Steve Kevan retires as ALS director at the end of August, and the search for his replacement is well underway and making good progress. Earlier this month, Energy Sciences Associate Lab Director Jeff Neaton and Deputy Lab Director for Research Carol Burns announced the interim leadership team during the transition period.
Effective September 1, ALS Science Deputy Andreas Scholl will be the interim director, and Head of Strategic Development and Communications for Energy Sciences and ALS Communications Director Ashley White will serve as interim deputy for strategy.
“Together, Andreas and Ashley, along with ALS Deputy for Accelerator Operations Fernando Sannibale and ALS Deputy for Business Operations Steve Rossi, form an experienced interim senior management team that covers the breadth of expertise critical for leading the ALS during this important transition period, including its dynamic staff and its partnerships with its many stakeholders,” said Neaton and Burns in a joint announcement to staff.
Scholl, a senior staff scientist, has broad and deep experience in research, scientific planning, and management at the ALS at multiple levels of the organization. As deputy for science since 2019, he has overseen the science strategy and been a key advisor to the ALS director. His previous roles include interim science deputy, which involved overseeing the beamline selection process for the ALS-U Project, Experimental Systems Group deputy, and beamline scientist at the PEEM-3 microscope.
As interim division director, in addition to assuming Steve Kevan’s duties, Scholl will continue to work with the User Services Office overseeing the proposal review process and will have high-level oversight over environment, health, and safety (EH&S). He will work closely with Photon Science leadership and have oversight and direct line management responsibility for this area.
White, a materials scientist by training, brings experience and perspective in strategic planning and communications as well as a deep knowledge of the ALS. Her accomplishments include the development of the science case for long-range planning for Berkeley Lab’s Charter Hill campus, initiation of ESA’s staff mentoring program, contributions to ESA’s successful response to limited submission funding opportunities and its Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) portfolio, and the creation of the ALS and ALS-U Project communication strategy. She previously held roles at the National Science Foundation, on Capitol Hill, and at the U.S. Green Building Council.
As interim deputy for strategy, White will be responsible for strategic planning and will have oversight and line management responsibility for the Communications Group and the User Services Office. She will lead the discussions advancing the ALS strategic plan and longer-term strategic planning and outreach to internal and external stakeholders. She will also be responsible for managing the relationship with the Scientific Advisory Committee and the Participating Research Team Council, and will liaise directly with the ALS Science Council. An interim User Office group lead is expected to be brought on board soon and will directly manage the relationship with the Users’ Executive Committee. In addition, White will continue to lead a few ESA projects, including Charter Hill planning, and will coordinate ALS and Lab planning for stakeholder outreach connected to the ALS dark time.
The two ALS operations deputies will maintain their current portfolios. Rossi will continue to oversee ALS budgets, projects, and facility operations and lead the ALS Project and Facility Management Group. Sannibale will maintain oversight of accelerator, engineering, and EH&S operations and continue to lead the ALS Accelerator Operations and Development Group.
“We are excited to work closely with Andreas, Ashley, Fernando, and Steve, and all of you to advance ALS during this critical interim period,” Neaton and Burns concluded.