SNOLAB launches new Affiliate and Emerit policy

SNOLAB is rolling out a new Affiliate and Emerit policy designed to increase the laboratory’s reach, impact, and profile in the community.

The purpose of this new program is to establish a formal professional affiliation between SNOLAB and individuals who do not work at SNOLAB, but who make substantial contributions to SNOLAB.

The Affiliate designation will be an opportunity for an individual who is not an employee of the laboratory, but whose work provides value to SNOLAB and its community, to formally affiliate with SNOLAB. These affiliations are on a voluntary basis. Affiliates will contribute toward SNOLAB’s strategic vision and goals and spend time working on-site, and in return gain the benefit of a formal professional affiliation with the laboratory that can be useful in attracting external funding or partners (such as highly qualified personnel) for their programs.

Emerit status will be conferred to an eligible individual who has retired from full-employment status as a Research Scientist at SNOLAB. Emerit is a non-gendered title; designees may also be referred to as “Emeritus” or “Emerita.”

Dr. Stephen Sekula, SNOLAB’s Research Group manager, stresses that, though the new policy will be administered by the Research Division, Affiliates will be welcome across all groups, from operations to engineering to projects, from IT to Communications.

“SNOLAB is the place the world thinks of when it thinks of doing incredibly difficult science in deep-underground, ultra-clean conditions,” Sekula said.

“The capabilities of the laboratory are enhanced by its people, and we believe that being able to establish a new line of formal affiliations with members of our community will grow the science, enhance the environment at the laboratory, and develop a new generation of thought leaders in our community.”

Applications for both programs are being accepted by SNOLAB’s Director of Research here, and must include a CV or resume outlining the following:

• Indication of their interest in SNOLAB’s activities and the Affiliate or Emerit status;
• A cover letter that includes (if applicable):
• A brief description of their proposed activities and how those activities align with SNOLAB’s strategic goals;
• Identification of any joint projects that have been held or are currently held with SNOLAB;
• Identification of eligibility criteria they meet for SNOLAB affiliation;
• Identifying contributions to strengthen SNOLAB;
• A record of work products and external support related to the proposed activities;
• Previous employment with SNOLAB; and
• Plans for future collaboration with SNOLAB.

This new Affiliate and Emerit policy builds on the new SNOLAB Underground Science Institute (SuSi) by creating additional pathways for relationships across our community centred at SNOLAB while enhancing value for SNOLAB and its partners. This new policy promises to deliver on all three of SNOLAB’s strategic goals of driving breakthrough discoveries in underground science, continuously improving SNOLAB infrastructure, and developing a skilled and diverse workforce.