Morgan Hoffman
Title: Special projects manager, The Scripps Research
Institute's Facilities, Planning, and Construction Department.
Duties: Overseeing projects, from lab renovations
to exterior site preparation for art installations. The job
often involves working with principal investigators to conceptualize
lab design, managing architectural, engineering, and building
contractors, acquiring permits, reading, interpreting, and
explaining project drawings, coordinating relocations, and
performing budgeting and analysis.
Favorite Part of Job: "That's a tough one! I like
working with intelligent, highly educated people. I enjoy
the challenge of being a diplomatic advisor, planning, and
organizing assignments. But my favorite part is working closely
with the directors, managers, and various support staff as
part of a team."
Goal: "To create the best possible conditions for
research."
Advice for Researchers Remodeling Their Labs: "Researchers
should tell me everything they want in a lab. We might not
have the resources to provide for all of their requests immediately,
but we can set the stage for future improvements. It is easiest
to work from a complete and exhaustive design."
Started at Scripps Research: 1990, in Facilities
Operations. Moved to Planning and Construction in 1998. "My
Facilities Management background gives me insight into sustainability
and maintenance issues in lab design."
Background: Associate Degree of Administration of
Justice, Miramar College. Two years in the U.S. Army as reconnaissance
squad leader fulfilling Army College Fund and GI Bill requirements.
Certificate in Facilities Management, University of California
at San Diego.
Family Life: Wife, Jolie; sons, Alexander and Nicholas,
ages nine and seven; and champion show dog, Rex.
Extracurriculars: Coaching his son's soccer team,
home improvement projects, karate, kickboxing, golf, surfing,
running, working out, and road trips to the Colorado river
with his family.
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Morgan Hoffman is currently overseeing
site preparation for the Andy Goldsworthy sculpture "Oak Cairn."
Photo by Kevin Fung.
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