Samantha Labb
July 2
What do you like about your job and/or about working at the Lab?
Working at the Lab has provided me with the opportunity to work on challenging, cutting-edge science that, while trying at times, leaves me deeply fulfilled. The postdoc opportunity I received felt entirely outside of my comfort zone, but I have acquired new skills and achieved growth beyond anything I’ve ever imagined. The opportunities to collaborate with both LLNL and international colleagues, abundant facilities/resources, and mentorship places us at the forefront of science.
What do your day-to-day work activities include?
I am a textbook lab rat and prefer to spend a majority of my time as such. When focusing on small-scale chemistry development, I am typically testing dozens of systems to achieve my goal until I find the one that works…and then I work to make it more efficient. When a NIF shot is approaching, these optimized methods are put to the test and the days are spent tediously preparing targets doped with radioactive materials. The end of my days typically involves data analysis, manuscript writing, and presentation preparation.
What is one project you’re really proud to have worked on?
NIF radiochemistry. Our team has recently demonstrated the first successful (n,2n) cross section measurement under high-energy-density conditions at the National Ignition Facility. Together we have developed tedious chemistry to prepare ultra-high purity radioactive solutions, NIF capsule doping platforms, and solid debris collection methods for post-shot analysis. This work allows us to measure key nuclear reactions in nucleosynthesis to understand how heavy elements are formed in the universe while also supporting the Lab’s national security efforts.
What is your educational/career background?
I received my B.S. in chemistry from Salisbury University in 2018 where I conducted four years of organic/organometallic synthesis research. Before grad school I spent a summer at Argonne National Lab where I developed a method that improved the Cs-137 age-dating method in support of nuclear forensics. I obtained my PhD in radiochemistry and radiation health physics from Colorado State University in 2023. During my PhD, I received two Seaborg Graduate Fellowships at Los Alamos National Lab supporting stockpile stewardship research, designed new separation materials with TrisKem Int. (France), and collaborated with Fukushima University developing new actinide separation methods.
What inspired you to go into science/your field of work?
I declared a chemistry major with no true reasoning, so I sought out research opportunities during my first semester which ultimately led to four years of research designing new ligands in view of nuclear waste reprocessing. While this work focused only on organic synthesis, my interest in nuclear energy coupled with the lack of nuclear science curriculum fueled my desire to dive deeper into nuclear/radiochemistry. Throughout the years, I found that my skills provided opportunities to work on a variety projects related to energy, forensics, stockpile stewardship, medicine, and the environment; all deeply rewarding.
What advice would you give to a new employee at the Lab?
Jump at the opportunities and projects that intimidate you. The gift research provides is that of life-long learning. Projects and/or research questions will arise that may seem to fall outside of your specific expertise, but your fundamental skillset along with the help of colleagues will allow you to rise to the challenge and grow beyond measure.
What are your hobbies/what do you do in your free time?
Whether it’s camping at national parks and pulling out my telescope or doing a wine/castle tour around Europe, I love exploring new places and immersing myself in them. When I don’t have the time to get away, I am typically reading or hyper-fixated on some new hobby I *could* be into but will probably abandon (buying fancy hobby supplies is actually my hobby).
How many years have you worked at the Lab?
2
Where are you from?
New Jersey
Do you support disciplines or programs outside PLS?
Strategic Deterrance and National Ignition Facility & Photon Science.
