A former floor coordinator and third-generation Argonne employee, she ensures the safety of beamline shielding

By Jenna V. Wray | July 14, 2025

VanWingeren’s responsibility is especially important as stronger beamlines come online as part of the Advanced Photon Source Upgrade.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has always been part of Wendy VanWingeren’s life. Both of her parents worked at the lab.

“My dad was a chief technician, and my mom an administrative assistant,” VanWingeren said. ​“They met through mutual friends at Argonne, and their wedding was announced in the Argonne newspaper!”

Before that, VanWingeren’s grandmother was a custodian at the lab in the 1960s.

“So I always knew about the lab and was interested in science,” she said. ​“I’m proud to be a third-generation Argonne employee.”

“When I’m away from the APS, away from buzzing of equipment, or the bustle of people, I sometimes feel that something essential is missing.” — Wendy VanWingeren, shielding configuration specialist at the Advanced Photon Source

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When VanWingeren was in high school, a new DOE Office of Science user facility was being planned at Argonne. This cutting-edge facility would eventually become the Advanced Photon Source (APS). VanWingeren’s mother belonged to the first group that worked on the APS.

“Her office was literally in a trailer where the electron storage ring is now,” VanWingeren laughed.

Her mom brought home stories of the APS, but VanWingeren couldn’t imagine a facility that impressive. She could still barely believe it when, as a student, she toured the APS and saw it becoming a reality.

“I thought it was really cool,” she said.

While VanWingeren was studying biology at Northern Illinois University in the mid-1990s, the APS came online. After graduating, she was thrilled to be accepted for a position at the facility.

“At the time, the APS was certainly busy, but they had maybe half the beamlines we have now,” VanWingeren recalled. ​“There were big empty spaces on the floor. It’s been wonderful to see how the APS has grown since then.”

Some things, however, have not changed. The experiment hall floor still sounds as it did when VanWingeren joined the APS 26 years ago.

“The ambient noise on the floor is, let’s say, quite intense.” VanWingeren said with a smile. ​“But, it has become my normal. When I’m away from the APS, away from buzzing of equipment, or the bustle of people, I sometimes feel that something essential is missing.”

VanWingeren has spent a lot of time walking the experiment floor since her first days working at the APS. As a floor coordinator who started on the midnight shift, her responsibility was to interact with users and help them navigate the complexities of the cutting-edge facility.

“It was a very busy time,” she said, recalling her early days at the APS. ​“I learned a lot about safety systems, storage rings and beamlines.”

For those aspiring to follow in her footsteps, VanWingeren offers sage advice.

“You don’t have to be the expert in everything. The most important thing to know is who to ask about something,” she said. ​“Communication and teamwork are everything.”

Currently, VanWingeren assists with the APS Upgrade (APSU) project. From preparing procedures and testing radiation shielding to coordinating the metal recycling program, VanWingeren ensures that every beamline operates safely and efficiently. Her specialty in managing radiation shielding is crucial to the success of the upgraded APS.

“Every beamline upgraded their equipment, so we need to make sure that the beam they’re bringing in is under the right conditions for the shielding,” she explained. ​“It’s all about making sure everything is where it needs to be before an X-ray beam is brought into a station.”

VanWingeren’s dedication to safety and excellence has not gone unnoticed. Her team was awarded the James B. Porter Safety Award from the Board of Governors of UChicago Argonne LLC, which manages the laboratory for the DOE’s Office of Science. The award is a testament to the team’s commitment to keeping operations running smoothly behind the scenes.

One of the most exciting aspects of her work these days is the commissioning of beamlines. Bringing the beamlines back online and witnessing the ​“first light” at existing and new stations is rewarding to her.

“It’s thrilling to see the culmination of years of planning and hard work,” she said.