state of ber september 5, 2008
DESCRIPTION
Biological and Environmental Research. State of BER September 5, 2008. Anna Palmisano, Ph.D. Associate Director of Science Biological and Environmental Research. Biological and Environmental Research. Outline of Talk. Reorganization and Personnel Retreat – “Re-discovering BER Science” - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
State of BERSeptember 5, 2008
Anna Palmisano, Ph.D.Associate Director of
ScienceBiological and
Environmental Research
Biological and Environmental Research
I. Reorganization and Personnel
II. Retreat – “Re-discovering BER Science”
III. Budget & Transition Planning
IV. Science Focus Areas
V. News from the Divisions
VI. BERAC Activities: Looking Ahead…
Outline of Talk
Biological and Environmental Research
My Priorities for BER
• Rebuilding the leadership team after a number of retirements
• Building even stronger programs through strategic planning and scientific peer review processes
• Encouraging linkages among programs – cross-cutting themes
• Delivering on investments—post-award management
• Strengthening partnerships within SC, DOE, and Federal Government
• Empowering program managers to develop and sustain national programs that provide world leadership
• Telling the BER “story” – clearly articulating BER science, increasing visibility of our successes
Drivers for BER Re-organization
• Improve communication among employees
• Reduce “stove-piping”
• Allow full participation of all employees in programs
• Reflect mission priorities and approach
• Position BER for the future
Biological and Environmental Research
Office of Biological & Environmental Office of Biological & Environmental ResearchResearch
Associate Director Office Staff Contacts
Sr. Technical AdvisorMichael Riches
Chief ScientistDavid Thomassen
Associate Director Office Staff Contacts
Sr. Technical AdvisorMichael Riches
Chief ScientistDavid Thomassen
Previous BER Organization:Previous BER Organization:
Environmental RemediationSciences Division
Paul Bayer, Acting
Life and Medical Sciences DivisionDavid Thomassen, Acting
Climate Change Research DivisionMike Kuperberg, Acting
Anna PalmisanoAssociate Director
Kathy Holmes, Administrative Specialist
Sharon BetsonDean ColeJoanne CorcoranDan DrellPatrick GlynnJoseph Graber, AAAS
Scholar
Susan GregurickRoland HirschJohn Houghton
Arthur KatzPeter Kirchner (IPA) Noelle MettingPrem SrivastavaMarvin StodolskyMichael TeresinskiSharlene WeatherwaxElizabeth White
Kirin AlapatyJeff AmthorAnjuli BamzaiKaren Carlson-BrownRoger DahlmanWanda FerrellRick PettyLeslie RunionRobert VallarioAshley Williamson
Todd AndersonTeresa JonesMike KuperbergKim LaingDavid Lesmes
Dean ColeJoanne CorcoranDan DrellPatrick GlynnJoseph GraberSusan GregurickRoland HirschJohn HoughtonTerry Jones
Biological Systems Science Division
Roland Hirsch , Acting Director
Climate and Environmental Sciences Division
Mike Kuperberg, Acting Director
Kirin AlapatyJeff AmthorTodd AndersonAnjuli BamzaiPaul BayerKaren Carlson-BrownRoger DahlmanWanda Ferrell
6
Kim LaingDavid LesmesRick PettyLeslie RunionRobert VallarioAshley Williamson
Arthur KatzPeter Kirchner (IPA) Noelle MettingPrem SrivastavaMarvin StodolskyMichael TeresinskiSharlene WeatherwaxElizabeth White
Associate Director Office Staff
Michael Riches, Sr. Technical Advisor
David Thomassen, Chief Scientist
Associate Director Office Staff
Michael Riches, Sr. Technical Advisor
David Thomassen, Chief Scientist
BER Organization - PeopleBER Organization - People
Office of Biological & Environmental Office of Biological & Environmental ResearchResearch
Anna PalmisanoAssociate Director
Kathy Holmes, Administrative Specialist
Biological Systems Science Division
Genomics: GTLBioenergy Research Centers
Joint Genome InstituteLow Dose Radiation BiologyRadiochemistry, Imaging &
InstrumentationStructural Biology
Carbon Sequestration
Climate and Environmental Sciences Division
Climate Change ResearchARM Facility
Environmental Remediation Science Program
Environmental Molecular Science LabCarbon Sequestration
7
Office of Biological & Office of Biological & Environmental Research:Environmental Research:
ProgramsPrograms
Personnel Changes and ChallengesBiological Systems Science Division:
• Finalizing recruitment action for permanent Division Director
• Dr. Joe Graber hired as DOE Program Manager
• Recruiting for IPA in Plant Sciences
• Sharon Betson moved to Safety, Security and Infrastructure; Terry Jones is now Secretary for BSSD
Climate and Environmental Sciences Division:
• Acting Division Director is currently Mike Kuperberg; Wanda Ferrell will begin acting on September 8
• Recruitment deferred until after transition
• Recruiting for IPA in Climate Modeling
Biological and Environmental Research
Retreat: “Re-discovering BER Science”
Biological and Environmental Research
Goals of Science Retreat
• Define BER mission, approach, cross-cutting themes
• Share information across program boundaries• Team and establish linkages among programs• Introduce logic models as a consistent approach
to strategic planning• Discuss managing risk, strategic partnerships,
outreach and communication, human capital
Biological and Environmental Research
Mission-Inspired Science
BER advances world-class biological and environmental research programs and scientific user facilities to support DOE’s energy, environment, and basic research missions.
Biological and Environmental Research
BER Mission Priorities• Develop biofuels as a major secure national
energy resource• Understand relationships between climate
change and Earth’s ecosystems, and assess options for carbon sequestration
• Predict fate and transport of subsurface contaminants
• Develop new tools to explore the interface of biological and physical sciences
Biological and Environmental Research
The BER Approach• Understanding complex biological and environmental
systems across many spatial and temporal scales:
From the sub-micron to the global, from individual molecules to ecosystems, from nanoseconds to millennia.
• Integrating science with tight coupling between theory, observations, experiments, and models
• Supporting interdisciplinary research to address critical National needs
• Engaging national laboratories, universities, and the private sector to generate the best possible science
Biological and Environmental Research
BER Systems Science: Identify Key Components and Understand Interactions which Control System Response
Ecosystems Global ClimateMicrobes Multicellular Organisms
En
ab
lin
g S
cie
nc
e,
Te
ch
no
log
ies
, F
ac
ilit
ies
an
d R
es
ea
rch
Sit
es
Molecules
Logic Model Approach to Strategic Planning
Current Situation Inputs/Resources Near Term Goals
(5 years)
Mid Term Goals
(10 years)
Long Term Goals
(20 years)
Outcomes
(impact on science and
society)
2 3 5 6 4 1
– Achieve a predictive understanding of complex biological, climate and environmental systems in support of DOE’s Energy and Environmental Missions
Outcome for BER Science
Biological and Environmental Research
Support Staff Retreat
• Analyze process flow
• Improve efficiency of operations
• Re-balance workload
• Encourage staff development activities
Biological and Environmental Research
Biological & Environmental Research
$480.1 $544.4 $568.5
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
FY 2007Approp.
FY 2008Approp.
FY 2009Request
dolla
rs in
mill
ions
BER Budget Profile
Biological and Environmental Research
Transition Planning:Transition Planning: “Managing Uncertainty” “Managing Uncertainty”
• We are already preparing for, and will be implementing, the transition to a new administration
• In FY 2009, we are planning for one or more Continuing Resolutions that may last the entire year, effectively freezing budgets at FY 2008 level
• Expectations for a final FY 2009 Congressionally Appropriated Budget are unknown
Biological and Environmental Research
• Todd Anderson and his team leading implementation of SFA’s for managing research at the DOE National Labs
• SFA’s encourage integrative, collaborative research programs, in support of DOE mission
• SFA’s take advantage of unique National Lab strengths in interdisciplinary, team-oriented, mission relevant research
• The SFA’s will enhance dialogue between National Lab science managers and BER program managers
• Best management practices developed and shared with the National Labs; follow up conference calls
Scientific Focus Areas (SFAs) for Labs:
Implementing A New Management Approach
Biological and Environmental Research
Biological Systems Biological Systems Science Division: Science Division:
UpdatesUpdates
Biological and Environmental Research
Biological Systems Science DivisionBiological Systems Science Division National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) Imaging and
Spectroscopy Workshop (POC: Roland Hirsch)
Biological and Environmental Research
• September 12, Washington, D.C.
• Goal: To explore NSLS II imaging and spectroscopy applications for:
• Microbiology
• Cellular and organismal biology
• Plant Science
• Diagnostic Medicine
• Life science applications for macromolecular crystallography and x-ray scattering are well defined….
• However, applications of planned imaging and spectroscopy are less clear and will be focus of workshop
Biological Systems Science DivisionBiological Systems Science Division
Bioenergy Research Center Reviews (POC: Patrick Glynn)
• Year-end, on-site reviews of science and management by a team of experts
• Plant sciences, microbiology, enabling technologies, computation and informatics, management, ES&H
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center: Sept 23-24, Madison, WI
Joint BioEnergy Institute: Sept 28-30, Emeryville, CA
BioEnergy Science Center: October 14-15, Oak Ridge, TN
Biological and Environmental Research
Biological Systems Science DivisionBiological Systems Science Division
Workshop on Sustainability of Biofuels: State of the Science and Future Directions (POC: John Houghton, Libby White)
• October 28-29 in Bethesda, MD
• Goal: Assess the current state of the science and identify future research, opportunities for partnering
• Jointly sponsored by DOE (SC/BER) and USDA (Research, Education and Economics, and US Forest Service)
• Both Under Secretary Orbach and Under Secretary Buchanan will attend
• Co-led with Phil Robertson of GLBRC, Sustainability Thrust Leader
Biological and Environmental Research
Biological Systems Science DivisionBiological Systems Science Division Workshop on New Frontiers of Science in Radiochemistry
and Instrumentation for Radionuclide Imaging (POC: Prem Srivastava)
Biological and Environmental Research
• November 4-5, Bethesda, MD
• Goal is to discuss reconfiguration of the BER Radiochemistry and Instrumentation program to incorporate research relevant to DOE’s missions in biology and environmental sciences
• Seeking programmatic outcomes broadly useful and transferable to other agencies and industry, including nuclear medicine community.
• Workshop summary will lead to full report
BER Foundational Research in
Radiochemistry and Imaging
Instrumentation
BER Biological Sciences
BER Environmental
Sciences
NIH Human Health
Sciences
Paradigm for Reconfiguration of Radiochemistry Program
Biological Systems Science DivisionBiological Systems Science Division Triennial On-Site Review of Joint Genome Institute (JGI)
(POC: Dan Drell)
Biological and Environmental Research
• December 3-5 in Walnut Creek, CA
• Team of experts will evaluate science, operations, informatics and management
• Criteria include scientific productivity and impact, quality of user program, and value added from JGI informatics and data analysis activities
Biological Systems Science DivisionBiological Systems Science Division
Workshop on “Low Dose Epidemiology – What Can It Tell Us?” (POC: Noelle Metting)
• December 10-11, Washington D.C. area
• Organizing Committee includes DOE, EPA and NCI scientists
• Goal is to develop an understanding of:
The value of current human low dose/low dose-rate epidemiological data
Potential to improve and expand low dose epidemiologic data
Approaches for integrating new molecular/ biological knowledge and technologies into epidemiologic studies
Biological and Environmental Research
Genomics: GTL PI Meeting (POCs: Sharlene Weatherwax and Joe Graber).
• February 8-11, 2009, North Bethesda, MD
• Plenary sessions will include presentations by the DOE Bioenergy Research Centers
• Breakout sessions will include topics on Biohydrogen, Annotation, Multiscale Computing, ELSI and Sustainability, and Proteomics.
• Includes the USDA-DOE Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy Awardee Workshop 2009
Biological Systems Science DivisionBiological Systems Science Division
Biological and Environmental Research
Climate and Climate and Environmental Sciences Environmental Sciences
Division: UpdatesDivision: Updates
Biological and Environmental Research
Climate and Environmental Sciences DivisionClimate and Environmental Sciences Division Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) Triennial
Review. (POC: Paul Bayer)
Biological and Environmental Research
• September 8-10, Richland, Washington
• Expert review panel will evaluate scientific impact and operational efficiency
• Criteria include:
Scientific productivity
Strategic planning
Scientific leadership
ARM Airborne Measurements Workshop (POC: Rick Petty)
Biological and Environmental Research
• October 14-16, Champaign, IL
• Goal: To advance instrument development for and airborne measurements of atmospheric, climate-related processes
• Attendees include agency reps and members of the atmospheric instrumentation community
Climate and Environmental Sciences DivisionClimate and Environmental Sciences Division
ARM Climate Research Facility (ACRF) Workshop (POC: Wanda Ferrell)
• October 21-22, Reston, VA
• Goal: To ensure that ACRF has the strategy and tools to meet the science needs for the next ten years.
• Attendees include agency reps and scientific community
Workshop on Extreme Scale Computing for Climate Change Science (POC: Anjuli Bamzai-BER and Lali Chatterjee-ASCR)
Biological and Environmental Research
Climate and Environmental Sciences DivisionClimate and Environmental Sciences Division
• November 6-7, Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Warren Washington is the organizer, at the request of Dr. Orbach
• Joint BER/ASCR activity to explore the potential applications of extreme-scale computing research to enable discovery in climate change science
• International representatives from the climate science and high performance computing communities
BERAC Activities: Looking ahead…
• JGI is working on a Strategic Plan – anticipate briefing BERAC at Feb. 2009 meeting, inviting review
• Briefing by Dr. Tim Killeen, new Assistant Director of Geosciences for NSF
Biological and Environmental Research
BERAC – Vital Contributors to BER
• Strategic thinking – identifying areas of opportunity
• Science leadership and forward-looking advice – beyond the horizon
• Program reviews, COV’s – staying on the cutting-edge of science
• Visibility – sharing our successes
Biological and Environmental Research
Thank you!
Biological and Environmental Research
Back up slides
BER Approach: Understanding Complex Systems
• Defining multiple components and their interactions, i.e., the “whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
• Synergistic effects, emergent properties, and concomitant actions are the norm rather than the exception in all complex systems.
• Systems approaches advance our understanding of molecules, organisms, ecosystems, and global climate.
• Systems science will allow us to modify, regulate, and/or control biology and the environment in support of DOE missions.
Biological & Environmental Research (BER) (FY 2009=$568.5M)
Biological Research:Biological Research:
• Life Sciences. Three Bioenergy Research Centers continue to accelerate research in biofuels. Genomics: GTL research is enhanced, underpinning biotech solutions for DOE energy/environmental needs. Low dose radiation research activities are enhanced. Genome sequencing at the Joint Genome Institute supports BER goals. Radiochemical and imaging research is enhanced to develop new imaging technologies and new applications for radiotracers in biology and the environment. (FY 2007=$252.5M; FY 2008=$294.7M; FY 2009=$296.2M);
• Medical Applications. Supports fundamental research and instrument
development in imaging for an artificial retina that allows patients to see large objects. (FY 2007=$6.6M; FY 2008=$8.2M; FY 2009=$8.2M)
• Environmental Remediation Research. Providing the scientific basis for understanding DOE's legacy environmental contamination issues; EMSL initiates multi-year program for acquisition of new/improved instrumentation (FY 2007=$91.4M; FY 2008=$93.8M; FY 2009=$98.4M).
Biological & Environmental Research (BER)
Climate Change Research:Climate Change Research:
• Supports the U.S. Climate Change Science Program to develop, test and improve climate models that simulate the responses of climate to increased atmospheric greenhouse gases and aerosols.
• Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility adds a second mobile system to obtain observations of clouds and aerosols in poorly understood regions.
• Climate Modeling increases to exploit leadership class computing (FY 2007=$129.6M; FY 2008=$136.9M; FY 2009=$154.9M)
Nuclear Medicine in BER
• FY 2007 Program Funding ($6.0M): Supported radiotracer and advanced imaging instrumentation for medical research and technology development activities and some imaging instrumentation work
• FY 2008 Omnibus Bill: Congress provided additional $17.5M for nuclear medicine research. Formal applications to Funding Opportunity Announcement in the area of Radiochemistry and Instrumentation Research will be reviewed for scientific merit, and awards made in FY 2008.
Biological and Environmental ResearchBiological and Environmental Research(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
FY 2008 FY 2009 Appropriation Request
Research
Life Sciences 137,775 166,206
GTL Research Centers 75,000 75,000
Climate Change Research 97,854 112,834
Environmental Remediation 46,665 48,485
Medical Applications 30,132 8,226
Total, Research 387,426 410,751
Facility Ops
Scientific User Facility Operations
EMSL (PNNL) 38,068 48,448
Production Genomic Facility (JGI) 60,000 55,000
ARM 35,251 37,853
Total, Facility Operations 133,319 141,301
EMSL Major Item of Equipment 4,500 0
Total, Facility Ops 137,819 141,301
Other
BER GPP/GPE 4,531 1,450
SBIR/STTR 14,621 15,038
Total, Other 19,152 16,488
Total, BER 544,397 568,540
Office of Science
U.S. Department of Energy
Reactive processes control contaminant transport occur at small scales:
chemical oxidation/reduction biological oxidation/reduction adsorption precipitation/dissolution
Characteristics of groundwater flow affecting contaminant transport at small -intermediate scales:
advection/dispersion diffusion stratigraphy (heterogeneity) porosity
From the molecular to the ecosystem
Subsurface Research Across Scales
Field-scale understanding based on: Column & mesoscale research Small-scale field experiments Iteration between field experiments and modeling/simulation
Mesoscale101.5-103 m
Pore scale10-3-101.5 m
Microscopic10-7-10-3 m
Molecular/nano10-10-10-8 m
>103 m
Computational Modeling &Iterative ExperimentationAcross Scales
Biological and Environmental Research
FY 2009 President’s Request: Radiochemistry and Imaging
Instrumentation Research
• Reconfiguration will reflect BER's energy and environmental mission focus, areas distinct from NIH focus on developing disease diagnostics and medical therapeutics
• The program will support:– Fundamental research to advance DOE’s mission in biology and
environmental sciences.– New methods for real-time, high-resolution imaging of dynamic
biological processes in environmentally-responsive contexts
• Research will be broadly useful and transferable to other agencies and industry, including nuclear medicine research at the National Institutes of Health.
Goal: Multiple use—multiple benefits from new scientific discoveries