About ALMA
Managing the modern laboratory requires a unique blend of technical and managerial skills. Most laboratory managers, by education and experience, are thoroughly capable of handling the technical aspects of their jobs, but often the managerial skills are obtained on the job. The management literature is geared primarily to manufacturing and large service operations, neither of which matches the challenges inherent in the operation of a laboratory. This lack of information and educational opportunities led to the formation of the Association of Laboratory Managers (ALMA) to provide a venue where technical managers can exchange ideas and experiences to acquire the skills needed to effectively manage in this unique environment.
ALMA was born in the Chemistry Departments of research universities in the 1980s when costly and sophisticated analytical instruments funded by the National Science Foundation were managed centrally. The idea that the efficient and effective use of the instruments had to be managed to serve researchers who were now customers was a new idea. And, what do academics do when they encounter a new idea—they organize a Symposium! Thus, the University Laboratory Managers Association (ULMA) was born at Northwestern University in 1980 when a group of academics held the first lab manager’s conference. Government and industrial scientists soon discovered ULMA, and, in 1982, the aim of the organization was expanded to include current and future analytical managers from industry and government, and the name was changed to ALMA (Analytical Laboratory Managers Association). More details on this phase of ALMA’s history are presented in Claude Lucchesi’s acceptance address for the Distinguished Service Award of 2002.
In 2007, it became clear that all laboratories (analytical, product development, R&D, technical service, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, clinical, local, regional, global, and other types) deal with the same problems of staff, training, budget, policies and procedures, technology, and communicating with executive management to achieve their missions. So, for the second time in its history, the scope of the organization has been expanded to become more inclusive by recognizing the commonality of management issues among all types of laboratories. And, to reflect this new direction, the name has again been changed to the Association of Laboratory Managers but the ALMA® logo remains the same.
One thing that is not changing is the value proposition that ALMA offers for all laboratory managers. For more than 30 years, ALMA has organized an Annual Conference to foster the exchange of solutions to problems common to the managing of a laboratory. In addition, it has provided workshops on a broad base of management topics of interest to managers including laboratory safety, career development, personnel engagement and resource optimization. The portfolio of workships is continually updated to include topics pertinent to today’s and future challenges for leaders. In 1995 publication of a peer-reviewed, quarterly journal that covers topics of general interest to all managers of modern laboratories was established. Over 120 scholarly articles have been published and are available to members on the web in a searchable form.
For those who may not be able to attend the annual conferences, ALMA offers several regional sections where managers can network with local peers to discuss issues common to that particular area and to exchange ideas for improving the performance of their labs. There are local sections in Gulf States, Ohio/Indiana, eastern Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Delaware, and New England. ALMA also has affiliations in Europe, Africa, Australia, China, the Middle East and other parts of the world. There is also an Annual ALMA Symposium at Pittcon focused on topics relevant to managing laboratories. We invite you to join ALMA to learn from peers how to present a balanced view of the technical and business aspects of your laboratory. Add business skills to your science. Join us to advance laboratory management as a global profession.