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Subject: NPPS Leadership Team

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  • From: Torre Wenaus <wenaus AT gmail.com>
  • To: Brett Viren <bv AT bnl.gov>
  • Cc: Torre Wenaus via Phys-npps-mgmt-l <phys-npps-mgmt-l AT lists.bnl.gov>
  • Subject: Re: [Phys-npps-mgmt-l] Fwd: FW: Postdoc Mentorship Program-call for participants!
  • Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2021 11:05:57 -0500

While I support mentorship (as well as apple pie, and world peace) this does not seem to me to be a well conceived plan. A formal (as in HR is in the picture) mentoring supervisor and managerial apparatus separate from and parallel to existing supervision confuses the picture for all parties: the postdoc, the supervisor, and the actual managerial structure that is responsible for safeguarding the postdoc's job, career, professional well-being. To the extent that designating a “non-supervisor mentor” dilutes the attention of the actual supervisor from acting as a mentor, it would be very bad. There are almost as many postdocs as there are scientists in the department, which would mean either capable mentors being assigned multiple postdocs, or postdocs getting stuck with people who should not be mentors. Either situation could have a net negative effect on the postdoc’s experience, vs. mentorship occurring within the postdoc’s work team and work supervision. And I won’t even get into the confusions of the IDP. Seems to me to be one more example of creating big bureaucratic structures and processes that interfere with the mission more than they support it. 

That's not feedback I would give, it's just cynical venting. In our particular case, I expect we can easily find a quality mentor in EDG, ensure good communication and coherence, and make it a positive experience for Lino.

  Torre


On Tue, Nov 30, 2021 at 10:17 AM Brett Viren <bv AT bnl.gov> wrote:
Hi Torre and everyone,

I don't expect we can change much about the proposed org structure, but
it seems to me that the SML role is best served by the group leader.  It
needs an individual who is expert in the group's efforts AND has a
broader departmental view.  That's the definition of a group leader
(imo).

Of course, the mentor should be neither group leader nor supervisor.

But, given the current count of 3 SML's for the dept I think we should
not group NPPS post-docs with EDG nor any other specific group because
NPPS is special in being cross-topic.  So, I think NPPS post-docs should
be assigned to the most "adjacent" SML on a case-by-case basis, possibly
with a suggestion of a set of potential mentors to select from.

It makes sense for Lino to be placed with EDG's SML.

-Brett.

Torre Wenaus via Phys-npps-mgmt-l <phys-npps-mgmt-l AT lists.bnl.gov>
writes:

> Comments appreciated. I find it a little odd that the suggested criteria for mentor includes "Outside of direct manager/
> supervisor". I suppose this is aimed at diversifying beyond the obvious mentor role of the manager/supervisor who is, in
> our case and I suspect widely true, also the supervisor and thus mentor for the postdoc's work program. Flagging this
> particularly for Paul and Brett given that our one postdoc is Lino working on DUNE.
>   Torre
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: Ma, Hong <hma AT bnl.gov>
> Date: Mon, Nov 29, 2021 at 5:55 PM
> Subject: FW: Postdoc Mentorship Program-call for participants!
> To: Kettell, Steven <kettell AT bnl.gov>, Begel, Michael <begel AT bnl.gov>, Slosar, Anze <anze AT bnl.gov>, Torre Wenaus <
> wenaus AT gmail.com>
>
> Hi Torre, Michael, Steve and Anze,
>
>  
>
>                 BNL is setting up a postdoc mentorship program.  All postdocs will be matched with mentors.  HR is asking
> for three Scientific Mentoring Leads (SML) from Physics Dept to help with managing the program.   We will need quite a few
> scientists in the department to serve as mentors.   See the attachment for details.
>
>  
>
>                 We are considering dividing the department into a few parts.  One for NP experiments, one for theory
> groups and one for HEP.
>
>  
>
>                 There are 8 postdocs in Omega, 12 in EDG, 3 in Astro, and 1 in NPPS.  The actual number of postdocs who
> need mentor may vary, because of those who will be leaving soon would not be in the program.  But it is a large number.
>
>  
>
>                 I am afraid the HEP part is too big to be taken care of by one SML. So I would suggest to have one SML for
> Omega+Astro and one for EDG + NPPS.    Can you recommend someone from your groups?
>
>  
>
>                 Hong
>
>  
>
> From: Collins, Erica <ecollins AT bnl.gov>
> Date: Friday, November 5, 2021 at 7:49 AM
> To: Asner, David <dasner AT bnl.gov>, Carini, Gabriella <carini AT bnl.gov>, Amm, Kathleen <ammk AT bnl.gov>, Palmer, Mark <
> mpalmer AT bnl.gov>, Wahl, Bill <bwahl AT bnl.gov>, Kleese Van Dam, Kerstin <kleese AT bnl.gov>, Chapman, Barbara <bchapman AT bnl.gov
>>, Jha, Shantenu <shantenu AT bnl.gov>, Hoisie, Adolfy <ahoisie AT bnl.gov>, D'Imperio, Nicholas <dimperio AT bnl.gov>, Lancon,
> Eric <elancon AT bnl.gov>, Gao, Haiyan <hgao AT bnl.gov>, Denisov, Dmitri <denisovd AT bnl.gov>, Fischer, Wolfram <wfischer AT bnl.gov
>>, Minty, Michiko <minty AT bnl.gov>, Christie, William <christie AT bnl.gov>, Cutler, Cathy <ccutler AT bnl.gov>, Ma, Hong <
> hma AT bnl.gov>, Misewich, James <misewich AT bnl.gov>, Hill, John <hill AT bnl.gov>, Harris, Alex <alexh AT bnl.gov>, Black, Charles
> <ctblack AT bnl.gov>, Konik, Robert <rmk AT bnl.gov>, Shaftan, Timur <shaftan AT bnl.gov>, Zschack, Paul <pzschack AT bnl.gov>,
> Takeuchi, Esther <etakeuchi AT bnl.gov>, Schoonen, Martin <mschoonen AT bnl.gov>, McComiskey, Allison <amccomiskey AT bnl.gov>,
> Sonzogni, Alejandro A. <sonzogni AT bnl.gov>, Pepper, Susan E <pepper AT bnl.gov>, Shanklin, John <shanklin AT bnl.gov>
> Cc: Gibbs, Doon L <gibbs AT bnl.gov>, Tribble, Robert <rtribble AT bnl.gov>, Lincoln, Robert <rlincoln AT bnl.gov>, Sullivan,
> Margaret <Maggie AT bnl.gov>, Anderson, Jack <janderson AT bnl.gov>
> Subject: Postdoc Mentorship Program-call for participants!
>
> Good morning,
>
>  
>
> Brookhaven Lab is officially launching our call for participants for the Postdoc Mentorship Program!
>
>  
>
> As previously discussed in the Science ALD and Science Council meetings, all new postdocs in your respective department(s)
> will receive a mentor for their first 2 years at the lab, or for the duration of their term if less than 2 years. For
> existing postdocs, those whose term extends beyond September 2022 will also receive a mentor. The program will be optional
> for postdocs who will be exiting the lab prior to September 2022.
>
>  
>
> Attached you will find the Roles & Responsibilities Guidelines to provide direction on criteria and assignment,
> specifically for Scientific Mentoring Leads (SMLs) and mentors.
>
>  
>
> What do we need from you?
>
>  1. As you may recall, each department will assign Scientific Mentoring Leads (SMLs) to help facilitate the mentoring
>     process and matching. The role of the SML will include:
>
>   ● Assisting the Mentoring Program Advisor (MPA) in the mentor matching process by learning the postdoc areas of interest
>     and expertise as well as assisting the postdoc with developing a BNL network, introducing them to potential mentors
>   ● Serve as a liaison between postdoc and MPA, as needed
>   ● Provide input to the MPA on continuous improvement to the mentorship program
>
> The chart below identifies the recommended number of SMLs that should be maintained based on the postdoc population for
> that area.
>
>  
>
>  2. With the assistance from the SML, ensure that each postdoc that meets the criteria above is matched with a mentor.
>
>  
>
> Directorate/Department   Number of     
>                          Scientific     
>                          Mentoring Leads
>                          (SMLs)         
>                                         
>   Collider Accelerator          1       
>          Depart                         
>                                         
>     Accelerator Test            1       
>         Facility                       
>                                         
>  Superconducting Magnet         1       
>           Div                           
>                                         
>    Biology Department           2       
>                                         
>    Computational Sci.           1       
>        Initiative                       
>                                         
>    Chemistry Division           2       
>                                         
> Energy & Photon Sciences        1       
>                                         
>  Electron Ion Collider          1       
>                                         
>  Environ & Climate Sci.         1       
>           Dept                         
>                                         
> Instrumentation Division        1       
>                                         
>    Interdisciplinary            1       
>       Science Dept                     
>                                         
>     Cntr for Funct.             2       
>      Nanomaterials                     
>                                         
>   Nuclear Sci. & Tech.          1       
>           Dept                         
>                                         
>   Nonprof. & National           1       
>         Security                       
>                                         
>  Condensed Mtr. Phys &          2       
>         Mat Sci                         
>                                         
>    Physics Department           3       
>                                         
>        NSLS - II                2       
>
>  
>
>  
>
>  
>
>  
>
>  
>
>                                                                                                              
>
>  
>
> Schedule your information sessions for Mentors/ SMLs
>
> Erica Collins will coordinate with directorate admins. to schedule an information session to discuss the program and
> expectations for potential mentors and SMLs.
>
>  
>
>  
>
> Timeline Expectations:
>
>  
>
> [cid]                                                                   
>
>  
>
> Thank you in advance for your support!
>
> Please contact Erica Collins with any questions.
>
>  
>
> Best Regards,
>
>  
>
> Erica Collins
>
> Human Resources Directorate
>
> Learning and Development Specialist
>
> Brookhaven National Laboratory
>
> 20 Brookhaven Avenue, Building 400B
>
> PO Box 5000
>
> Upton, NY 11973-5000
>
> Email: ecollins AT bnl.gov
>
>  
>
> [cid]               
>
>  
>
> --
> -- Torre Wenaus, BNL NPPS Group, ATLAS Experiment
> -- BNL 510A 1-222 | 631-681-7892 |  wenaus AT gmail.com | npps.bnl.gov | wenaus.com
> -- NPPS Mattermost room: https://chat.sdcc.bnl.gov/npps/channels/town-square
>
> _______________________________________________
> Phys-npps-mgmt-l mailing list
> Phys-npps-mgmt-l AT lists.bnl.gov
> https://lists.bnl.gov/mailman/listinfo/phys-npps-mgmt-l


--
-- Torre Wenaus, BNL NPPS Group, ATLAS Experiment
-- BNL 510A 1-222 | 631-681-7892 |  wenaus AT gmail.com | npps.bnl.gov | wenaus.com
-- NPPS Mattermost room: https://chat.sdcc.bnl.gov/npps/channels/town-square



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