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The MagLab is funded by the National Science Foundation and the State of Florida.

Life at the Lab

Hundreds of staff at MagLab headquarters in Tallahassee come together for the facility’s biannual picnic.

Stephen Bilenky

Learn more about the resources, amenities, community and quality of life at the MagLab and its three locations.

With more than 600 employees, the MagLab's headquarters at Florida State University in Tallahassee is the largest of the lab's three sites.


Community

Recognized as a family-friendly workplace, the MagLab headquarters facility encourages a sense of community, including

  • group sports opportunities like soccer, cycling and golf
  • affinity groups for grad students and postdocs
  • affinity groups for women scientists and female staff
  • book clubs
  • lab-wide picnics

In addition to belonging to the MagLab community, employees are also part of a larger FSU community and have access to the wide array of resources, groups, services and benefits the university offers.


Facilities and Location

The MagLab's 400,000-square-foot, ADA-compliant facility features a café, showers, a nursing/lactation room and a gender-neutral restroom. Parking is free and, in addition to an onsite café, food trucks provide lunch offerings on lab grounds.

Located in Tallahassee’s Innovation Park, the lab's neighbors include the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Danfoss Turbocor Compressors Inc., the Center for Advanced Power Systems and the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion.

The lab is just three miles from the Tallahassee Airport, three miles from FSU's main campus, and three miles from downtown Tallahassee. The lab is on a bus route (free to FSU employees) connecting it to the main campus and beyond.


Health and Wellness

The MagLab is situated near walking trails and is a short stroll from FSU's state-of-the-art Morcom Aquatics Center and its Seminole Golf Course, both of which are available to faculty and staff.

Other recreation facilities are available on FSU's nearby main campus, including two indoor fitness facilities. For outdoor activities, the university's 73-acre FSU Reservation is just two miles from the MagLab.

For college sports fans, the NCAA Division I Seminoles have 18 sports teams, including football, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, baseball and softball. The FAMU Rattlers compete in Division I football and other sports.

For assistance with mental health issues, the university's Employee Assistance Program offers free, confidential services and a professional support system for the faculty and staff.

Beyond campus, Tallahassee offers endless opportunities to stay fit, from 600 miles of nature trails for paddling, running, biking and walking, to city and university sports facilities to award-winning Cascades Park.


Life in Tallahassee

The number 10 city on a 2017 list of most educated US cities, Tallahassee is home to several colleges and universities, including FSU, Florida A&M University (FAMU) and Tallahassee Community College.

As the state capital and county seat, thousands of the metro area’s 380,000 residents are government employees. Known for its gentle hills and scenic canopy oaks, the city also has a thriving arts and music scene fueled by both campus and community organizations. Tallahassee boasts a wide array of cultural and arts organizations as well as burgeoning restaurant and craft brewery scenes.

The Gulf of Mexico is only 22 miles from Tallahassee. St. George Island, one of the most gorgeous, white-sand beaches in the state, and the quaint coastal town of Apalachicola are popular day and weekend trips. The climate boasts short, mild winters and pleasant autumns and springs. Find out more about life in Tallahassee.


Professional Development

The lab's Center for Integrating Research & Learning (CIRL) and Public Affairs Department are available to assist faculty with broader impacts. Kawana Johnson coordinates mentoring and other support for MagLab postdocs.

FSU's Office of Training & Organizational Development provides workplace training and personal development for university employees.


Last modified on 08 April 2024