Diversity in Action

Los Alamos seeks grads to keep knowhow in-house

As senior technical folks retire, the lab is looking for engineers to "supplement the workforce and learn from our scientists," says the HR group leader

With a continued emphasis on homeland security, hiring at Los Alamos National Laboratory remains steady, with an expected 800 new employees in 2003, says Art Gonzales, human resources group leader. In particular, the lab is targeting people who received their degrees within the last five years, he adds.

Los Alamos National Laboratory wants to hire new grads and students majoring in scientific and technical areas, says Art Gonzales.

"Our average age here at the lab is about forty-eight, and we've had some concerns over the last two years that our corporate knowledge is going out the door with retirement," Gonzales says. "So we are looking to hire recent college grads who can supplement the workforce and learn from our scientists to keep corporate knowledge here."

The lab manages the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile under a contract run by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Research programs focus on physics, bioscience and other areas. The lab, which received a budget increase in fiscal year 2003, has more than 10,000 employees and hired 1,000 new workers last year. Although there won't be quite as many new hires in 2003, career opportunities still abound, Gonzales says.

The bulk of the opportunities are for technical people. "Most of our hiring has been in the weapons area, rather than the operations or administration areas," he says.

In May, the lab opened its new center for homeland security. In addition, the weapons program received further funding. Of the 400 or so employees hired so far this year, about 60 percent are in technical fields. Of those, 40 percent have PhDs and 20 percent have masters degrees. "We are trying to hire students majoring in scientific and technical areas. We're trying to establish and continue that pipeline so we can convert those people into regular positions," Gonzales says.

The lab has an extensive post-graduate intern program, with 300 participants. It collaborates with schools on research subjects for the students.

"If everything works out for them, we can convert these post-docs and our graduate research assistants into regular positions without having to actually advertise it," Gonzales says.

The lab recruits from many colleges with diverse populations. Gonzales' staff has identified about forty universities with the best combination of strong academics, relevant disciplines and diversity, Gonzales says. The lab then set up a three-tier system to prioritize the schools from which it would hire. About twelve schools are in the top tier. A cadre of technical recruiters visits those universities. Gonzales says the lab hires 1,400 to 1,500 undergraduate and graduate students per year, many of whom work year round.

Once the best students are identified, the lab sets up interviews for a "Just In Time" recruiting event. It arranges hotels and transportation. A lab associate brings students to the facility, where they interview with division directors. It's a rigorous process, but because of extensive pre-screening about 80 percent of participants are accepted. The program has been in place for four years.

Gonzales says that students don't start the process to obtain security clearances until they land a full-time job. Of those hired this year, about 40 percent were women, and 26 percent were Hispanic. Only 2 percent were African American. "That's a little harder," Gonzales admits. For urban minorities, he explains, "It can be hard to come to Los Alamos where there's a population of 17,000 and you're 100 miles from the nearest big city."

The lab's human resources department works with in-house diversity groups to recruit African American, Hispanic, Asian and women employees. "When we do bring minority candidates here, the groups help these employees adjust to some of the social and cultural situations in Los Alamos," Gonzales says.

www.lanl.gov Headquarters: Los Alamos, NM Employees: 15,500 (students, consultants, subcontractors) Annual Budget : $2 billion Business: Department of Energy research lab; stockpile stewardship for nuclear weapons; research in physical, biological and environmental sciences

The lab has programs to help people pay for their education, either part time or through its one-year-on-campus program. For those who opt to spend one intensive year on campus, "They still get their salary and we pay for tuition and books," Gonzales says.

Gonzales says it's important that students do well academically. "That doesn't mean that we only hire 4.0s, but someone with a 2.0 won't have a good chance of getting hired. Someone with a 3.0 might have a situation that caused the lower grades." He also looks for candidates that offer some diversity and have been involved at their university.

Students who attend universities that are not on the lab's campus visit schedule should apply for jobs online at www.lanl.gov. The lab receives 6,000 to 8,000 applications per month. Once students are hired they can stay on as interns for several summers.

The lab also accepts high schoolers entering college or rising college sophomores. The student pool is diverse since about 70 percent of the locals are Hispanic. There are also eight Northern Pueblo groups in northern New Mexico.

"We in HR work closely with the tribal relations team in our government relations office and the governors of nearby states on interests of mutual concern, especially environmental and employment issues. They want us to continue to visit the Pueblos and provide them with employment information," Gonzales says.

D/C