The projects of 22 Biosciences Area scientists and engineers received funding through the FY23 Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program.
Small-scale Changes in Environment Can Have Large Effects on Microbial Communities
A Berkeley Lab team analyzed the genotypes and phenotypes of several Arthrobacter strains to correlate cellular functions to their location at varying depths within a single sediment core and in nearby groundwater. They found that Arthrobacter, as a genus, has remarkable flexibility in altering its suites of carbon degradation genes. This genomic variation was found to be linked to the individual strain’s environment and is the basis for Arthrobacter’s ability to break down a wide variety of complex carbon sources.
Biosciences Area in Basics2Breakthroughs
Three Biosciences Area members were recently highlighted in the video series, Basics2Breakthroughs, which focuses on early career scientists discussing their research and what they hope for the future in that research.
WSEC Champions Workplace Improvements
In honor of National Women’s History Month, Berkeley Lab, in this on-line article, looked back at how the Lab’s Women Scientists & Engineers Council (WSEC) got started and what issues it is currently working on. The WSEC is a program of the Lab’s Diversity and Inclusion Office (DIO) and was founded in 2008 by what longtime members like to call the “founding mothers”—Natalie Roe of the Physics Division, Nancy Brown of the Energy Technologies Area, and Cecilia Aragon, formerly of the Computational Research Division.
At the moment, WSEC board members from Biosciences include Environmental Genomics & Systems Biology Division’s Astrid Terry and Lauren Lui; Susan Tsutakawa of the Molecular Biophysics & Integrative Bioimaging Division currently serves as the committee chair.
Celebrating Biosciences Women in Science and Public Service
March is Women’s History Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the diverse and historic accomplishments of women. The theme for 2016 is to honor women who have shaped America’s history and its future through their public service and government leadership. In honor or Women’s History Month Berkeley Lab has profiled Facilities Division Director Reva Nickelson, as well as two Biosciences women, Shiela Dixson and Lauren Lui:
Shiela Dixson, a financial analyst matrixed to the Biosciences University/Hill Operations, who left the Lab March 15 for a new position at Livermore, talks about achieving her life goals of obtaining her MBA and creating a nonprofit for mentoring underprivileged girls.
Lauren Lui, a postdoctoral fellow in Adam Arkin’s bioengineering lab, has been at the Lab for only 5 months but has already taken on the role of secretary with the Lab’s Women Scientists and Engineers Council. As a postdoc, she says, having a good mentor is key to a female scientist’s career.
Read their inspiring stories on the Diversity & Inclusion at Berkeley Lab website.
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