JTFI hired an external consulting firm for a six-month engagement to assist Fermilab in identifying and addressing performance challenges in the mission-critical support areas of procurement, facilities, finance and human resources.

How can we ensure that people around the world have access to the reliable, affordable energy needed for economic growth and human development without putting the environment, climate or human health at risk? In answer to this challenge question, JTFI funded four joint projects at UChicago and Argonne over two years that are answering this challenge question using diverse ideas and experiments. Read more.

The LAWISE Task Force is exploring new programs that provide training to, and increase the numbers of, women scientific and engineering leaders (as well as their allies of all genders) at the national laboratories. It is also working to help honor and build a network of support for leaders in STEM. Read more about LAWISE.

Chain Reaction Innovations, the entrepreneurship program at Argonne, created the Students for Energy & Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) intern program to empower Chicagoland college students from under-resourced communities to pursue and excel in STEM careers. SEED offers students two exciting ways to combat climate change through either STEM or business internships with CRI’s clean energy startup companies while simultaneously creating a comprehensive pipeline for students to make an impact through science careers. JTFI is providing full support for 3 SEED interns at Argonne in 2022.

The Strategic Program for Innovation at the National Laboratories (SPIN) promotes entrepreneurial thinking at the national labs. In classes taught by UChicago Booth School of Business faculty, as well as external industry experts, scientists and staff, participants develop an entrepreneurial mindset, strong communication skills, and new collaboration strategies that can be applied to all aspects of their professional careers. JTFI is providing full support for 17 participants from Argonne and Fermilab in 2022. Read more about SPIN.

JTFI issued a call for proposals in 2021 for proposals in such areas as environment fate of materials, AI/ML applied to sustainability, polymer circularity, carbon capture, biotechnology, green batteries, sensing technology and sustainability, resource recovery, critical material life cycle analysis, and solar technology. Four proposals were funded in 2022 with a potential second year of support. Read more about some of the projects here.