Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability (IDEA)

The Biosciences Area is a proud champion of Berkeley Lab’s mission to promote, advance, integrate, and operationalize inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability (IDEA) approaches and best practices within all levels of the organization. We view IDEA as an important part of the Lab’s stewardship efforts, as well as a vital part of career development at Berkeley Lab. To learn about and attend upcoming IDEA-relevant events, go here. To learn how to get involved with IDEA efforts in the Area, go here.

Biosciences IDEA committee

The Biosciences Area IDEA committee is composed of representatives from the Biosciences Divisions and User Facility. It meets monthly to discuss current Lab initiatives and Area plans.

Current members

Massie S. Ballon Communications & Outreach Manager, JGI	Carolina Araujo Barcelos Scientific Engineering Associate, BSE	Tina Clarke Sr. HR Division Partner, JGI	Alex Degg Principal HR Division Partner, BSAO & BSE	Thomas Eng Research Scientist, BSE
Michael Espinosa Senior Administrator to ALD	Eltra Green Business Manager, EGSB	Nikki Humphreys Area Operations Deputy	AJ Ireland Software Developer, EGSB	Lauren Jabusch Program Developer, SPDG
Katrina King Assistant to Division Director, EGSB	Billy Poon Research Scientist, MBIB	Jenny Quan Biosciences HR Partner	Sandy Roth Sr. HR Division Partner, EGSB & MBIB	Lisa Simirenko Software Developer, JGI

Area IDEA activities

Check the Biosciences Area Calendar, which lists upcoming IDEA-relevant events organized by Lab groups, including:

• The Area’s Employee Resource Group (ERG) Highlight Series: Presentations by members/reps of each of the Lab’s nine ERGs about their goals, what projects they have been working on, and ways to get involved with these groups.
• Workshops and Webinars hosted by the University of California and the U.S. Department of Energy

Division and User Facility IDEA committees:

• Biological Systems and Engineering (BSE)
• Joint Genome Institute (JGI)
• Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging (MBIB)

Get involved

Sign up to be part of an IDEA committee at the Area or Division/User Facility level or to help promote events. Committee members can volunteer to lead or participate in initiatives.

Biosciences representatives to the Lab-wide IDEA committees:

• IDEA Senior Leadership Council
  • Biosciences representative: Paul Adams, Associate Laboratory Director
• IDEA Community of Practice
  • Biosciences representative: Massie Ballon

Lab Resources

• IDEAs in Action: Trainings and toolkits for supervisors and staff to help bring IDEA principles to your team.
• One Minute for IDEA: Easy ways to bring IDEA principles to your team meetings.

Participate in Lab Diversity Outreach Efforts

Berkeley Lab has a series of programs through which staff can conduct outreach on behalf of Berkeley Lab to diverse audiences (through activities such as scientific, technical or career presentations), including:

• Berkeley Lab Ambassador Program: Interested staff attend targeted conferences and events to advance efforts to increase diverse representation at the Lab.
• Volunteers and mentors for the Lab’s K-12 Education Program and Workforce Development & Education department.
• See the Lab’s Talent Outreach page for more information.