Rosio Alvarez, Ph.D.

Dr. Alvarez is the CIO at Berkeley Lab, where she serves the computational needs of scientists who carry out $0.8 billion of sponsored research in photon, computing, environmental, energy, and biosciences. She oversees a division that also supports several Department of Energy user facilities, including a nanoscience center, a supercomputer center, the Advanced Light Source, and a genomics institute.

Recently, Dr. Alvarez served as Senior IT Adviser to the Secretary of Energy. In this position, she advised the Secretary on matters related to information technology and cyber security. She assisted with strategic and tactical improvements and development of policy for a $20 billion department.

Before coming to Berkeley Lab, Dr. Alvarez was Associate Chancellor for IT at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she served the computational needs of 30,000 users. She has also served as faculty in the Business Schools of the University of Washington and the University of Massachusetts, and has published in leading academic journals in her field.

1) What inspired you to work in STEM?

I was an engineering student and I was in the field and kind of lost. And I probably would have exited the field had I not had a wonderful woman instructor, a grad student at the time. She was very supportive and encouraged me to stick with it. Having her as a mentor was extremely helpful and inspiring.

2) What excites you about your work at the Department of Energy?

Working for a place that is solving the biggest challenges that the world is facing is probably the most exciting and inspiring work you can do. Here at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, we are looking at how to solve some of the biggest health, energy, and environmental challenges. They will have a huge impact on the country and world for many, many generations to come and that makes you smile when you come to work each day.

3) How can our country engage more women, girls, and other underrepresented groups in STEM?

This is a really complex and vexing question, and there is no one answer. From my own experience, having more women and underrepresented minorities is important. It’s very important that, as more people enter the fields, they find others who look like themselves and understand them. For instance, you may have a student who says, “Wow, that person looks like me and she has accomplished a Ph.D. in engineering or chemistry." This could lead the student to believe she can accomplish the same. That is a really strong influence and a way in which you can engage women, girls, and underrepresented individuals. In addition, we should fund programs that encourage participation in learning about science, technology, engineering, and math. It’s a huge, complex effort that has to be approached from many levels — federal, state, and community.

4) Do you have tips you'd recommend for someone looking to enter your field of work?

Be immersed in the content of your field; be very disciplined and applied. Get as much education as you possibly can because no matter how much you have, the next person might have just a little bit more and that can put you at a disadvantage.

5) When you have free time, what are your hobbies?

Travel. Good food. Good wine.