Our Vision
Educate, equip, and engage by providing fellows with all the tools necessary to build and sustain successful careers in nonproliferation.
Darleane C. Hoffman was an absolute titan in the world of nuclear chemistry, and her legacy is woven into the very fabric of the periodic table.
Her achievements were staggering—not just in terms of the elements she helped confirm, like Seaborgium, element 114, and element 116, but in the doors she opened for other women in STEM. Being the first female Division Leader at LANL and one of the very few women to receive the Priestley Medal speaks volumes about her brilliance and her perseverance in a challenging era.
Beyond the awards and the science, the fact that she dedicated so much of her time to mentoring young scientists ensures that her influence will continue for generations. Her contributions to the Los Alamos and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories, as well as her leadership at the Seaborg Institute, leave an indelible mark on the scientific community.
Berkeley Lab possesses a distinguished history of conducting research in the field of transuranic chemistry. This research originated with Glenn T. Seaborg’s discovery of plutonium in 1940 and has continued through the subsequent discovery of 14 transuranic elements. Beyond the numerous discoveries previously mentioned, Dr. Hoffman’s contributions to the nascent understanding of superheavy elements include the identification of plutonium (Pu-244) in a rock formation several billion years old.
NextGen is a workforce technical and leadership development initiative executed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The 2-yearpost-doctoral fellowship, honoring Darleane C. Hoffman cultivates the next generation of scientists and engineers through targeted exposure to global security missions. Its mission informed research strives to deliver technically agile and interdisciplinary workforce to DOE/NNSA National Laboratories ready to address known and evolving nonproliferation and nuclear security challenges.
The NextGen Nonproliferation Leadership Development program at LBNL grows a robust and capable workforce ready to address current and future national security needs. Program alumni are prepared for impactful careers within DOE/NNSA complex, national laboratories, government agencies and institutions upon entry.
The NextGen program partners with the Career Pathways Office providing professional development resources to Postdocs and Early Career Scientists through workshops, webinars, professional career coaching, and large events such as the Berkeley Lab SLAM and the Scientific Leadership & Management Skills course. Workshops and coaching sessions are held several times throughout the year with larger events occurring yearly. These events contribute to community building amongst our Postdocs and Early Career Scientist and prepare postdocs to be future leaders.
NextGen selects four exceptional fellows each year for this unique and innovative program. Applications are accepted annually from October through January. Ready to take the next step toward a fulfilling career in nonproliferation? Apply now and join a program that sets the foundation for your future success.
