Life at SLAC

Every day, SLAC people can be seen collaborating across our beautiful campus. The Main Quad is busy during lunch with colleagues catching up, and our buildings offer spaces to think up new ideas. Explore SLAC through our articles or take our virtual tour. To meet our scientists and learn about the exciting science happening at the lab, register for a public tour or sign up for our events, such as public lectures and community outreach activities.

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Arrival and inspection of the L3 lens of the LSST Camera

The lasting impact of working as an engineer at SLAC on big science projects gives me a sense of contributing to our collective knowledge of the universe.”
Travis Lange Staff engineer

Videos

Behind the scenes at SLAC

Science that’s changing the world from the heart of Silicon Valley and the people who are making it happen. — Science that’s changing the world from the heart of Silicon Valley, and the people who are making it happen. *(Farrin Abbott/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

About SLAC video still frame — SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is a Department of Energy national lab run by Stanford in the heart of Silicon Valley. We invent scientific tools to explore the universe at its biggest, its smallest and its fastest. *(Olivier Bonin/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

The Matter in Extreme Conditions (MEC) instrument mimics the extreme pressure of the Earth's core and temperatures as hot as the Sun’s surface. We observe the transformation of matter with an atom’s-eye view – uncovering answers to fundamental physics questions.”
Arianna Gleason Staff scientist

Staff scientist Arianna Gleason discusses science being done in the Matter in Extreme Conditions (MEC) hutch.

Our communities

A meeting of SLAC’s Committee for Outreach, Recruiting & Engagement of Ethnic Minorities (CORE) Employee Resource Group. — A monthly meeting of SLAC’s Committee for Outreach, Recruiting & Engagement of Ethnic Minorities (CORE) Employee Resource Group. *(Dawn Harmer/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

SLAC volunteers assembled personal care packs for the 2019 Cardinal at Work Cares Giving Essentials Drive. — SLAC volunteers assembled personal care packs for the 2019 Cardinal at Work Cares Giving Essentials Drive, which distributed 3,200 packs and more than 1,000 jackets and coats. *(Jacqueline Ramseyer Orrell/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

From left, Marc Davidson and Cameron Kim judge the final round of the 2020 Regional Department of Energy Science Bowl. — From left, Marc Davidson and Cameron Kim judge the final round of the 2020 Regional Department of Energy Science Bowl, held in Panofsky Auditorium. *(Jacqueline Ramseyer Orrell/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

High school students participate in SAGE Camp, a girls engineering camp. — SLAC staff participate in the SAGE summer camp poster session. SAGE aims to engage high school girls to enter into a career in STEM.

Our campus

SLAC employees seen sitting at tables around the Main Quad. — Employees back on SLAC’s beautiful campus during the spring of 2021, catching up at the Main Quad. *(Jacqueline Ramseyer Orrell/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

Evening view of the cryoplant. — Evening view of the cryoplant that will keep the Linac Coherent Light Source’s superconducting linear accelerator at 2 degrees Celsius above absolute zero (minus 456 degrees Fahrenheit), about as cold as outer space. *(Eric Fauve/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

SLAC staff taking a break to order coffee at Verve on site. *(Linda McCulloch/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

Our work

Preparations of instruments for beam and experiments at LCLS — XPP Instrument Area Manager Daniel Stefanescu prepares LCLS instruments for beam and experiments. *(Linda McCulloch/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

Margaret Ghaly puts a pin in one of the two countries she calls home on the SLAC Celebrates Diversity Around the World Map on display at the 2019 SLAC Holiday Party. *(Jacqueline Orrell/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

Installation into SLAC’s undulator hall housing these magnets. *(Jacqueline Ramseyer Orrell/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

Researchers gathered at SLAC's SSRL and LCLS Users Meeting for plenary talks, workshops, poster sessions and award presentations, all involving the lab’s light sources. *(Jacqueline Orrell/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

More than work

Employees with the Business Services Division enjoy a catered breakfast in the main quad. — SLAC CFO George Clark, standing, enjoys an early morning conversation during a breakfast in the quad with other members of the Business Services Division on September 7. *(Jacqueline Ramseyer Orrell/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

Pride parade at SLAC — The SLAC LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group organized the first ever Pride March at the lab on June 29, 2022. *(Jacqueline Ramseyer Orrell/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

Our annual staff barbecue at the lab’s Arrillaga Recreation Building sports field draws crowds with games and prizes. *(Linda McCulloch/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

SLAC employees enjoy the third Comms Coffee Social get-together outside the SUSB patio on April 28, 2022. *(Jacqueline Ramseyer Orrell/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

Learning enrichments

Art Meets Science: A Different Physics with San Mateo County Poet Laureate Lisa Rosenberg talks about her poetry with professor Roger Blandford — Art Meets Science: *A Different Physics* with San Mateo County Poet Laureate Lisa Rosenberg, who talks about her poetry with Professor Roger Blandford at Kavli Auditorium at SLAC. *(Jacqueline Ramseyer Orrell/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

Staff scientist Johanna Nelson Weker gives a talk about pushing the battery revolution. — Staff scientist Johanna Nelson Weker gives a talk about pushing the battery revolution during a SLAC on Tap event at The Old Pro in Palo Alto. *(Jacqueline Ramseyer Orrell/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

Participants discuss their scientific posters during the 2019 Bay Area Battery Summit. *(Jacqueline Ramseyer Orrell/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)*

Dig deeper

Our people in SLAC news

News Feature

In 1974, the independent discovery of the J/psi particle at SLAC and Brookhaven National Laboratory rocked the physics world, and entire textbooks had to...

News Feature

For nearly 50 years, Hodgson has illuminated the synchrotron radiation community through his pioneering research, innovations, leadership, advocacy and mentorship at the Stanford Synchrotron...

News Feature

SLAC hosted two faculty members from institutions historically underrepresented in the research community via the Visiting Faculty Program.

Fred Lacy and Kolo Wamba stand in front experimental equipment.

News Feature

In 1974, the independent discovery of the J/psi particle at SLAC and Brookhaven National Laboratory rocked the physics world, and entire textbooks had to...

News Feature

For nearly 50 years, Hodgson has illuminated the synchrotron radiation community through his pioneering research, innovations, leadership, advocacy and mentorship at the Stanford Synchrotron...

News Feature

SLAC hosted two faculty members from institutions historically underrepresented in the research community via the Visiting Faculty Program.

News Brief

Scientists worldwide who conduct research at SLAC’s light sources shine light on latest discoveries and innovations in talks, workshops and discussions.

Group photo of the users' meeting attendees

News Feature

An energy systems engineer, Cezar helps bridge advanced energy research and applications.

News Feature

The physicist and former vice provost and dean of research was named Stanford’s vice president for SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

Who we are

SLAC science explained

NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory LSST

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Microbes Mining Minerals: A New Route to Plant Cultivation

Behind the scenes at SLAC

Our communities

Our campus

Our work

More than work

Learning enrichments

Our people in SLAC news

SLAC celebrates 50 years of Nobel-winning discovery in particle physics

SLAC’s Keith O. Hodgson wins 2024 Farrel W. Lytle Award

DOE summer program broadens visiting faculty-SLAC collaborations

SLAC celebrates 50 years of Nobel-winning discovery in particle physics

SLAC’s Keith O. Hodgson wins 2024 Farrel W. Lytle Award

DOE summer program broadens visiting faculty-SLAC collaborations

SSRL and LCLS host 2024 Users’ Meeting

Spotlight on sustainability research: Gustavo Cezar on building a more resilient grid

Kam Moler named Stanford vice president for SLAC