b'Directors MessageWe are thrilled to announce thatand organizations dedicated to serving minority Idaho National Laboratory haspopulations.achieved a remarkable milestone,The lab has expanded its partnerships through surpassing 6,000 employees inStrategic Understanding for Premier Education fiscal year 2023. The labs ongoingand Research collaborations with the inclusion of growth and positive impact on ourthe Colorado School of Mines and Arizona State community are truly remarkable.University. These institutions joined Texas A&M In addition, there was meaningfulUniversity, University of Michigan, University of growth in all students, postdocUtah and the University of Texas at San Antonio in Giselle Sandiand faculty programs. The labthis unique designation that enables INL to expand Research Excellenceexpanded partnerships with keydeeper research collaborations. These partnerships Director regional and national universities,demonstrate the labs commitment to driving fostering innovative andinnovation and scientific research.collaborative research to support our mission.INL continues to use university programs as an One notable achievement isexcellent workforce pipeline, with many interns being the invaluable relationship withhired into regular full-time positions. INL graduate Advancing Minorities Interest infellowships have seen 35 personnel complete Engineering (AMIE). INL helpedthe program, and about 70% of former postdocs coach a team from Alabama A&Mhave become INL hires. The applicant pool for the University, focusing on developingprestigious Distinguished Postdoctoral Associate relationships with historicallyappointment has also doubled, reflecting the Black colleges and universitiesprograms stature.(HBCUs). The universitys project, the Rural Alabama Wastewater Initiative, secured first place in the sixth annual design challenge at the Black Engineer of the YearThe dedicated mentors (BEYA) Conference. This successand managers at INL who highlights the labs dedication to supporting diversity in STEMprovide their time and fields and fostering meaningful collaborations. Meaningfulexpertise to guide others engagements with several Minority Serving Institutionsmake the success of these (MSIs) have yielded successfulprograms possible. funding proposals and fostered robust relationships between INL and colleges, universities 2 R E S E A R C H E XC E L L E N C E'