Michele Pixa is a program operations analyst in the Accelerator Technology & Applied Physics (ATAP) Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). She grew up in El Granada, a small coastal town south of San Francisco, near Half Moon Bay. Michele joined Berkeley Lab 18 years ago, initially working as an administrative assistant in the Nuclear Science Division. Over time, she took on more senior roles, working in the Engineering Division and the Advanced Light Source before joining ATAP in 2020. Previously, she worked in libraries, at a publishing company, and as an administrative assistant in the Bay Area. She also taught English and worked as a proofreader in Prague, Czech Republic. Michele holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of California, Santa Cruz, a master’s degree in library and information science from San Jose State University, and a master’s degree in public policy from Northeastern University/Mills College.

Please tell us about the ATAP Operations Team and your role.

The Operations Team provides administrative and operational support for the division. My role includes all the administrative functions at the Lab. I support the Berkeley Center for Magnet Technology and, more recently, the Fusion Science & Ion Beam Technology Program. I assist with all of the conference services and event attendance approvals. I probably coordinated your case file if you were hired or promoted in the last four years. In the past year, I’ve helped train the new administrators and been a resource for questions on travel policy.

What do you most like about your role, and what are your day-to-day challenges?

I have always enjoyed projects and tasks that allowed me to interpret Lab policy, rules, and regulations to achieve a successful outcome. I also enjoy helping organize events that make the dissemination of scientific information possible, which is very satisfying.

I particularly enjoy working with our colleagues from our Superconducting Magnet Program, which has a great esprit de corps. The atmosphere is lively in Building 47, where I mainly work. Our management team also provides clear guidelines and growth opportunities. It’s a pleasure to work with the staff at all levels.

While managing workload and prioritizing or triaging tasks according to urgency can be challenging, I, like most people, have found this especially challenging over the past year.

What advice would you give to other people in roles like yours?

I received little guidance or training when I first started at the lab. There were not nearly as many networking, mentoring, and enrichment programs as there are now, along with programs focused on health, wellness, workplace culture, and stewardship. I recommend taking advantage of these offerings, reaching out to others in similar roles, and feeling free to ask questions.

For more information on ATAP News articles, contact caw@lbl.gov.