PPA Department Heads Meeting D. MacFarlane October 17, 2013
Visitors Jim Tarpinian and Frank O Neill:» Management Walk-around program and use of ATS system Background» Renewed emphasis at the lab level» Important to connect supervisor and employee in the workplace» May have been occurring informally, but no record» Requirement now is to record in ATS: record of walk around, any findings or actions 2
Science program dates and news NSF Final Design Review for LSST: postponed SPC meeting: Oct 30-Nov 1: postponed 3
Next steps for performance evaluations Will meet with department heads to go over department self-assessments Performance evaluations due by Oct 28» Will review aggregate performance evaluations to look for inconsistent grading scales and provide supervisor feedback Will also be requesting department heads identify 20% best and 20% worst performers» PPA management will review Directorate-wide as well for consistency» Will be useful input to overall lab normalization review 4
Lab Agenda for FY2014 5
s Excel in strategic particle physics, particle astrophysics, and cosmology programs Continue as a major partner on energy frontier physics Establish a leading dark energy science program Establish major role in next generation dark matter search Be a major partner in intensity frontier physics Play a lead role in next generation US particle astrophysics experiments 6
Tactical actions: FY2014 1.1 Continue as a major partner on the energy frontier: Establish a role in support of ATLAS phase 1 and phase 2 upgrade programs Complete design implementation of new CSC readout with RCE/ATCA platform [Huffer] Complete production of IBL inner services and participate in IBL stave tests and IBL/pixel integration efforts [Grenier] 1.2 Continue as a major partner on the energy frontier: Advance the case for US engagement in a next generation linear collider Develop a appropriate scope for US contributions to a detector at the International Linear Collider based on unique capabilities of the US community [Breidenbach] 7
Tactical actions: FY2014 2.1 Establish a leading dark energy science program: Execute the construction of the LSST camera and develop the data management system Successfully achieve CD-3a for the LSST camera project [Kahn, Kurita] Successfully complete the NSF Final Design Review for the LSST Project [Kahn, Kurita] 2.2 Establish a leading dark energy science program: Develop a capability for delivering forefront dark energy science Conduct dark energy investigations with Stage 2 and 3 data using prototype LSST analysis tools [Marshall] Complete LSST DESC computing model for resources required up to First Light [Dubois] Develop a plan, together with NOAO, for an LSST User Center [Dubois] Lead simulation of DES data to support broad dark energy research and optimization of combined probes of dark energy [Wechsler] 8
Tactical actions: FY2014 3. Establish a major role in next generation direct dark matter search experiments Complete proposal for G2 SuperCDMS experiment [Partridge] Demonstrate readiness to begin full-scale production of SuperCDMS SNOLab detectors [Brink] Demonstrate readiness to begin full-scale production of SuperCDMS SNOLab detector support towers and associated mechanical, wiring, thermal, and electronic infrastructure [Partridge] Complete hiring of two new faculty to lead the development of a major new effort on the next generation liquid xenon experiment LZ Develop and implement a strategy for focusing dark matter efforts on the successful proposals emerging from the G2 technology down selection PEMP 3.2 (HEP) SLAC has been investigating a variety of new initiatives on the Cosmic Frontier since the end of B-factory operations. Many of these initiatives are currently pre-decisional or in the early stages of the DOE critical decision process, and their priority within the HEP portfolio is not established. In FY 2014 HEPAP will produce a new strategic plan (P5) for the field, so during FY 2014 using the HEPAP plan SLAC should reduce the number of efforts to arrive at effective and coherent program on the Cosmic Frontier that is sustainable within foreseeable budgets 9
Tactical actions: FY2014 4.1 Continue as a major partner in intensity frontier physics: Establish a role on in next generation longbaseline neutrino physics Deliver demonstration RCE/ATCA-based DAQ system to the 35 ton liquid argon prototype for the LBNE experiment [Graham] Complete prototype pattern recognition and reconstruction software to the MicroBooNE experiment [Usher] 4.2 Continue as a major partner in intensity frontier physics: Establish a next generation neutrinoless double beta decay search experiment Complete TBD milestone on neo R&D plan [Fouts] Establish an organizational structure for neo R&D with the neo Collaboration that provides a coordinated plan for development of a ton-scale detector with scientific and technical milestones [Fouts] PEMP 3.2 (HEP) SLAC is engaged in the neo R&D program which could position the EO collaboration to build a ton-scale neutrinoless double beta decay experiment. SLAC should assign a project manager to this program and he/she should develop a schedule for neo R&D which has scientific and technical milestones that could lead to a design of a ton-scale detector. This schedule should include the efforts of the collaborating institutions as well as SLAC 10
Tactical actions: FY2014 4.3 Continue as a major partner in intensity frontier physics: Pursue the search for heavy photon candidates for dark matter Conduct Silicon Vertex Tracker (SVT) subsystem readiness reviews before construction of the Heavy Photon Search (HPS) experiment [Oriunno] Install the SVT and DAQ for the HPS experiment in Hall B at JLAB [Jaros] 5. Play a lead role in next generation US particle astrophysics experiments Reprocess archived Fermi LAT event data through Pass8 event reconstruction for LAT performance studies and source analysis [Dubois] Support LAT and mission analyses as needed to demonstrate readiness for a new Fermi sky survey observing plan [Cameron] Understand properties and instrumental effects related to the 130 GeV line as a dark matter candidate [Bloom] Prepare a detailed and credible plan for CTA for the P5 panel [Funk] PEMP 3.2 (HEP) SLAC has been investigating a variety of new initiatives on the Cosmic Frontier since the end of B-factory operations. Many of these initiatives are currently pre-decisional or in the early stages of the DOE critical decision process, and their priority within the HEP portfolio is not established. In FY 2014 HEPAP will produce a new strategic plan (P5) for the field, so during FY 2014 using the HEPAP plan SLAC should reduce the number of efforts to arrive at effective and coherent program on the Cosmic Frontier that is sustainable within foreseeable budgets 11
Update on layoffs Announced need to reduce PPA staffing on Sep 30» Anticipated FY2014 funding, combined with 3% rise in indirect rate leaves us over staffed by 10-12 FTEs» Voluntary layoff period closed Oct 15 with one request Plan for involuntary layoffs in development» Expect to complete tentative plan, including discussions with supervisors next week» Will review with DOE shortly afterwards and aim to implement by end of October 12