Topic: Careers

Since 2018, software developer Trevor Smith has been putting his education and computing skills to good use supporting the Lab's HPC environment. He helps develop, deploy, and manage systems software that enables effective and secure use of computing resources.

Kevin McLoughlin has always been fascinated by the intersection of computing and biology. His LLNL career encompasses award-winning microbial detection technology, a COVID-19 antiviral drug design pipeline, and work with the ATOM consortium.

As group leader and application developer in the Global Security Computing Applications Division, Jarom Nelson develops intrusion detection and access control software.

Computational mathematician Julian Andrej began using LLNL-developed, open-source software while in Germany. Now at Livermore, he lends his expertise to the Center for Applied Scientific Computing, developing code for next-generation computing hardware.

As Computing’s fifth Fernbach Fellow, postdoctoral researcher Steven Roberts will develop, analyze, and implement new time integration methods.

Held virtually on July 15, our fifth annual Developer Day featured lightning talks, a technical deep dive, “quick takes” on remote-development resources, presentations about career paths, and a career development panel discussion.

More than 100 LLNL staff and students gathered virtually for the first session of a new career panel series inspired by the annual Women in Data Science conference and sponsored by the Data Science Institute.

Brian Gallagher works on applications of machine learning for a variety of science and national security questions. He’s also a group leader, student mentor, and the new director of LLNL’s Data Science Challenge.

Computer scientist Vanessa Sochat isn’t afraid to meet new experiences head on. With a Stanford PhD and a jump-right-in attitude, she joined LLNL to work on the BUILD project, Spack package manager, and other open-source initiatives.

Computing relies on engineers like Stephanie Brink to keep the legacy codes running smoothly. “You’re only as fast as your slowest processor or your slowest function,” says Brink, who works in CASC. By analyzing a legacy code’s performance, Brink and her team can reduce the amount of time it takes to run and allow for more critical science to be accomplished.

Nisha Mulakken is advancing COVID-19 R&D and mentoring the next generation. “The opportunities we are exposed to early in our careers can shape the limits we place on ourselves and our approaches to challenges we encounter throughout our careers,” she says.

Lawrence Livermore National Lab has named Stefanie Guenther as Computing’s fourth Sidney Fernbach Postdoctoral Fellow in the Computing Sciences. This highly competitive fellowship is named after LLNL’s former Director of Computation and is awarded to exceptional candidates who demonstrate the potential for significant achievements in computational mathematics, computer science, data science, or scientific computing.

Alyson Fox is a math geek. She has three degrees in the subject—including a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Colorado at Boulder—and her passion for solving complex challenges drives her work at LLNL’s Center for Applied Scientific Computing (CASC).

Rafael Rivera-Soto is passionate about artificial intelligence, deep learning, and machine learning technologies. He works in LLNL’s Global Security Computing Applications Division, also known as GSCAD.

The Lab is in many ways similar to a small city, and people like Louella Panaga help keep it operational day to day, hour to hour, and minute to minute.

Rachael Lemos is a software developer in Computing’s Applications, Simulations, & Quality Division, or ASQ. She’s a great example of the Lab’s student success, as she was a summer intern before landing a full-time job.

Jorge Castro Morales likes having different responsibilities at work. He says, “I’m honored to be working with a team of multidisciplinary experts to resolve very complex problems on a daily basis.”

At LLNL since 2010, Jorge Escobar is now a member of Computing's professional scientific and technical staff.

Computational Scientist Ramesh Pankajakshan came to LLNL in 2016 directly from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. But unlike most recent hires from universities, he switched from research professor to professional researcher.

Computer scientist Greg Becker contributes to HPC research and development projects for LLNL’s Livermore Computing division.

LLNL has named Will Pazner as the third Sidney Fernbach Postdoctoral Fellow in the Computing Sciences.

Marisa Torres, software developer with LLNL’s Global Security Computing Applications Division, combines her love of biology with coding.

When computer scientist Gordon Lau arrived at Lawrence Livermore more than 20 years ago, he was a contractor assigned to a laser isotope separation project.

The NIF Computing team plays a key role in this smoothly running facility, and computer scientist Joshua Senecal supports multiple operational areas.

“If applications don’t read and write files in an efficient manner,” system software developer Elsa Gonsiorowski warns, “entire systems can crash.”