IMES community profile: Hunter Lamere
May 28, 2025
IMES EHS Coordinator Hunter Lamere has been helping IMES-affiliated research labs with compliance, as well as other facility issues, for almost ten years.
Mindy Blodgett | IMES
Hunter Lamere has been the IMES Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Coordinator for almost 10 years. In this role, Hunter serves as the “departmental bridge” between the EHS office and IMES, ensuring that the regulatory and policy requirements identified by the EHS office are applied to our research labs. Even though his office is on the fifth floor, because of his need to be in continuous contact with the labs and to oversee various facilities issues, it's likely that you have often seen him walking around E-25.
Read on to learn more about Hunter.
What's a fun fact about you?
Most people probably don't realize I go by my middle name, but my first name is Randolph. I'm descended from a long line of Virginians on my mother's side who share the name which comes from (among other ancestors) Edmund Randolph, the first Attorney General of the US, the 7th Governor of Virginia (1786) and the lawyer who defended Aaron Burr at his treason trial in 1807. My whole family finds genealogy fascinating and have recorded family histories going back a very long time. Both my parents are also members of Scottish Clans—the Campbells and the Hunters. Yes, I own a kilt and a set of highland long pipes (which I can't play...yet).
What do you like to do in your spare time?
A perfect day for me starts with a couple cups of strong black coffee and then getting outside and enjoying nature—hiking, fly fishing, paddling, running, surf casting—generally filling the day with fresh air and exercise. Bonus points if I can get my boys into the action as well (they're usually happy to get dirty and play along.) Days like that are getting more fun the older they get! I like to feel tired at the end of the day, like I earned that cold beer and a comfortable seat on my patio.
In addition to serving as a liaison between the EHS Department and IMES, and ensuring that regulations are met, can you tell us more about your job as EHS coordinator?
I’ve been working as the EHS Coordinator for IMES for almost 10 years and it has changed a lot since I first stepped into the role...I also fulfill many additional roles on top of these EHS duties: facilities, security, keys, space management, renovations, etc. The coordinator role requires a broader understanding of EHS subject matter—biosafety, radiation safety, laser safety, hazardous materials management, emergency management, risk assessment, construction safety, local and state regulations, waste water, and more. The variety keeps things interesting.
What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
Like many research facilities at MIT, our department has diverse areas of interest and all of them have different challenges from an EHS perspective. Nothing fits perfectly into a “one size fits all” solution model, so it is important to be engaged and flexible to achieve both research success and regulatory/safety goals. Research is always shifting and adapting, which means the support needed changes as well. Anytime someone wants to dive deep in their research, I’m all ears. It helps me anticipate and plan to support our groups without erecting speed bumps to progress.
What is the most fun, rewarding part of your job?
I love hearing about what people are working on. I do not have the intense focus that so many folks need to engage in research, so, professionally, I live vicariously through their trial and error.
Are there any facts about MIT, or IMES facilities, that people should know?
There are plans in the works to update some of our community spaces, but IMES is still gathering input to flush out the ideas.
Do you have any goals in the coming year for anything you hope goes a little more smoothly, or will work better, in terms of the facilities?
Just remember to affiliate with your PI in the Learning Center and select your activities so that your EHS training needs are up to date. And don’t forget to complete all of the required trainings before you start working, and we’ll be good! If anyone plans on using anything particularly hazardous, let me know so we can come up with a plan to address safe handling and disposal.
What should people know about any changes that may be coming to IMES facilities in the coming months?
You’ll probably hear some light construction noise from the Traverso Lab project happening on the second floor. Your patience is appreciated!