Leadership in a fast-moving field like artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) requires equally fast-moving operations. ATAP’s Advanced Modeling Program (AMP), in partnership with multiple national laboratories, recently participated in a successful quick-response to a short-turnaround funding opportunity. AMP Program Head Jean-Luc Vay saw our core values at work, guiding our stewardship of people, research, and resources. He summarized these observations at ATAP’s monthly All-to-All meeting on October 27, 2025.
Jean-Luc Vay, head of ATAP’s Advanced Modeling Program. (Credit: Thor Swift/Berkeley Lab)
Innovation is at the heart of the initiative and a core value of ATAP. As a major player in scientific AI/ML, Berkeley Lab (including ATAP, which was already applying AI/ML to many challenges) is a natural partner in this multi-lab effort, showcasing another of our core values, collaboration. Many of today’s particle-accelerator-based projects bring together multiple institutions, and ATAP has a long record of success at applying its special expertise to the most exciting and important projects.
The need for quick action posed challenges on both the administrative and technical sides of program management and response. Faced with a deadline requiring work through a weekend, AMP turned to the ATAP Operations Team, a group of experienced professionals accustomed to working together on proposals and other urgent and important matters on short notice. In another example of a core value, AMP trusted the Operations team to handle the complex, fast-moving, deadline-driven effort on behalf of the entire collaboration.
Members of ATAP’s Operations Team who were involved in the proposal. (Credit: Maureen Thaete)
In this case, investigators at six other national labs across five time zones (plus some people on business travel in Europe during the fast-break opportunity) had to coordinate their efforts in real time with respect for everyone’s obligations and availability.
The result: the complex multi-laboratory proposal was submitted on a Sunday (allowing a day of schedule contingency and avoiding the risk of busy systems at deadline) and was successful. So was a follow-up effort, also spanning a weekend, to write and submit a Field Work Proposal, the actual funding instrument.
Vay concluded the talk by exemplifying one more core value. “On behalf of the technical collaborators at all the national labs, I would like to extend my profound appreciation to the operations team for its commitment and professionalism,” he said. “Thank you Asmita, Stephanie, George, Chris, and Xochi for your dedication to supporting all of us.”
To Learn More…
- Visit ATAP’s Stewardship page to explore our core values and how they support the Laboratory and DOE mission.
- See the slides from Jean-Luc Vay’s talk at the All-to-All meeting. These monthly hybrid meetings are one of the key ways ATAP promotes team science and shared values.
- Read news articles about how we put our stewardship principles and core values into practice.
For more information on ATAP News articles, contact caw@lbl.gov.
