McMillan is actually good for LANL?

Maybe McMillan is actually good for LANL. At least he got rid of William Rees, who was an utter disaster. He got rid of all the good managers and completely turned everything upside down.
It went so fast on Fr, that we still have his picture an Bio on the GS webpage (today We), but with Terry Wallace the new PAD.

Maybe McMillan will reorganize the lab.

Who is the LLNS president?

Anyone has an idea on who the LLNS president will be?

Flex Term?

As someone who is familiar with something called the private sector, can anybody please explain the the concept of the flextime/at-will employee? The way I read the LLNL definitions, you are a regular at will employee that can be fired for any reason (or no reason at all). But on top of that, you are guaranteed to be fired within 6 years. I don't understand, if you can be fired for any reason (or no reason at all), why do they tack on this seemingly superfluous: "Oh, and by the way, don't make yourself too comfortable. And certainty don't bother gaining experience in the arcane subtitles of laser ICF or weapons physics, since you'll be guaranteed to be out on the streets in 6 years, max!" And then they dangle this "career indefinite" carrot like its your ticket to the promised land--but as far as I cal tell, that's nothing more than a regular at-will position. Is it just me, or are these people living in a fairy land where rational, intelligent people (who aren't desperate Indian, Iranian or Chinese nationals fighting for a US Visa) will devote themselves to arcane LLNL endeavors with even less job security than the private sector? Or is that the point? There is an unlimited supply of third world migrants we can outsource the national lab jobs too?

What's going on in NIF?

Anonymously contributed:

First, hasn't been any PR releases lately bragging about NIF greatness. Second, this week NIF seems to be taking both people and $$$ from WCI for some new activity

LANS Ceases Hiring all Design Physics (X) and Weapon Engineering (W) Personnel

Anonymously contributed:

Does anyone know why LANL X and W-Divisions suddenly closed all advertised positions and ceased hiring? Is this due to the downward spiral of weapon funding or another draconian move by Knapp to flex his weight? Is this the first sign that "firings" will soon begin at LANS?

AVLIS rides again!

Anonymously contributed:

NT times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/science/earth/21laser.html?hp

Where's/who the LLNS New Director?

Anonymously contributed:

Has anyone heard the status of Norm Pattiz's selection for the LLNS Director? What's taking him so long? Is he in the Caribbean or what? For those of us at LANS, we sure do hope it's Bret Knapp, you deserve him back.

What else is broken?

Anonymously contributed:


http://pogoblog.typepad.com/

Are scientists tied down by bureaucracy?

Thief said:
I'm not in science. I'm in "support" and don't get the opportunity to chat with those in the rarified air of "science". If the guy who made the condescending remark is right then there shouldn't be many comments. But since he brought it up I thought I would pursue it. Are those in the science and research areas paying any attention and how, if it all, are the issues discussed (funding, protocol, bureaucracy etc.) here impacting them.

I've been curious for a while now just how much the imposed protocol/documentation burden is hampering real science. I see it at my level that it takes anywhere from three to four times as long to get work done now as compared to when I started in the late 90's but again...that's not science.

How tied down are the postdocs and PHd's now and are we likely to see any relaxation or elimination of non science related "fluff" when the money gets really gets tight.

Are there any scientists who visit this blog?

Thief said, in response to a comment in another post:

Don't flatter yourself in your comparisons. The real scientists do not visit this blog often, if at all.

August 5, 2011 7:41 PM

You may be right....although you commit a glaring error in logic in your making that claim (I wonder if you know what it is....that's cool we'll leave it as a homework assignment for you) Anyway, does anybody in the lab scientific community regularly visit this blog and if so are you finding the increased paperwork burden and work control requirements a hindrance to your work?

DOE official foresees funding cuts

http://www.mndaily.com/2011/08/03/doe-official-foresees-funding-cuts