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May 09 Issue - Employee Monthly Magazine My ViewBill Priedhorsky: LDRD an investment in the Lab’s future
Photo by Dixon Wolf
Working models of the brain, global climate modeling, nuclear nonproliferation, these are just a few of the complex problems Laboratory researchers are solving with support from the Laboratory Directed Research and Development program. Solutions to hard problems require the full talent of the Laboratory’s staff, which is why LDRD operates as a free market for ideas that is open to all. Los Alamos leads the other National Nuclear Security Administration laboratories by running LDRD as a Labwide competition. While the competition is fierce — only 1 in every 10 proposals is funded — engagement with technical division leaders, program managers, and external reviewers helps maintain a balanced LDRD investment portfolio. Many of the Laboratory’s strengths, such as magnetic imaging, actinide science, large-scale infrastructure modeling, and nuclear detection, can be traced to LDRD investment. A robust LDRD program is essential to sustaining the scientific capabilities needed for our Laboratory to provide mission solutions. Transparency is key to a fair and competitive LDRD program. Winning proposals excel on three levels: technical innovation and creativity, potential mission impact, and strength of the research team. Selection committees are drawn from the breadth of the Laboratory and provide feedback on every proposal they review, whether or not the project ultimately is funded; conflict of interest is mitigated using federal standards adapted to the Laboratory’s circumstance; and ongoing project reviews are open to the Laboratory community. All this helps ensure that LDRD researchers have an equal opportunity to obtain LDRD funding. Last year, I celebrated 30 years of service at the Laboratory. My career has taken many exciting turns, but it never has been as rewarding as here and now, at the nexus of the Laboratory’s science and technology. My staff and I work diligently to ensure the program remains transparent, fair, and fully supportive of the Laboratory’s missions. LDRD is an invaluable opportunity granted by Congress to invest in our future, and we must honor their trust. My door is always open, and I invite you to share your ideas about the future of the program. --Bill Priedhorsky, program manager for Laboratory Directed Research and Development Other Headlines
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