affiliation before (or instead of) their campus affiliation. 2. ACKNOWLEDGMENT All publications that report work supported by funds administered
by LBNL must carry a proper acknowledgment. PROPER WORDING FOR VARIOUS FUNDING SITUATIONS: 2a. Publications supported solely by BES/MSED funding:
Abbreviated for abstracts and letters ONLY:
2b. Reporting work supported by ANY two or more funding sources (e.g. BES Materials Sciences and Engineering Division and BES Chemical, Geoscience and Biosciences Division, or BES MSED and a non-DOE agency):
2c. Publication of DOE User Facility (Foundry or NCEM) Internal Research:
2d. Publication of a User Project from a DOE User Facility:
2e. LDRD acknowledgment:
2f. Supported by a DOE non-BES Office:
2g. Work-for-Others acknowledgment:
Note: Research completed before June 2005 must be reported with the previous contract number: DE-AC03-76SF00098
updated 2/25/2010 Career Path for Materials Sciences Division Scientific Staffcontact Mark Alper with questions
1. IntroductionMaterials Sciences Division policies described here are intended to be wholly consistent with relevant LBNL, University and DOE policies, and are presented only to provide additional detail that is specific to the Materials Sciences Division. Policies adopted by the Laboratory, University and DOE (1) supersede those described here for the Division in any instance of inconsistency. ****************** Scientists in MSD are generally hired into a “Career-Track” position(2) with an initial four year appointment, renewable for no more than two more years(1). The general expectation is that a scientist hired into this position has demonstrated a scientific standing equivalent to that achieved by peers offered Assistant Professor positions at major research Universities. Each year, the work of each LBNL scientist is reviewed (PRD process) against a defined set of criteria (see Section 4) designed to measure his/her overall contribution to the Laboratory and scientific community. The research achievements are assessed, areas for improvement during the following year are identified, and their research plan for the following year is reviewed. No later than the first quarter of the fourth year(1) of his/her appointment, the work of a Career-Track Scientist is assessed in a “Mid-Career” review to advise him/her of the likelihood of his/her promotion to Career Scientist status and, if appropriate, to identify areas of performance in which improvement is required for him/her to achieve that promotion. Those who are considered extremely unlikely to be promoted will not have their appointment extended beyond the fourth year, providing them with approximately one year to identify a position at another institution. By the end of the fifth year, the scientist’s work is reviewed to determine whether (s)he is to be promoted to Career Scientist. A scientist promoted to Career Scientist status is widely recognized as a leader among peers in the scientific community in a defined, important area of research and to have excelled in the various duties of LBNL scientists as defined in Section 4. Those who are not promoted will seek alternative positions during their final, sixth, year. Career Scientists may be promoted to Senior Scientist status at such time that it is deemed that their work is of sufficient quality and impact (see criteria, Section 9). 2. Recruiting and Hiring1. Background. Scientists other than students and postdocs are generally hired by MSD only as members of its three facilities and centers, The Molecular Foundry, NCEM, and CXRO. The “Core” programs may hire “group” scientists only in exceptional cases, for example:
The primary criterion for selection of any MSD scientist (other
than Project Scientists) is his or her perceived ability to
establish and maintain an outstanding independent research
program. In the case of Facility and Center scientists, perceived
ability to fulfill facility commitments such as working productively
with users is also critical. Other selection criteria are the
same as those used in the annual reviews and in promotion to
Career and Senior Scientist positions (see Section 4). Job
openings are generally posted at the Career-Track level although,
with Division Director approval, they can (also) be posted
at the Career level, in which case, the Division Staff Committee
and Director will determine which title (Career-Track or Career)
is appropriate based on the successful candidate’s qualifications. 2. Recruiting/hiring process.
3. Annual Review of PerformanceThe work of the scientific staff members in the Materials Sciences Division is reviewed annually during the summer months. The primary purpose of the review is to provide the scientists with guidance on how their work can be improved, even when excellent. (No annual review will take place for scientists whose work has been assessed in a Mid-Career Review or review for promotion to Career status between the months of January and August.
4. Criteria for EvaluationWeighting factors are used for annual PRD reviews. They provide only general guidance in hiring and promotion cases.
5. Mid-Career Review of Work of Career-Track Staff ScientistsBackground. During the first quarter of the
fourth year as a Career-Track Scientist, his/her work is assessed
in a “Mid-Career Review” so (s)he can be advised
about his/her progress and the need, if any, for improvement
in any aspect of his/her work before Career status can be granted.
2. The supervisor (or Facility Director) writes
an evaluation of the scientist’s work as a Career-Track
Scientist using the PRD form, and submits that, along with
the materials prepared by the scientist, to the chair of the
MSD Staff Committee within one month of the start of the fourth
year. The evaluation will include a description of the scientist’s
research accomplishments and an assessment of his or her performance
in each of the criteria listed in the PRD (see Section 4).
Strengths and weaknesses will be identified so that a plan
for improvement in areas of weakness, if any, can be developed. 6. Promotion of Career-Track Scientists to Career Status.Background. A formal review of the accomplishments
of each Career-Track Scientist is undertaken in the last quarter
of the fifth year of his/her appointment at the Lab to determine
whether (s)he will be promoted to career status. 1. The scientist provides to his/her supervisor, by the start of the ninth month of the fifth year:
2. The supervisor (or Facility Director) writes
an evaluation of the scientist’s research and other work
at LBNL using the PRD criteria (see Section 4) and submits
that, along with the materials prepared by the scientist, to
the chair of the MSD Staff Committee by the start of the tenth
month of the fifth year. It will include the supervisor’s
opinion of whether the scientist should be promoted. 3. The supervisor identifies prominent scientists
from whom letters of recommendation will be requested. Division
Director determines final list and requests the letters, which
must include a comparison by the writer, of the candidate’s
accomplishments and perceived promise to that of others in
the field who are at a similar stage in their career. 7. Criteria for Promotion to Career ScientistThe criteria to be used as a basis for promotion to Career Scientist are those
used in the ASPR and PRD. The activities identified below serve to provide
a more concrete description of their nature. Application of these criteria
should be appropriate to the scientist’s stage in his or her career. Note
that the primary basis for the promotion is the quality and impact of the scientist’s
research, individually and, in the facilities, with users. For promotion,
the quality of the scientific accomplishments should be on a par with those
of a scientist promoted to tenure at a first tier university and the safety
record of the candidate must be exemplary.
The following are examples of activities that will be evaluated
to determine the degree to which these criteria have been met.
It is not expected that any one scientist will have excelled
in all of these areas and the review of scientists in user
facilities will be performed in recognition of the amount of
time the scientist must spend working with users and administering
user projects.
No rigid quantitative measures are employed here. For example, the impact of papers and the role of the scientist in the work reported is more important than the number of papers. 8. Procedure for Promotion of Career Scientists to Senior Scientist StatusAn MSD supervisor can recommend to the Division Director,
that a Career Scientist in his or her group be considered by
the Division Staff Committee for promotion to Senior Scientist
whenever, in the view of the supervisor, the scientist’s
work meets the criteria for that promotion (see Section 9). 1. The scientist provides to his/her supervisor:
2. The supervisor (or Facility Director) writes
an evaluation of the scientist’s work at LBNL using the
PRD criteria and submits that, along with the materials prepared
by the scientist, to the chair of the MSD Staff Committee.
The evaluation will include a description of the scientist’s
research accomplishments and an assessment of his or her performance
in each of the criteria listed in the PRD. It will include
the supervisor’s opinion of whether the scientist should
be promoted. 3. The supervisor meets with the Division Director
to identify a final list of seven or more prominent scientists
from whom letters of recommendation will be requested. Division
Director requests the letters, which must include a comparison
by the writer, of the candidate’s accomplishments and
perceived promise to that of others in the field who are at
a similar stage in their career. 4. The scientist presents an open seminar, presenting
his/her work while at the Lab and his/her plans for research
in the coming years. Scientists in user facilities should
include highlights of research on user projects 5. The Division Director, in consultation with
the Division Staff Committee chair and supervisor, appoints
an ad hoc committee of 3-4 scientists expert in the field of
the scientist being reviewed. The ad hoc committee members
read the written material provided (see 1-3 above), attend
the seminar, and meet immediately afterwards to discuss and
vote on a recommendation for promotion. The chair of the ad
hoc committee prepares a written case for the Division Staff
Committee, which reviews it, votes and reports to the Division
Director in writing on the vote and discussion, summarizing
the arguments supporting the recommendation. 6. The Division Director reviews the recommendation
and makes a final recommendation to the Laboratory Staff Committee
and Laboratory Director for a final decision. The Laboratory
Director writes scientists who are promoted informing them
of the decision and offering congratulations. The Division
Director meets with those whose nomination is not approved
to discuss the decision. 7. MSD HR manages the process, documents the steps and decisions, and, ensures that all steps in the process take place according to schedule. 9. Criteria for Promotion of Career Scientists to Senior ScientistBackground. An LBNL Senior Scientist has significant experience
and achievements in research and plays a leadership role at
the Laboratory. Senior Scientists are internationally
recognized authorities and leaders in one or more scientific
or engineering areas who have made major contributions to the
Laboratory and the broader scientific/engineering community
through their leadership and creativity.
These determinations will be made on the basis of the following
criteria, where applicable. It is not expected that any
one scientist will have excelled in all of these areas and
the review of scientists in user facilities will be performed
in recognition of the amount of time spent working with users
and administering user projects.
No rigid quantitative measures are employed here. For example, the impact of papers and the role of the scientist in the work reported is more important than the number of papers. 10. Funding of Retired Investigators1. Status. LBNL staff,
whether or not they have Berkeley faculty positions, retire
from the University of California, not from a campus or Laboratory.
A retiree may, in exceptional cases, be rehired at LBNL at
the discretion of the Laboratory Deputy Director or at a campus
at the discretion of the Chancellor. In those cases,
total effort devoted to activities on all UC campuses and labs
may not exceed 43% time. 2. Announcement of Retirement.
If possible, announcement of retirement should be made sufficiently
far in advance for staff to be reassigned, for students (who
are beyond the end of their first year) to complete their theses,
and for postdocs to complete their work and find other positions
before the retirement date. No new LBNL students or postdocs
should be hired after the retirement announcement unless it
is expected that they will complete their work before the investigator’s
retirement date. Funding for summer salary of retiring
faculty investigators will be continued until retirement in
reasonable proportion to the number of students, postdocs and
staff supervised, provided that support for those researchers
is assured within budget. 3. Rehiring of retirees at LBL for research. In
very exceptional cases, the Division Director, with advice,
if desired, of the Scientific Council, and approval of the
Laboratory Deputy Director, may allow continued or new funding
of projects directed by retired investigators, providing that
such funding is available. In these cases the PI will be re-appointed
as an LBNL “rehired retiree”. Retired investigators
may also, as rehired retirees, join and be supported by programs
directed by other investigators, again, with the approval of
the Division Director and Laboratory Deputy Director. Continued
funding and its level will be reviewed annually and must comply
with DOE/LBNL policies. Salary provided will reflect the extent
of the research effort of the investigator. For faculty, this
would be in reasonable proportion to summer salary provided
during the last few years of active service unless DOE provides
additional funding explicitly for the increased salary. Rehirees
may not, by Lab policy, be official supervisors of staff or
students. 4. Requests for continued research funding will be considered for approval if:
5. Leaves. Retirees continuing
to lead projects on the scale of those led before retirement
may not be away from Berkeley for a greater time than is customary
for non-retired investigators. One-year leaves of absence may
be taken, with Division Director approval, consistent with
DOE/LBNL and University of California policies. If a leave
extends beyond one year, no new staff may be hired during that
leave and research funding for the second or later years of
leave will be reduced consistent with reduced staff salary
and supply needs, but may be reinstated to pre-leave levels
upon the return of the investigator from leave, at the discretion
of the Division Director. 6. Procedures. Investigators inform the Division Director of their decision to retire as far in advance as possible. They review the financial position of all their projects to plan for orderly phase downs, covering commitments to students and postdocs. Those who wish to continue as PI of their own project or as a participant in another PI’s project submit a request to the Division Director as far in advance as possible, providing a description of each project, its goals, its funding status- both current and projected-- and the plan for supervision of students and postdocs by another investigator. Note that rehire cannot start less than 30 days after the retirement date. _________________________ (1) Laboratory policy
prescribes a 5 year maximum for Career-Track appointments. It
is recognized, however, that in divisions such as MSD, considerable
time is often required for a newly hired Career-Track scientist
to set up the lab and purchase or construct required instrumentation. As
a result requests for extension to a 6 year maximum appointment
will be considered favorably. Extension of review dates can
also be granted for scientists who have taken one or months
of approved Leave of Absence. The schedule of reviews described
in this policy assumes a six-year term. Accelerated review
is, however, encouraged, with intermediate steps moved up as
much as one year from the dates listed here. Scientists
hired in other than Fall months, might also wish to accelerate
the review process so that it can be completed in time for
the start of the academic recruiting cycle in the early Fall. Facilities Rates Materials Fabrication (MAT), 62-142 Scanning
Electron Microscope (SEM), 62-116 X-Ray
Diffractometers (XRAY), 62-145 Ion Beam (IOB), B53 Electronic Shop (ESHOP), 62-101B
Questions? Sandra McFarland, Senior Business Manager Laura Luo, Budget and Accounting Materials Sciences Division OfficeDivision Director: Miquel B. Salmeron
Sandra McFarland 486-4666 66-245 SOMcfarland@lbl.gov MSD Building Manager Gil Torres, 486-5395, 62-104A GJTorres@lbl.gov Center for X-ray Optics Patrick
Naulleau, Director DOE Reporting and Programs Cheri Hadley 496-5966 66-203 crhadley@lbl.gov Electronic Support Jim Severns, 486-6058, 62-0101 JESeverns@lbl.gov General information and special help Jeri Edgar 486-4755 66-248 JLEdgar@lbl.gov Helios SERC Administrator Melanie Sonsteng 486-6419 66-241 MSonsteng@lbl.gov Human Resources Tracy Bigelow, HR Center Manager Penny Wong , Sr. HR Partner Mauri Miller, Recruiter Paris Gordon, HR Assistant Diana Cerin, HR Assistant Meghan Johnson, Division Affiliate
(Division Guests) Lorri St. Claire, Foundry Affiliates LETS Timekeeper Carmen Ross 486-5671 66-239 CBRoss@lbl.gov Machine Shop Mark West 486-5783 62-0101 MWWest@lbl.gov Molecular Foundry Jim DeYoreo, Interim Director Deputy Director for Science, Jeff
Bokor; 486-4134, JBokor@eecs.berkeley.edu Nano*High Sally Nasman 486-4714 66-237 SFNasman@lbl.gov National Center for Electron Microscopy Uli
Dahmen, Director Property Inventory, Records, Travel Kyle Davis, 486-6303; 66-250E; KRDavis@lbl.gov Property and Purchase special help Carmen Ross 486-6230 66-206 CBRoss@lbl.gov Proposals: LDRD, Sponsored Projects and DOE FWPs Sally Nasman 486-4714 66-237 SFNasman@lbl.gov Purchase Requisition Preparer Rosemary Williams 495-2645 66-242 RMWilliams@lbl.gov Safety Coordinator Rick Kelly 486-4088 67-3205 RJKelly@lbl.gov Technical Illustration, Information, Division Website, Research Highlights Meg Holm 486-5135 66-238 MCHolm@lbl.gov Travel Coordinator Kyle Davis, 486-6303; 66-250E; KRDavis@lbl.gov |
