Each year, the Berkeley Lab Director’s Achievement Award program recognizes outstanding contributions by employees to all aspects of Lab activities. Several Biosciences Area personnel are among the 2024 honorees.
Frederik Schulz, a research scientist at the DOE Joint Genome Institute (JGI) with secondary affiliations in the Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division and Biological Systems and Engineering Division, was recognized for Early Career Scientific Achievement, particularly in environmental and health-related microbial and viral genomics and diversity. In addition, he was cited for his leadership and innovative strategic initiatives in these areas, in support of JGI’s community science and the larger missions of the Biosciences Area and Berkeley Lab. Schulz leads the New Lineages of Life Group at JGI.
The X-ray Free-electron Laser (XFEL) Structures in Photosynthesis Team, made up of researchers from the Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, was recognized in the Scientific Achievement category. They were cited for their extraordinary, trailblazing team science, which they used to make seminal discoveries in the fundamental process of oxygenic photosynthesis found in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria.
Members of the team:
(First row, from left) Paul D. Adams, Associate Laboratory Director for Biosciences and senior scientist; Asmit Bhowmick, project scientist; Aaron Brewster, staff scientist; Margaret Doyle, senior research associate; James Holton, faculty scientist;
(Second row, from left) Jan Florian Kern, staff scientist; Hiroki Makita, postdoctoral researcher; Nigel Moriarty, research scientist; Irene Nangca, research assistant; Daniel Paley, project scientist;
(Third row, from left) Nicholas Sauter, senior staff scientist; Philipp S. Simon, project scientist; Vittal K. Yachandra, senior staff scientist; Junko Yano, Division Director and senior scientist; and Miao Zhang, postdoctoral researcher.
As a member of the Centennial Bridge Replacement Project, Biosciences Area Deputy for Operations Nikki Humphreys will receive the 2024 Organizational Impact Award. This group employed visionary cross-functional teamwork to improve Lab safety and operations by removing an earthquake-prone and landslide vulnerable hazard, the old Centennial Bridge. The bridge was replaced with an innovative viaduct solution that will serve and protect the Lab and the community for decades to come.
Jay D. Keasling, Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) CEO and senior faculty scientist in Biological Systems and Engineering Division, will receive the Tech Transfer award for building the tech transfer model and culture at JBEI. His efforts have resulted in successful tech commercialization as well as contributed to the building of the local startup ecosystem.
Read about all the 2024 laureates and their accomplishments. The 13th annual Director’s Awards ceremony will take place on November 8 at 3 PM.
