A Message from Laiba Bilal

information from the Users' Executive Committee

June 26, 2024

Laiba Bilal

Dear CFN community, 

With summer approaching, I hope this message finds you well. As chair of the Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) Users’ Executive Committee (UEC) for 2024-2025, I am excited to continue serving our vibrant network. Having served as vice chair for the previous year, stepping into this new role feels like a natural continuation of my journey with the CFN. Completing my Ph.D. research phase at the CFN has been incredibly rewarding, offering me firsthand experience with the collaborative and innovative environment that defines our work. 

Reflecting on our mission, I'm reminded of a quote by Helen Keller: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” With great excitement, I share updates on our collective achievements and future endeavors. As we embark on another year of scientific progress and community building, I'm thrilled to report on the recent success of the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) and CFN Users' Meeting held in May. This annual event provided a vibrant platform for scientists to exchange ideas and explore advancements across various scientific fields. From engaging plenary sessions to insightful poster presentations and immersive workshops on cutting-edge topics, the gathering was truly enriching. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the CFN UEC organizers and our counterparts at NSLS-II for their invaluable contributions in making the Users' Meeting a resounding success. 

One of the most memorable moments for me was the banquet dinner on plenary day. I had the opportunity to meet a diverse group of scientists from different places and fields. The scientific insights and life stories they shared with me highlighted the essence of our community. These conversations reinforced how the CFN network extends beyond our labs, fostering friendships and a supportive environment that drives us all to excel. 

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Members of the CFN UEC team at the NSLS-II & CFN Users' Meeting. From left: Maya Endoh, Mohamed Boukhicha, Karen Chen-Wiegart, CFN User Administrator Grace Webster, Anibal Boscoboinik, CFN Director Chuck Black, UEC Chair Laiba Bilal, Shize Yang, and CFN UEC Past Chair Shruti Sharma. 

In light of this enriching experience, we are delighted to welcome the newly elected UEC members for the 2024-2026 term; together, we are committed to delivering an exciting and impactful experience for our network. As chair, I want to emphasize that the UEC will continue to organize the annual Users’ Meeting, featuring technical talks and discussions on new facilities and capabilities. We will focus on improving access to the CFN for a diverse range of users through targeted discussions and initiatives. 

We hope to see those of you who are around at our weekly Wednesday coffee sessions at the CFN and other networking events. Additionally, we invite you to attend Brookhaven's Summer Sunday Open House Tours, especially on Aug. 4, for “Innovation and the Environment” at the CFN. This will be a wonderful opportunity to volunteer and display your work, as well as to see the amazing research others are doing here at the CFN. It will be a great way to convey the exciting advancements to the public. 

Connect with fellow researchers and stay informed about the latest news and events by joining the CFN LinkedIn community. It's a valuable platform for networking, sharing insights, and discovering new opportunities for collaboration. Work and publication highlights can be shared to gain more visibility. We also encourage you to join the CFN Facebook group. 

I would also like to highlight the recent announcement of the winners of the Brookhaven Women in Science Renate W. Chasman Award, Kali Rigby of Yale University and Emily Duden of Brandeis University. The CFN UEC is one of the sponsors of this significant honor. 

Thank you for your continued support and participation. Together, we can make meaningful contributions to scientific research and innovation at the CFN. 

Here’s to another year of scientific breakthroughs and community building! 

Warm regards, 

Laiba Bilal
Chair, CFN Users’ Executive Committee 

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