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SLAC Reorganizes for Major Science Discovery
By Neil Calder
Director Jonathan Dorfan recently announced
a complete reorganization of the structure and senior management of the
Laboratory. The new organizational structure is built around four new
Directorates—Photon Science, Particle and Particle Astrophysics, Linac
Coherent Light Source (LCLS) Construction and Operations. Two of the new
Directorates—Photon Science and Particle and Particle
Astrophysics—encompass SLAC’s current major research directions.
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The new
organization chart. |
Laboratory Mission “Our
mission is to make discoveries in photon science and particle and
particle astrophysics and to operate a safe laboratory that employs and
trains the best and brightest,” said Dorfan. “The new management
structure adapts SLAC’s outstanding resources to that mission and gives
us renewed strength to complete it.” All changes are effective
immediately and the reorganization is expected to increase our
scientific user base. “SLAC is
a laboratory with a remarkable future, one that represents a transition
from its historic role in high energy physics to new frontiers of
comparable scientific impact,” said Raymond Orbach, director of the DOE
Office of Science. “The combination of SPEAR3 and the LCLS gives SLAC
the promise of world leadership in photon science. I am pleased to see
this promise reflected in the new organizational structure. SLAC’s
particle and particle astrophysics programs are also poised to make
discoveries both in accelerator and non-accelerator physics research. It
is an exciting time for SLAC, and for the entire scientific community.”
Photon Science Across
Disciplines As director of the
Photon Science Directorate, Keith Hodgson has responsibility for SSRL,
the science and instrument program for the LCLS (the world’s first X-ray
free electron laser) and the new Ultrafast Science Center.
“Photon science is the most rapidly expanding element in
the changing balance of scientific foci at SLAC,” Hodgson said. “Three
central and interconnected elements—synchrotron-based research using
SPEAR3, development and research using the LCLS and four
interdisciplinary, science-based initiatives—create a coherent program
that, for about 3,000 users, will produce outstanding photon science
that cuts across many disciplines. By 2010, no single laboratory in the
world will have an equal ability to investigate both the ultra-fast and
the ultra-small.”
Poised for Discovery
Persis Drell, director of the Particle and Particle
Astrophysics Directorate, oversees the B Factory, , the ILC effort,
accelerator research and non-accelerator particle physics programs
including KIPAC initiatives and the GLAST project.
“This is an incredibly exciting time for the field of
particle physics,” said Drell. “With the B Factory program, GLAST and
new near-term initiatives being developed at the Lab, SLAC is poised to
make discoveries about the fundamental nature of our universe.
Furthermore, we are doing the essential R&D, especially in accelerator
research, that will enable the future discoveries of the field.”
Construction of the $379 million LCLS, a key element in
the future of accelerator-based science at SLAC, started this fiscal
year. A significant part of the laboratory’s resources and manpower are
being devoted to building LCLS, with completion of the project scheduled
for 2009. Commissioning will begin in 2008 and first science experiments
are planned for 2009. John Galayda serves as director of the LCLS
Construction Directorate.
Operational Support and
Management Changes To
reinforce SLAC’s administrative and operational efficiency and to stress
the importance of strong and effective line management, a new position
of chief operating officer has been created, filled by John Cornuelle as
director of the Operations Directorate. This fourth Directorate has
broad responsibilities for operational support and R&D efforts central
to the science Directorates. These include environmental safety and
health, scientific computing and computing services, mechanical and
electrical support departments, business services, central facilities
and maintenance. “I have also
asked Hodgson and Drell to act as deputy laboratory directors,” said
Dorfan. “I will rely on their experience, expertise, and strength in the
scientific areas that they represent. Together with the Chief Operating
Officer and LCLS director, we have built a strong management team.”
The new SLAC management team will share a co-located set
of offices in the SLAC Director’s Office Suite in Building 40 to
encourage the integration of the laboratory’s photon science, particle
and particle astrophysics, and operations programs.
Nearly all individual groups and units will remain the
same but will be remapped onto the new organizational structure.
Maintaining the key work units in this manner will ensure a smooth
transition.
Bright Future
Stanford provost John Etchemendy welcomed the changes.
“The laboratory has distinguished itself by sensing the most compelling
new science and has quickly positioned itself to be a leader in the
world research community in photon science and particle and particle
astrophysics,” Etchemendy said. “We look forward to strengthening the
university’s support for SLAC, especially in the fields of ultrafast
science, particle astrophysics and computing. SLAC has a glorious past,
but the future looks even brighter.”
For more information, please see the Director’s Office
Web site: http://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/do/ |
