Lab Design Conference Speaker Profile: Julianne Baron, PhD
2026 Lab Design Conference speaker—Julianne L. Baron, PhD, CPH, RBP, president and owner, Science and Safety Consulting
Julianne L. Baron, PhD, CPH, RBP, president and owner of Science and Safety Consulting, will be speaking at the 2026 Lab Design Conference in Orlando, FL. Julianne’s presentation, “Optimizing Lab Design: Supporting Scientific Operations and Ensuring Biosafety,” scheduled for May 13 at 12:30pm, will offer a framework to help architects and lab users engage in productive discussions about scientific workflows and highlight common design pitfalls that can hinder future lab operations.
Effective biological lab design begins with a clear understanding of scientific workflows—how people, samples, and waste move through research activities—to ensure flexibility, efficiency, safety, and optimal space planning. Those who attend this session will learn how to analyze and discuss scientific workflows, identify key equipment and facility adjacencies, recognize common lab design pitfalls, and collaborate effectively with lab and safety professionals to create safe, efficient, and innovative lab spaces.
Lab Design News spoke with Julianne about understanding scientific workflows, fostering collaboration between lab users and design teams, and avoiding common pitfalls that can impact safety and functionality. Register now to secure your conference ticket so you don’t miss this valuable session!
Q: What makes your Lab Design Conference talk especially relevant to the current trends and challenges in laboratory design?
A: I think my talk is especially relevant to current trends and challenges in laboratory design because although lab uses, equipment, and technologies change, there remains a need for flexible, functional, innovative, and safe lab spaces. Understanding and planning for variable scientific operations, biosafety, biocontainment, and the prevention of cross-contamination are timeless additions to any lab design and can help prevent future challenges in use and reuse of lab spaces as the lab’s needs change.
Q: What key takeaways should attendees expect from your session, and how can they apply these insights in their own labs?
A: Attendees should expect to get a better understanding of how laboratory workflow and operations should be discussed with lab users in order to impact lab layout to facilitate efficient, flexible, and safe science. They will be able to have more collaborative conversations with other individuals involved in lab design projects and avoid common design pitfalls which can be costly if not recognized soon enough.
Q: What’s one soft skill you believe every lab design professional should cultivate, and why?
A: I think every lab design professional should cultivate curiosity about lab operations. Having a curious mind and wanting to learn more about how the lab itself runs is critical in designing a space that not only meets criteria for regulatory/code compliance but also allows the lab’s processes to be done efficiently and safely.
Q: What’s one innovation in lab design that excites you the most right now?
A: I really enjoy the incorporation of human-centered design and making lab spaces more amenable to the people working in them. When I used to work in the lab, we rarely had windows in our spaces and there were very few areas for collaboration and personnel interactions. I am excited by labs I have seen recently that have a lot of natural light and open working areas outside of lab spaces where staff can eat, work, and mingle.
Q: Can you tell us about your favorite vacation spot or travel destination?
A: I can’t say I have a particular favorite vacation spot, but I would say I generally enjoy going to locations where there are ancient ruins and archaeology or natural history museums.
Register now to secure your ticket to the 2026 Lab Design Conference! Early bird pricing ends on December 31, 2025.
