Plant Maintenance Technician
About the job
- Knowledge of machinery and mechanical equipment, including engines, motors, hydraulic systems, emergency generators, pumps, air compressors, roll-up doors, and power gates.
- At least four years of work experience in mechanical maintenance, plant operations, installation, or fabrication; or completion of a recognized four-year apprenticeship program in plant maintenance; or completion of an accredited two-year program with two years of work experience; or an equivalent combination of documented military or industrial training and work experience.
- Ability to diagnose problems and take appropriate corrective action without detailed instruction.
- Ability to read piping diagrams and blueprints.
- Ability to climb stairs, ladders, and scaffolds; work at heights, in confined spaces, around rotating equipment, and under fluorescent and other artificial lighting; bend, stoop, kneel, and crawl; use both hands with manual dexterity; lift 50 pounds to chest height; and distinguish colors adequately to use color-coding.
- Ability to use computers for record keeping and communication and to write intelligible, presentable reports.
- Ability to communicate clearly over the telephone and two-way radio.
- Valid California driver's license.
- Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States at the time of hire.
- Ability to comply with applicable health, safety, fire, and environmental-protection policies.
- Install, repair, and maintain equipment and systems essential to laboratory operations; perform preventive maintenance, equipment repairs, control-system alarm response, emergency repairs, and equipment replacement.
- Operate, maintain, and perform mechanical, non-electrical repairs on low- and high-pressure boilers, pneumatic actuated devices, air handlers, vacuum systems, pressurized gas and hydronic water systems, pumps, blowers, compressors, cooling towers, and deionized/reverse-osmosis water systems.
- Operate the Facilities Monitoring and Control System, monitor alarms, and respond to abnormal site conditions.
- Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on fixed and portable equipment, including boilers, air compressors, engine-driven generators, air-handling units, exhaust systems, cooling towers, treatment units, pressure-control valves, high-pressure gas manifolds, pumps, and underground utilities.
- Respond to mechanical and system emergencies to identify safety hazards, prevent property damage, and assess needs.
- Use test and safety equipment to perform assigned tasks efficiently and safely.
- Inspect, test, evaluate, and maintain critical equipment and systems to provide safe and reliable facility infrastructure to the research community.
- Implement lockout/tagout and complex lockout/tagout procedures.
- Fabricate, install, and maintain sophisticated experimental equipment in support of research processes, using engineering specifications, drawings, sketches, or verbal instructions.
- Support maintenance and operation of above-ground and underground storage tanks.
- Completion of the Laboratory’s Qualified Electrical Worker program, or ability to become Qualified Electrical Worker 1 qualified within 12 months.
- Experience working with underground utilities such as water, wastewater, and natural gas.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring a Plant Maintenance Technician within the Facilities division.You will install, repair and maintain equipment and systems critical to Laboratory operations and the pursuit of world-class science. You will perform varied tasks essential day-to-day operation of the plant facilities systems, complete preventive maintenance, make small and complex equipment repairs, monitor and respond to control systems alarms and perform emergency repairs and equipment replacement when needed.
We’re here for the same mission, to bring science solutions to the world. Join our team and YOU will play a supporting role in our goal to address global challenges! Have a high level of impact and work for an organization associated with 17 Nobel Prizes!
Why join Berkeley Lab?
We invest in our employees by offering a total rewards package you can count on\:
Exceptional health and retirement benefits, including pension or 401K-style plans
Opportunities to grow in your career - check out our Tuition Assistance Program
A culture where you’ll belong - we are invested in our teams!
Parental bonding leave (for both mothers and fathers)
Pet insurance
You will\:
Operate, maintain, & make mechanical, non-electrical repairs to low and high pressure boilers, pneumatic actuated devices, air handlers, vacuum systems, pressurized gas and hydronic water systems, pumps, blowers, compressors, cooling towers, and DI/RO Water Systems.
Operate Facilities Monitoring & Control System (FMCS). Monitor and respond to alarms and abnormal site conditions.
Perform various preventative and corrective maintenance tasks on a wide variety of fixed and portable equipment, including but not limited to Boilers, Air Compressors, Engine Driven Generators, Air Handling Units, Exhaust Systems, Cooling Towers, Fix Treatment Units, Pressure Control Valves, High Pressure Gas Manifolds, Large and Small Pumps, and underground utilities.
Respond to mechanical and system emergencies to identify safety hazards, prevent damage to property and assess needs.
Utilize test and safety equipment as required to perform assigned tasks efficiently and safely.
Inspect, test, evaluate, and maintain the operation of critical equipment and systems in order to provide a safe and reliable facility infrastructure to the research community.
Implement lock out, tag out (LOTO) and complex LOTO procedures.
Comply with LBNL implementation of health and safety policies and other applicable Federal, State, and local fire, health, safety, and environmental-protection policies.
Desired Responsibilities\:
In direct support of research processes perform fabrication, installation, and maintenance of highly sophisticated experimental equipment from engineering specifications, drawings, sketches, or verbal instruction.
Support the maintenance and operation of above ground storage tanks (AST) and underground storage tanks (UST).
We are looking for\:
Knowledge of various machinery and mechanical equipment including engines, motors, hydraulic systems, emergency generators, pumps, air compressors, roll up doors and power gates.
Must have four years or more of work experience in the field of mechanical maintenance, plant operations, installation, or fabrication; or completion of a recognized four year apprenticeship program in plant maintenance or completion of an accredited two-year program with two years of work experience; or an equivalent combination of documentable military or industrial training and work experience.
Ability to diagnose and effect appropriate corrective actions without detailed instruction.
Ability to read piping diagrams and blue prints.
Able to climb stairs, ladders, scaffolds, work at heights, in confined spaces, around rotating equipment, under fluorescent and other artificial lighting, able to bend, stoop, kneel, and crawl. Must have manual dexterity in both hands as well as ability to lift 50lbs. to chest height, and distinguish colors adequately to utilize color-coding.
Ability to use computers effectively for record keeping and communication. Ability to write intelligible and presentable reports.
Able to communicate clearly over telephone and two way radio.
Must have a valid California Drivers License.
Desired skills/knowledge\:
Completion of the Laboratory’s Qualified Electrical Worker program or ability to become QEW 1 qualified within 12 months.
Experience working with underground utilities such as water, wastewater and natural gas.
Additional information\:
Appointment type\: This is a full-time, career appointment, non-exempt (bi-weekly paid) eligible for overtime pay.
Salary range\: Eff 10/1/26 the salary for this position is $61.72/hourly. Salary for this position is predetermined based on collective bargaining agreements set rates. Different shift options may be available (day/swing/owl). Swing and Owl shifts include additional shift differential to the $61.72/hourly.
- Day Shift 1\: Sunday - Thursday 6\:45 AM - 3\:15 PM or Day Shift 2\: Tuesday - Saturday 6\:45 AM - 3\:15 PM
Background check\: This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
Work modality\: Work will be primarily performed at\:Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. A REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification is required to access Berkeley Lab sites (for more informationclick here).
Relocation\: This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.
Work authorization\: Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Union Represented\: This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes.
Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit\: careers.lbl.gov
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer\: The foundation of Berkeley Lab is our Stewardship Values\: Team Science, Service, Trust, Innovation, and Respect; and we strive to build community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We heartily welcome applications from all who could contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, excellence, and professionalism. In support of our rich global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under State and Federal law.
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement\: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer. For additional information, click here.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring a Plant Maintenance Technician within the Facilities division.You will install, repair and maintain equipment and systems critical to Laboratory operations and the pursuit of world-class science. You will perform varied tasks essential day-to-day operation of the plant facilities systems, complete preventive maintenance, make small and complex equipment repairs, monitor and respond to control systems alarms and perform emergency repairs and equipment replacement when needed.
We’re here for the same mission, to bring science solutions to the world. Join our team and YOU will play a supporting role in our goal to address global challenges! Have a high level of impact and work for an organization associated with 17 Nobel Prizes!
Why join Berkeley Lab?
We invest in our employees by offering a total rewards package you can count on\:
Exceptional health and retirement benefits, including pension or 401K-style plans
Opportunities to grow in your career - check out our Tuition Assistance Program
A culture where you’ll belong - we are invested in our teams!
Parental bonding leave (for both mothers and fathers)
Pet insurance
You will\:
Operate, maintain, & make mechanical, non-electrical repairs to low and high pressure boilers, pneumatic actuated devices, air handlers, vacuum systems, pressurized gas and hydronic water systems, pumps, blowers, compressors, cooling towers, and DI/RO Water Systems.
Operate Facilities Monitoring & Control System (FMCS). Monitor and respond to alarms and abnormal site conditions.
Perform various preventative and corrective maintenance tasks on a wide variety of fixed and portable equipment, including but not limited to Boilers, Air Compressors, Engine Driven Generators, Air Handling Units, Exhaust Systems, Cooling Towers, Fix Treatment Units, Pressure Control Valves, High Pressure Gas Manifolds, Large and Small Pumps, and underground utilities.
Respond to mechanical and system emergencies to identify safety hazards, prevent damage to property and assess needs.
Utilize test and safety equipment as required to perform assigned tasks efficiently and safely.
Inspect, test, evaluate, and maintain the operation of critical equipment and systems in order to provide a safe and reliable facility infrastructure to the research community.
Implement lock out, tag out (LOTO) and complex LOTO procedures.
Comply with LBNL implementation of health and safety policies and other applicable Federal, State, and local fire, health, safety, and environmental-protection policies.
Desired Responsibilities\:
In direct support of research processes perform fabrication, installation, and maintenance of highly sophisticated experimental equipment from engineering specifications, drawings, sketches, or verbal instruction.
Support the maintenance and operation of above ground storage tanks (AST) and underground storage tanks (UST).
We are looking for\:
Knowledge of various machinery and mechanical equipment including engines, motors, hydraulic systems, emergency generators, pumps, air compressors, roll up doors and power gates.
Must have four years or more of work experience in the field of mechanical maintenance, plant operations, installation, or fabrication; or completion of a recognized four year apprenticeship program in plant maintenance or completion of an accredited two-year program with two years of work experience; or an equivalent combination of documentable military or industrial training and work experience.
Ability to diagnose and effect appropriate corrective actions without detailed instruction.
Ability to read piping diagrams and blue prints.
Able to climb stairs, ladders, scaffolds, work at heights, in confined spaces, around rotating equipment, under fluorescent and other artificial lighting, able to bend, stoop, kneel, and crawl. Must have manual dexterity in both hands as well as ability to lift 50lbs. to chest height, and distinguish colors adequately to utilize color-coding.
Ability to use computers effectively for record keeping and communication. Ability to write intelligible and presentable reports.
Able to communicate clearly over telephone and two way radio.
Must have a valid California Drivers License.
Desired skills/knowledge\:
Completion of the Laboratory’s Qualified Electrical Worker program or ability to become QEW 1 qualified within 12 months.
Experience working with underground utilities such as water, wastewater and natural gas.
Additional information\:
Appointment type\: This is a full-time, career appointment, non-exempt (bi-weekly paid) eligible for overtime pay.
Salary range\: Eff 10/1/26 the salary for this position is $61.72/hourly. Salary for this position is predetermined based on collective bargaining agreements set rates. Different shift options may be available (day/swing/owl). Swing and Owl shifts include additional shift differential to the $61.72/hourly.
- Day Shift 1\: Sunday - Thursday 6\:45 AM - 3\:15 PM or Day Shift 2\: Tuesday - Saturday 6\:45 AM - 3\:15 PM
Background check\: This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
Work modality\: Work will be primarily performed at\:Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. A REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification is required to access Berkeley Lab sites (for more informationclick here).
Relocation\: This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.
Work authorization\: Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Union Represented\: This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes.
Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit\: careers.lbl.gov
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer\: The foundation of Berkeley Lab is our Stewardship Values\: Team Science, Service, Trust, Innovation, and Respect; and we strive to build community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We heartily welcome applications from all who could contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, excellence, and professionalism. In support of our rich global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under State and Federal law.
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement\: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer. For additional information, click here.
About the company
Berkeley Lab is a national research facility that conducts unclassified basic science across many fields, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed by the University of California. Its work aims to address energy and environmental challenges by using interdisciplinary teams and building advanced tools for scientific discovery. Researchers study biosciences, computing sciences, Earth and environmental sciences, energy sciences and technologies, and physical sciences. The lab hosts about 4,200 scientists, engineers, staff, and students on a 200-acre site near UC Berkeley, and it has earned many prestigious honors, including Nobel Prizes and national academy memberships. Its goal is to generate foundational science that leads to practical, transformational solutions for energy and environmental issues while training the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Company Size
5,001-10,000
Company Stage
Grant
Total Funding
$2M
Headquarters
Berkeley, California
Founded
1931
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- MOSAIC's August 18, 2026 Nature Methods spotlight strengthens Berkeley Lab's scientific brand.
- ARPA-E's August 2026 ROCKS funding advances fieldable muon imaging for critical minerals.
- Genesis Mission collaborations with Ideon, eXoZymes, and universities broaden commercialization pathways.
What critics are saying
- DOE's FY2027 justification seeks a 20% Berkeley Lab cut, threatening programs.
- AFSCME's 2026 PERB case exposes unresolved health-and-safety tensions at LBNL.
- A sustained federal funding squeeze can hollow out labs before competitors absorb talent.
What makes Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory unique
- DOE's Berkeley Lab leads 13 Genesis Mission projects, announced July 22, 2026.
- Perlmutter and NERSC let scientists pair instruments with elite HPC and AI.
- MOSAIC integrates ten-plus imaging modes, making Berkeley Lab uniquely strong in computational biology.
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5%QuEra scientists named co-principal investigators on three of nine teams in Department of Energy's quantum chemistry program, now underway. October 15, 2026 Teams led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Phasecraft partner with QuEra for work on superconductors, high-performance magnets, and hydrogen production applications. BOSTON, MA - October 15, 2026 - QuEra Computing, the leader in quantum computing, today announced that its scientists will work with three of the nine teams selected for the Quantum Computing for Computational Chemistry (QC3) program at the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E) to develop neutral-atom-based modeling frameworks for complex materials and molecules. The three-year program, announced by the Department of Energy in March 2026, directs $37 million across the program performers. QC3 exists to close the gap between vendor roadmaps that are rapidly transitioning to expanded logical capabilities by the end of the decade but don't yet clearly map to the resources required for published algorithms for energy-relevant chemistry applications. ARPA-E's premise is that the gap closes through full-stack co-design, where improvements of two to three times at each layer of the stack compound into an order of magnitude overall. The program asks its teams to identify an application worth a quadrillion BTU of energy or a gigaton of CO[2]-equivalent, and to pursue a scalable hundredfold improvement over classical state of the art, validated at approximately 100 logical qubits. QuEra's updated roadmap targets 1,000 logical qubits by 2029, providing ample hardware capability for this program. The three projects. QuEra scientists serve as co-principal investigators on each of the following teams, contributing neutral-atom access, expertise, algorithm and architecture co-design. * SuperKIQ, led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Superconductor search through Krylov-inspired quantum algorithms, aimed at deepening understanding of high-temperature superconductors and accelerating the discovery of new superconducting materials by co-designing algorithms and error-correction protocols for hardware with reconfigurable connectivity. The team also includes NASA Ames, the University of Southern California, Michigan State University, Citrine Informatics, and Azulene Labs. * MAGNETIQC, led by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Quantum and machine-learning-accelerated software tools applied to the discovery of ultra-strong, lightweight magnets for electric motors, generators, and high-performance information technology. The team also includes members from Columbia University, the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center Application Technology Group, and Citrine Informatics. * Quantum Computing for Hydrogen Fuel Production, led by Phasecraft. Optimized quantum algorithms for simulating electrolysis, with the primary objective of reducing reliance on iridium, a critical mineral, in hydrogen production. The team also includes Phasecraft Ltd, Johnson Matthey, and Harvard University. Why neutral atoms support ARPA-E's mission. The QC3 solicitation required every applicant to submit a letter of intent from a quantum hardware provider as part of its application, which made the hardware choice a gating requirement rather than a later implementation detail. Five of the nine selected primes are hardware companies running their own machines. QuEra is the external hardware provider partner for three out of the remaining four projects. QuEra's neutral-atom technology and application co-design approach is an attractive choice for partners thanks to the architectural benefits it provides for full-stack application development and optimization across both error correction and application layers. Neutral atoms are identical by nature, controlled wirelessly by lasers, and are reconfigurable, which enables a high degree of connectivity: a core lever in algorithm development and error correction implementation. "QuEra's architecture and software stack give researchers exceptional flexibility to co-design quantum error correction and fault-tolerant applications with the hardware itself," said Shengtao Wang, VP of Algorithms and Applications at QuEra. "That flexibility is especially valuable in a long-term program like ARPA-E's QC3, which aims to deliver a step change in computational chemistry and materials science." Co-Design as the method. ARPA-E's co-design thesis is one that QuEra is closely aligned with. With Los Alamos National Laboratory, QuEra published a transversal STAR architecture in PRX Quantum in June 2026 that delivers up to 250 times faster execution and roughly half the physical qubits of conventional fault-tolerant approaches for structured quantum simulation, achieved specifically by co-designing error correction around neutral-atom reconfigurable connectivity. Separately, algorithmic fault tolerance published in Nature in 2025 reduced runtime overhead by 10 to 100 times for reconfigurable architectures. "We have a growing body of evidence that the earliest examples of quantum advantage will be the result of co-design across the entire application stack, from the algorithm design, to the QEC architecture, to the hardware itself," said Stefan Ostermann, Director of Quantum Applications at QuEra. "The Department of Energy's approach through QC3 is one we deeply agree with, and we are excited to partner closely with them over the course of this program." * Read the ARPA-E program details: QC3 program page and project descriptions * Read the co-design result, the transversal STAR architecture published with Los Alamos National Laboratory: https://journals.aps.org/prxquantum/abstract/10.1103/j2fw-ccmy, https://arxiv.org/html/2606.25011v1 * Explore QuEra's work with national programs: www.quera.com/national-programs * Explore the roadmap, covering Libra and QuEra's next-generation gigaquop-class system: quera.com/its-quantum-roadmap
Technologies developed through pioneering research and development work. August 21, 2026 3:06 PM Earlier this year, FindLight, a marketplace for products specialized in photonics, reported that a study led by Penn State University had shed light on a little-known mystery outside research laboratories. For years, physicists thought the muon - a particle similar to an electron but 200 times heavier - might be revealing a hidden fifth force of nature. Using advanced lattice simulations and supercomputers, researchers found that the muon's magnetic behavior matches the predictions of the Standard Model with remarkable precision. Muon imaging is useful for examining the interiors of nuclear reactors, volcanoes, tsunamis, and the Great Pyramid, and is able to penetrate much further than X-rays through materials as dense as 30-meter-thick concrete walls. However, as the National Nuclear Security Administration pointed out, the method can be extremely slow since the images need exposure times of about a month. In 2023, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory announced that it was entering into partnerships with industry and academic researchers in order to produce these particles. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Muons for Science and Security program provided funding for the project, which involves high-energy particle physics, plasma physics, advanced numerical simulations, high-performance computing, systems, and systems engineering. The project also included collaboration with the University of Maryland and Lockheed Martin. This week, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) announced that, in cooperation with Ideon Technologies, it obtained funding from the Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy as part of the Reliable Ore Characterization with Keystone Sensing (ROCKS) initiative. Ideon Technologies is a leading company in the fields of muon tomography and advanced data fusion for use in mineral exploration and mining, including having proprietary muon detector arrays, physics simulations, and geological software. The software converts the raw data into 3D mass-density visualizations, allowing geologists to "see" mineral deposits and structural anomalies at a meter-scale resolution. The three-year program aims to establish a reliable domestic supply of critical minerals - minerals that are essential for energy, industry and national security - by means of highly accurate imaging deep beneath the Earth's surface, a level of precision that conventional sensing techniques are unable to achieve. Douglas Schouten, Ideon's co-founder and chief technology officer, stresses that there is a need for faster and better methods if critical minerals are to be understood and developed for the resources society urgently requires. Because of this project, physics at a level higher than that of the world's largest particle accelerators will be able to take images of millions of cubic feet of rock in just a few hours rather than taking several months. By working with research organizations such as Berkeley Lab, Ideon is taking this cutting-edge capability out of the laboratory and combining it with advanced sensing and subatomic particles so that it can provide real benefits to the industries that society relies on. The project will create a highly penetrating and portable muon source and will assist the United States in keeping its leadership in critical mineral resources which are important for both energy and the economy by means of the technologies developed through pioneering research and development work. There is a need for faster and better methods if critical minerals are to be developed for the resources society urgently requires. Because of its vast experience in using detectors at high-energy particle colliders, the Physics Division at Berkeley Lab will supply the muon instrumentation and the particle-tracking diagnostics needed to optimize the muon beam. This project provides a exciting chance of converting decades of research into technology which addresses a major national requirement by providing reliable systems for producing the high-energy muons needed for practical subsurface imaging. This technology's potential goes well beyond mining; it might be used to detect underground voids, gaps, and caves, and would therefore offer important benefits to civil engineering and industrial safety, with consequences for national security and critical infrastructure. For many years Ideon Technologies has, in collaboration with the mining industry, made use of "passive" muons - muons which are produced when cosmic rays collide with atmospheric particles - in order to map up ore deposits and find out about the Earth's subsurface. Berkeley Lab has already demonstrated its ability to accelerate an electron beam with an energy of 10 giga-electron-volts in a single stage over a distance of 30 centimeters. The aim of the project is now to connect two stages of laser plasma accelerator, each having an energy of about 6 giga-electron volts, in order to obtain an acceleration of more than 12 giga-electron volts. Achieving success in this multi-stage proof of concept and reducing the associated risks will prove the technical feasibility of attaining the 30-gigaelectronvolt systems needed to penetrate 50 meters of rock and the 100-gigaelectronvolt systems capable of sensing through 150 meters.
Tint Fanatics expands offerings to meet rising demand for energy-efficient commercial window tinting in Salem. August 21, 2026 August 21, 2026 - Tint Fanatics, a locally owned window tinting company serving South and Central New Hampshire, has expanded its focus on commercial window tinting solutions for offices, retail spaces, restaurants, and other business properties. With more than 15 years of industry experience, the fully insured company provides commercial-grade window films designed to address concerns such as solar heat gain, glare, privacy, UV exposure, and building security. The expanded focus gives businesses evaluating commercial window tinting companies in Salem, NH access to a broader selection of films and installation options based on the needs of individual properties. The commercial service expansion reflects Tint Fanatics' broader range of window film applications for businesses throughout Merrimack and Rockingham counties. According to the company's website, its commercial services include films intended to reduce heat gain and glare, increase privacy while maintaining natural light, protect interior surfaces from UV exposure, and reinforce existing glass. Tint Fanatics is also an XPEL authorized dealer and offers free estimates for commercial projects. Businesses considering window film frequently look at energy use and occupant comfort when evaluating potential building improvements. Solar-control films are designed to limit the amount of solar heat entering through glazing, which may reduce cooling demand in buildings where windows contribute substantially to heat gain. Actual energy savings, however, depend on factors such as the existing glazing system, building orientation, climate, film specifications, window-to-wall ratio, and HVAC performance. Research provides context for the potential savings. A Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report prepared in connection with U.S. General Services Administration research examined low-emissivity solar-control window film as a commercial-building retrofit. The research estimated that widespread application of the technology could produce energy savings equivalent to approximately 15% of total building HVAC energy compared with the existing U.S. commercial building stock under the modeled conditions. The researchers specifically noted that individual buildings could experience higher or lower savings depending on climate and window configuration. A separate commercial-building study published in Energy and Buildings similarly found that performance varied substantially according to the original glazing system, film type, and whether the film was installed on the interior or exterior of the glass. Tint Fanatics' commercial services are intended to give property owners options for addressing these building-specific conditions rather than assuming that every installation will produce the same results. Depending on the selected product and existing windows, solar-control film can reduce solar heat gain and glare, potentially lowering cooling requirements and helping maintain more consistent indoor temperatures. Any projected utility savings should therefore be evaluated using the specifications of the selected film and the characteristics of the individual building. UV protection is another consideration for commercial properties. Tint Fanatics offers window tinting intended to limit UV exposure to furniture, flooring, merchandise, and other interior materials. Reducing UV exposure can help address one contributor to fading and deterioration, although sunlight-related damage is also influenced by visible light, heat, material composition, and the amount of time items are exposed. As energy efficiency, glare management, privacy, UV protection, and glass security remain considerations for commercial property owners, window film provides one retrofit option that can be evaluated without replacing an entire glazing system. Businesses researching commercial window tinting companies in Salem, NH can consult Tint Fanatics about available film types, installation requirements, and product specifications to determine which applications are appropriate for their properties.
Harpur College welcomes Simons Empire Faculty Fellows in mathematics and physics. The four assistant professors' research is at the intersection of quantum materials and artificial intelligence. Left to right: Simons Empire Faculty Fellows Lebing Chen, Sammy Luo, Yahong Yang, and Kunyan Zhang. Image Credit: Provided photos. By Jennifer Micale August 20, 2026 This semester, Harpur College of Arts and Sciences welcomes a quartet of mathematicians and physicists, who will help establish Binghamton University as a major research center at the intersection of quantum science and artificial intelligence. The assistant professors are among the first class of Simons Empire Faculty Fellows in the SUNY system. Mathematicians Yahong Yang and Sammy Luo bring expertise in deep learning theory for partial differential equations and discrete mathematics, with applications for machine learning and optimization. Meanwhile, physicists Lebing Chen and Kunyan Zhang bring cutting-edge experimental capabilities in quantum materials discovery and ultrafast spectroscopy of light-matter interactions. Altogether, their publication record includes prestigious journals such as Science Advances, Nature Communications, and Physical Review X, as well as premier machine-learning venues. The Simons Foundation and Simons Foundation International established the fellowship program to stimulate faculty hiring in mathematics and the sciences across New York state. Four tenure-track faculty members were hired at each of SUNY's University Centers, which include Binghamton, the State University of New York at Albany, Buffalo, and Stony Brook. Simons Foundation International provides funding to participating institutions, while the Simons Foundation administers the program. "I thank the Simons Foundation and Simons Foundation International for investing in SUNY's early-career faculty whose research shows promise in vital and emerging fields," said Binghamton University President Anne D'Alleva. "At Binghamton, our faculty are international leaders in topics including AI, quantum materials and sensing, and mathematics. The Simons Empire Faculty Fellows program provides essential support for their work as they make pathbreaking discoveries that shape our world." Earlier this year, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the New York Center for AI Responsibility and Research, the first-ever independent artificial intelligence (AI) research center at any public university in the United States, will be established at Binghamton. The center will be used to develop technical tools that make AI safe to use in daily life and build upon the research of Binghamton faculty, who are using machine learning and data science to solve real-world challenges, from delivering better healthcare to improving information security. Previously a visiting assistant professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Yang investigates the mathematical foundations of AI, focusing on neural network approximation, generalization analysis, and symmetry-informed learning models. "I am very excited to join Binghamton University and honored to be a Simons Faculty Fellow. I was especially inspired by the University's vision for AI and interdisciplinary collaboration," Yang said. "My research focuses on using mathematics to better understand AI and to help develop AI methods for applications in other fields, so I am excited to connect with researchers across campus and develop new collaborations through this fellowship." Zhang comes to Binghamton from the Chemistry Department at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research focuses on exploring the fundamental physics of nanoscale quantum systems using ultrafast and multidimensional spectroscopy. By integrating advanced spectroscopic technologies, quantum materials, and machine learning, she aims to develop energy-efficient technologies and next-generation sensing platforms. "I am excited to develop my research in the vibrant community at Binghamton University, and I look forward to opportunities to connect and collaborate with other Simons Empire Faculty Fellows at the frontiers of AI and quantum science," Zhang said. Chen comes to Binghamton from a postdoctoral appointment at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He is an experimental condensed matter physicist whose research centers on the design, synthesis, and spectroscopic study of quantum materials, which exhibit properties typically not observed in simple materials or at room temperature, such as superconductivity. Prior to Binghamton, Luo was a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He works in combinatorics and graph theory on the discrete structures that underlie modern learning systems, including frameworks relevant to quantum circuits and error correction. All four are part of a quantum-AI research cluster. Chen anchors the materials side of the experimental program, to which Zhang provides the optical, ultrafast, and photonics components. Yang anchors the AI program in theory, while Luo provides the discrete mathematical layer that connects the experimental and theoretical sides. "We are grateful to the Simons Foundation for making it possible for us to recruit four fantastic scholars. The ability to hire a cluster of faculty who address overlapping questions through very different approaches and perspectives has enabled Harpur College to build research strength with both depth and breadth," said Harpur College Dean Celia Klin. "These scholars are exciting additions to the departments of Physics and Mathematics and will enhance the education of the students who take their courses and work with them on their research."
Automating interconnection decision-making: Nira & Doral at ESIG's i2X STITCH series. How much financial risk should a developer accept on a project before they actually know what the network upgrade costs will look like? That question sits at the center of nearly every interconnection decision - and it's what Nira's Jenny Erwin (Senior Director, Customer Engagement) and Doral's Shawn Welch (VP, Interconnection & Transmission) addressed in their joint presentation at ESIG's i2X STITCH Meeting 4: Automation and Data Harmonization. The i2X STITCH initiative - facilitated by Berkeley Lab in collaboration with ESIG and Elevate Energy Consulting as part of the DOE's Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange - brings together industry stakeholders to explore interconnection study practices across U.S. regions and identify opportunities for harmonization. This session focused specifically on how automation is reshaping study workflows and decision-making throughout the interconnection process. Why This Matters: The Decision Window Problem Developers typically have a narrow window to make go/no-go calls and commit financial security payments on projects still working through the interconnection queue. Historically, that decision has relied on manual studies that can only cover a handful of scenarios before the deadline. Automation changes the math: instead of evaluating 1-2 scenarios, teams can run dozens of sensitivity studies across a portfolio of queue positions before a decision point closes. The Takeaway As Doral and Nira's presentation put it: without automation, some of these projects would have been dropped - projects that ultimately reached commercial operation because teams had the tooling to forecast outcomes and make informed decisions under time pressure, not just react after the fact.