Diversity and Inclusion
Argonne is home to a vibrant, diverse community. We share a wide-ranging set of ideas, research, backgrounds, beliefs, cultures and communities.

Argonne seeks to attract and hire the most talented people who can contribute to the laboratory's mission of excellence in science, engineering and technology. The laboratory strives for an inclusive culture that welcomes contributions from everyone and empowers all employees to do their best work.

Our commitment to diversity


As one of the world's leading research and development institutions, Argonne brings together diverse individuals from many backgrounds and nations. Argonne's employees contribute a wide range of experiences, ways of thinking and problem-solving styles. This rich diversity is key to the laboratory's success in discovery and innovation. When Argonne respects, fosters and integrates each person's unique and creative approaches, it leverages individual strengths to achieve excellence.

Our leadership's vision for diversity and inclusion


Argonne's employees respect, appreciate and value individual differences so that the laboratory can capitalize on the strengths of a diverse workforce to better perform its mission through teamwork and innovation. The lab's focus on inclusion includes proactive efforts in the following strategic areas:

  • Diverse Workforce: Argonne is expanding efforts to source, attract and recruit and develop the best talent.
  • Inclusive Workplace: The lab explores and implements programs, policies and practices that meet the needs of a changing and diverse workforce.
  • Education and Community Outreach: Community outreach initiatives make the lab a good neighbor to surrounding communities and educational programs that enrich science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
  • Supplier Diversity: Argonne's supplier diversity programs support small business and deliver high-quality products and services to the laboratory.

Dual-Career Support


Argonne National Laboratory understands that employment decisions often involve two careers. Argonne is a founder of the Greater Chicago Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (GC HERC). The mission of GC HERC is to support institutions in attracting and retaining a talented and diverse workforce. GC HERC member organizations include colleges and universities and medical, research and cultural centers. Argonne posts all open positions to GC HERC, as do all other member institutions. In addition to job listings, the website provides a variety of resources. A particular focus is to help dual-career couples. Please visit the Dual Career Section of the GC HERC web site for additional resources.

Awards/Highlights


  • Argonne Diversity Award. To demonstrate the high value Argonne places on diversity, the laboratory created the Women in Science and Technology (WIST) Diversity Award in 2011. This award acknowledges employees who have distinguished themselves through their outstanding commitment to promoting diversity at the laboratory and who have demonstrated leadership and creativity by initiating, or participating in, diversity-related activities at Argonne. The 2012 recipients are Principal Environmental Engineer Lisa A. Durham (Environmental Science) and Physicist Elizabeth Moog (Advanced Photon Source Accelerator Systems).

  • Postdoc Best Places to Work. In 2013, Argonne National Laboratory was ranked the fifth-best place for postdocs to work by The Scientist, a life sciences magazine. The magazine's annual Best Places to Work for Postdocs survey recognizes award winners as leaders in striking that fine balance in providing young researchers with both guidance and independence.

  • Golden Family Award. Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Chicago Region presented Argonne with this award in 2009 and 2011. The award honors companies in the Chicago area for their commitment to support of family issues, including the delicate balance between work and family.