The 'New Normal' Class

To mark the one-year anniversary of the Lab’s shelter-in-place order, we decided to take photos of the “New Normal Class” — the people who joined the Lab since March 17, 2020, as well as new pets who provided companionship during these challenging times.

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NEW HIRES

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Pets

Click on the drop-downs below to find a few things that some of our newest colleagues are most looking forward to when everyone can return to the Lab sites:

The Sites and Views

  • “I'm looking forward to actually seeing the lab!” - Neil Byers, Program Operations Analyst, Joint Genome Institute, Biosciences

  • “I’m looking forward to exploring the Bay Area.” - Cody Webb, Computer Systems Engineer, Joint Genome Institute, Biosciences

  • “Getting to know some secret lunch spots on campus!” - Christopher Ong, Facilities Structural Engineer, Facilities, Operations

  • “I’m looking forward to seeing the view!” - Ingrid Ockert, Marketing Communications Coordinator, Workforce Development and Education, Operations

  • “Looking forward to being on site. Such a beautiful campus!” - Shreya Agarwal, Senior Research Associate, Energy Storage & Distributed Resources, Energy Technologies

  • “Can’t wait to see the Lab and my satellite office” - Melanie Cryer, Principal Financial Training Specialist, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Operations

  • “The view and wildlife on campus!” - Brian Wynne, Research Assistant, Accelerator Tech and Applied Physics, Physical Sciences

THE WILDLIFE

  • “Looking forward to enjoying the view of the bay and meeting the goats” - Jeremy Snyder, Marketing Communications Specialist, Molecular Foundry, Energy Sciences

  • “Looking forward to seeing the goats!” - Sara Harmon, Public Affairs Specialist, Biological Systems and Engineering, Biosciences

  • “I can’t wait to see the infamous goats of the lab face-to-face!” - Ashleigh Papp, Public Affairs Specialist, Joint Genome Institute, Biosciences

  • “Gotta go find those patrolling turkeys on the site” - Patrick Cheng, HR Division Partner, Human Resources, Operations

  • “Can’t wait to see the wild turkeys!” - Axel Huebl, Software Developer, Accelerator Tech and Applied Physics, Physical Science

  • “Looking forward to hanging out with the turkeys!” - Sam Kauffman, Administrator, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Operations

The Events and Celebrations

  • “I'm looking forward to celebrating team successes and milestones in person and to personally thank all who have helped to onboard me so quickly.” - Gail Chen, Program Manager, Special Projects, Directorate

  • “I’m most looking forward to potlucks” - Jonathan LeGaux, EEO Analyst, HR, Operations

  • “I am super excited for a lab softball game…” - Jutta Dalton, Principal Research Associate, Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Biosciences

  • “I am really looking forward to making new friends and connections at the lab. Also participating in any committees/clubs!” - Kevin Bender, Engineering Technical Associate, Engineering, Physical Sciences

lunch

  • “What I am most looking forward to doing when we return to ’normality’ is to have a picnic all together!” - Marta Torres Bejar, Postdoc, Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Biosciences

  • “I am most looking forward to sharing lunch with colleagues on the Molecular Foundry patio. And walking around the beautiful Lab campus.” - Shannon Ciston, User Program Director, Molecular Foundry

  • “As a new employee I'm most looking forward to being able to meet my colleagues in person and get to know them over lunch in the cafeteria.” - Sarah McGinn, Division Safety Coordinator, Computing Sciences Area

  • “I am most looking forward to having a meal with all my labmates.” - Hsiao-Han Lin, Postdoc, Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology

  • “Going to lunch with my co-workers!” - Sotha Maltez, Subcontracts Administrator, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Operations

  • “Looking forward to meeting the team for a team lunch and finally seeing faces of people other than during Zoom” - Krishnakumar Vasudevan, Biologist Project Scientist Engineer, Joint Genome Institute, Biosciences

  • “Once everyone can go back on site, it would be great to have lunch with the entire group again.” - Christian Juenger, PostDoc, Advanced Quantum Testbed, Computing Resources Division

the people

  • “Since day one, everyone has been so nice to me. I haven’t met many people from my team so I am looking forward to finally meeting everyone in person and learning what they do in the lab for their research, their forte, or their interests. I’m really excited to share time with people and get to know them, maybe over coffee or having a nice lunch. I’m always by myself on the terrace when I drink my coffee, so it will definitely be nice to have some company, some people to talk to.” - Catalina Vega Hurtado, Senior Research Associate of the Sample Management Team, Genomic Technologies

  • “I’m looking forward to the views, and the people! Sign me up for an in-person staff meeting.” - Suzanne Budd, Internal Communications Specialist, Strategic Communications

  • “I’m looking forward to figuring out how tall everyone is on my team.” - Ellen Dow, Public Affairs Specialist, Environmental Genomics & Systems Biology, Biosciences

  • ”I am looking forward to surprising everyone with a mustache I am growing under my mask” - Joseph Pica, High Voltage Electrician, Facilities

  • “I am really looking forward to making new friends and connections at the lab. Also participating in any committees/clubs!” - Kevin Bender, Engineering Technical Associate, Engineering, Physical Sciences

  • “I'm looking forward to finally meeting my new colleagues in person for the first time!” - Joanna Martinez, Ma.Ed, Learning and Development Specialist, Human Resources

  • “I was the first person at ESnet to be interviewed and hired during the lockdown. I never met anyone in person before joining! I’m really looking forward to meeting my teammates when we return.” - Todd Anderson, Director, Systems and Software Engineering, Energy Sciences Network (ESnet)

  • “I look forward to formally meeting the people from my daily Zoom meetings” - Hamish Jacobs, Mechanical Design Associate, Cabling & Infrastructure

  • “Looking forward to meeting coworkers and the great view from the lab” - Ziad Bousaleh, Construction Safety Specialist, Environment, Health, & Safety, Operations

  • “The thing I’m most looking forward to is meeting really cool people!” - Jacob Bueno de Mesquita, Postdoctoral Researcher, Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts Division, Energy Technologies

  • “Most looking forward to meeting coworkers” - Elizabeth Radding, Administrator, Environment, Health and Safety, Operations

  • “Seeing other people in the lab!” - Olivia Alley, Postdoctoral Researcher, Chemical Sciences, Energy Sciences

  • “I'm looking forward to celebrating team successes and milestones in person and to personally thank all who have helped to onboard me so quickly.” - Gail Chen, Program Manager, Special Projects, Directorate