diff --git a/.github/workflows/basic.yml b/.github/workflows/basic.yml
index f9a04caa1..ffa2b2d50 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/basic.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/basic.yml
@@ -18,28 +18,28 @@ jobs:
                 os: [ubuntu-latest]
                 mpi-version: [mpich]
                 python-version: [3.9, "3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
-                pydantic-version: ["2.6.4"]
+                pydantic-version: ["2.8.2"]
                 comms-type: [m, l]
                 include:
                     - os: macos-latest
                       python-version: "3.11"
                       mpi-version: mpich
-                      pydantic-version: "2.6.4"
+                      pydantic-version: "2.8.2"
                       comms-type: m
                     - os: macos-latest
                       python-version: "3.11"
                       mpi-version: mpich
-                      pydantic-version: "2.6.4"
+                      pydantic-version: "2.8.2"
                       comms-type: l
                     - os: ubuntu-latest
                       mpi-version: mpich
                       python-version: "3.10"
-                      pydantic-version: "1.10.13"
+                      pydantic-version: "1.10.17"
                       comms-type: m
                     - os: ubuntu-latest
                       mpi-version: mpich
                       python-version: "3.10"
-                      pydantic-version: "1.10.13"
+                      pydantic-version: "1.10.17"
                       comms-type: l
 
         env:
@@ -163,4 +163,4 @@ jobs:
         runs-on: ubuntu-latest
         steps:
         - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        - uses: crate-ci/typos@v1.23.6
+        - uses: crate-ci/typos@v1.24.1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/extra.yml b/.github/workflows/extra.yml
index 2b49aebfa..e05fc5032 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/extra.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/extra.yml
@@ -12,38 +12,38 @@ jobs:
                 os: [ubuntu-latest]
                 mpi-version: [mpich]
                 python-version: [3.9, "3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
-                pydantic-version: ["2.6.4"]
+                pydantic-version: ["2.8.2"]
                 comms-type: [m, l]
                 include:
                     - os: macos-latest
                       python-version: 3.11
                       mpi-version: mpich
-                      pydantic-version: "2.6.4"
+                      pydantic-version: "2.8.2"
                       comms-type: m
                     - os: macos-latest
                       python-version: 3.11
                       mpi-version: mpich
-                      pydantic-version: "2.6.4"
+                      pydantic-version: "2.8.2"
                       comms-type: l
                     - os: ubuntu-latest
                       python-version: "3.10"
                       mpi-version: mpich
-                      pydantic-version: "2.6.4"
+                      pydantic-version: "2.8.2"
                       comms-type: t
                     - os: ubuntu-latest
                       mpi-version: "openmpi"
-                      pydantic-version: "2.6.4"
+                      pydantic-version: "2.8.2"
                       python-version: "3.12"
                       comms-type: l
                     - os: ubuntu-latest
                       mpi-version: mpich
                       python-version: "3.10"
-                      pydantic-version: "1.10.13"
+                      pydantic-version: "1.10.17"
                       comms-type: m
                     - os: ubuntu-latest
                       mpi-version: mpich
                       python-version: "3.10"
-                      pydantic-version: "1.10.13"
+                      pydantic-version: "1.10.17"
                       comms-type: l
 
         env:
@@ -157,16 +157,20 @@ jobs:
             pip install git+https://github.com/jlnav/dragonfly.git@fix/remove_npobject
             pip install scikit-build packaging Tasmanian --user
 
-        - name: Install other testing dependencies
+        - name: Install Balsam on Pydantic 1
+          if: matrix.pydantic-version == '1.10.17'
           run: |
-            conda install octave
             conda install pyzmq
-            pip install -r install/testing_requirements.txt
-            pip install -r install/misc_feature_requirements.txt
             git clone https://github.com/argonne-lcf/balsam.git
             sed -i -e "s/pyzmq>=22.1.0,<23.0.0/pyzmq>=23.0.0,<24.0.0/" ./balsam/setup.cfg
             cd balsam; pip install -e .; cd ..
 
+        - name: Install other testing dependencies
+          run: |
+            conda install octave
+            pip install -r install/testing_requirements.txt
+            pip install -r install/misc_feature_requirements.txt
+
             git clone --recurse-submodules -b develop https://github.com/POptUS/IBCDFO.git
             pushd IBCDFO/minq/py/minq5/
             export PYTHONPATH="$PYTHONPATH:$(pwd)"
@@ -224,15 +228,26 @@ jobs:
             rm ./libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_persistent_tasmanian.py
             rm ./libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_persistent_tasmanian_async.py
 
-        - name: Remove Balsam/Globus-compute tests on Pydantic 2
+        - name: Install redis/proxystore on Pydantic 2
           if: matrix.pydantic-version == '2.6.4'
+          run: |
+            pip install redis
+            pip install proxystore==0.7.0
+
+        - name: Remove proxystore test on Pydantic 1
+          if: matrix.pydantic-version == '1.10.13'
+          run: |
+            rm ./libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_proxystore_integration.py
+
+        - name: Remove Balsam/Globus-compute tests on Pydantic 2
+          if: matrix.pydantic-version == '2.8.2'
           run: |
             rm ./libensemble/tests/unit_tests/test_ufunc_runners.py
             rm ./libensemble/tests/unit_tests/test_executor_balsam.py
 
         - name: Start Redis
           if: matrix.os == 'ubuntu-latest'
-          uses: supercharge/redis-github-action@1.7.0
+          uses: supercharge/redis-github-action@1.8.0
           with:
             redis-version: 7
 
@@ -261,4 +276,4 @@ jobs:
         runs-on: ubuntu-latest
         steps:
         - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        - uses: crate-ci/typos@v1.23.6
+        - uses: crate-ci/typos@v1.24.1
diff --git a/docs/FAQ.rst b/docs/FAQ.rst
index 37631333d..2397da52f 100644
--- a/docs/FAQ.rst
+++ b/docs/FAQ.rst
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ macOS and Windows Errors
 
 .. _Installing PETSc On Microsoft Windows: https://petsc.org/release/install/windows/#recommended-installation-methods
 .. _option to srun: https://docs.nersc.gov/systems/perlmutter/running-jobs/#single-gpu-tasks-in-parallel
-.. _Perlmutter: https://docs.nersc.gov/systems/perlmutter
+.. _Perlmutter: https://docs.nersc.gov/systems/perlmutter/architecture/
 .. _Python multiprocessing docs: https://docs.python.org/3/library/multiprocessing.html
 .. _SDF: https://sdf.slac.stanford.edu/public/doc/#/?id=what-is-the-sdf
 .. _Support: https://libensemble.readthedocs.io/en/main/introduction.html#resources
diff --git a/docs/examples/surmise.rst b/docs/examples/surmise.rst
index 72fa87413..69d0f068e 100644
--- a/docs/examples/surmise.rst
+++ b/docs/examples/surmise.rst
@@ -2,15 +2,11 @@ persistent_surmise
 ------------------
 
 Required: Surmise_
-
-Note that currently the github fork https://github.com/mosesyhc/surmise should be used::
-
-    pip install --upgrade git+https://github.com/bandframework/surmise.git@develop
-
-The :doc:`Borehole Calibration tutorial<../tutorials/calib_cancel_tutorial>` uses this generator as an example of the capability to cancel pending simulations.
+The :doc:`Borehole Calibration tutorial<../tutorials/calib_cancel_tutorial>` uses this generator as an
+example of the capability to cancel pending simulations.
 
 .. automodule:: persistent_surmise_calib
   :members:
   :no-undoc-members:
 
-.. _Surmise: https://surmise.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html
+.. _Surmise: https://github.com/bandframework/surmise
diff --git a/docs/nitpicky b/docs/nitpicky
index 20a0f851d..8315471a1 100644
--- a/docs/nitpicky
+++ b/docs/nitpicky
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ py:class libensemble.resources.platforms.Aurora
 py:class libensemble.resources.platforms.GenericROCm
 py:class libensemble.resources.platforms.Crusher
 py:class libensemble.resources.platforms.Frontier
+py:class libensemble.resources.platforms.Perlmutter
 py:class libensemble.resources.platforms.PerlmutterCPU
 py:class libensemble.resources.platforms.PerlmutterGPU
 py:class libensemble.resources.platforms.Polaris
diff --git a/docs/platforms/perlmutter.rst b/docs/platforms/perlmutter.rst
index a8737cd68..915a647af 100644
--- a/docs/platforms/perlmutter.rst
+++ b/docs/platforms/perlmutter.rst
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ See the NERSC Perlmutter_ docs for more information about Perlmutter.
 .. _mpi4py: https://mpi4py.readthedocs.io/en/stable/
 .. _NERSC: https://www.nersc.gov/
 .. _option to srun: https://docs.nersc.gov/systems/perlmutter/running-jobs/#single-gpu-tasks-in-parallel
-.. _Perlmutter: https://docs.nersc.gov/systems/perlmutter/
+.. _Perlmutter: https://docs.nersc.gov/systems/perlmutter/architecture/
 .. _Python on Perlmutter: https://docs.nersc.gov/development/languages/python/using-python-perlmutter/
 .. _Slurm: https://slurm.schedmd.com/
 .. _video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av8ctYph7-Y
diff --git a/install/misc_feature_requirements.txt b/install/misc_feature_requirements.txt
index 05416fde6..b72c73c16 100644
--- a/install/misc_feature_requirements.txt
+++ b/install/misc_feature_requirements.txt
@@ -1,2 +1 @@
-globus-compute-sdk==2.26.0
-proxystore==0.7.0
+globus-compute-sdk==2.27.0
diff --git a/libensemble/gen_classes/aposmm.py b/libensemble/gen_classes/aposmm.py
index 8e8fb47f0..108282e07 100644
--- a/libensemble/gen_classes/aposmm.py
+++ b/libensemble/gen_classes/aposmm.py
@@ -14,13 +14,11 @@ class APOSMM(LibensembleGenThreadInterfacer):
     """
 
     def __init__(
-        self, gen_specs: dict = {}, History: npt.NDArray = [], persis_info: dict = {}, libE_info: dict = {}, **kwargs
+        self, History: npt.NDArray = [], persis_info: dict = {}, gen_specs: dict = {}, libE_info: dict = {}, **kwargs
     ) -> None:
         from libensemble.gen_funcs.persistent_aposmm import aposmm
 
         gen_specs["gen_f"] = aposmm
-        if len(kwargs) > 0:  # so user can specify aposmm-specific parameters as kwargs to constructor
-            gen_specs["user"] = kwargs
         if not gen_specs.get("out"):  # gen_specs never especially changes for aposmm even as the problem varies
             n = len(kwargs["lb"]) or len(kwargs["ub"])
             gen_specs["out"] = [
@@ -32,9 +30,8 @@ def __init__(
             ]
             gen_specs["persis_in"] = ["x", "f", "local_pt", "sim_id", "sim_ended", "x_on_cube", "local_min"]
         if not persis_info:
-            persis_info = add_unique_random_streams({}, 4, seed=4321)[1]
-            persis_info["nworkers"] = 4
-        super().__init__(gen_specs, History, persis_info, libE_info)
+            persis_info = add_unique_random_streams({}, 2, seed=4321)[1]
+        super().__init__(History, persis_info, gen_specs, libE_info, **kwargs)
         self.all_local_minima = []
         self.results_idx = 0
         self.last_ask = None
diff --git a/libensemble/gen_classes/sampling.py b/libensemble/gen_classes/sampling.py
index 275624bb9..166286482 100644
--- a/libensemble/gen_classes/sampling.py
+++ b/libensemble/gen_classes/sampling.py
@@ -31,10 +31,8 @@ class UniformSample(SampleBase):
     mode by adjusting the allocation function.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, _, persis_info, gen_specs, libE_info=None):
-        self.persis_info = persis_info
-        self.gen_specs = gen_specs
-        self.libE_info = libE_info
+    def __init__(self, _=[], persis_info={}, gen_specs={}, libE_info=None, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(_, persis_info, gen_specs, libE_info, **kwargs)
         self._get_user_params(self.gen_specs["user"])
 
     def ask_numpy(self, n_trials):
@@ -57,10 +55,9 @@ class UniformSampleDicts(Generator):
     mode by adjusting the allocation function.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, _, persis_info, gen_specs, libE_info=None):
-        self.persis_info = persis_info
+    def __init__(self, _, persis_info, gen_specs, libE_info=None, **kwargs):
         self.gen_specs = gen_specs
-        self.libE_info = libE_info
+        self.persis_info = persis_info
         self._get_user_params(self.gen_specs["user"])
 
     def ask(self, n_trials):
diff --git a/libensemble/gen_classes/surmise.py b/libensemble/gen_classes/surmise.py
index 3e1810f98..b62cd20dc 100644
--- a/libensemble/gen_classes/surmise.py
+++ b/libensemble/gen_classes/surmise.py
@@ -14,14 +14,14 @@ class Surmise(LibensembleGenThreadInterfacer):
     """
 
     def __init__(
-        self, gen_specs: dict, History: npt.NDArray = [], persis_info: dict = {}, libE_info: dict = {}
+        self, History: npt.NDArray = [], persis_info: dict = {}, gen_specs: dict = {}, libE_info: dict = {}
     ) -> None:
         from libensemble.gen_funcs.persistent_surmise_calib import surmise_calib
 
         gen_specs["gen_f"] = surmise_calib
         if ("sim_id", int) not in gen_specs["out"]:
             gen_specs["out"].append(("sim_id", int))
-        super().__init__(gen_specs, History, persis_info, libE_info)
+        super().__init__(History, persis_info, gen_specs, libE_info)
         self.sim_id_index = 0
         self.all_cancels = []
 
diff --git a/libensemble/gen_funcs/persistent_gen_wrapper.py b/libensemble/gen_funcs/persistent_gen_wrapper.py
index 2ad862864..7fd01ec4d 100644
--- a/libensemble/gen_funcs/persistent_gen_wrapper.py
+++ b/libensemble/gen_funcs/persistent_gen_wrapper.py
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 import inspect
 
-import numpy as np
-
 from libensemble.message_numbers import EVAL_GEN_TAG, FINISHED_PERSISTENT_GEN_TAG, PERSIS_STOP, STOP_TAG
 from libensemble.tools.persistent_support import PersistentSupport
-from libensemble.utils.misc import np_to_list_dicts
+from libensemble.utils.misc import list_dicts_to_np, np_to_list_dicts
 
 
 def persistent_gen_f(H, persis_info, gen_specs, libE_info):
@@ -24,11 +22,7 @@ def persistent_gen_f(H, persis_info, gen_specs, libE_info):
     while tag not in [STOP_TAG, PERSIS_STOP]:
         H_o = gen.ask(b)
         if isinstance(H_o, list):
-            H_o_arr = np.zeros(len(H_o), dtype=gen_specs["out"])
-            for i in range(len(H_o)):
-                for key in H_o[0].keys():
-                    H_o_arr[i][key] = H_o[i][key]
-            H_o = H_o_arr
+            H_o = list_dicts_to_np(H_o)
         tag, Work, calc_in = ps.send_recv(H_o)
         gen.tell(np_to_list_dicts(calc_in))
 
diff --git a/libensemble/generators.py b/libensemble/generators.py
index 1ee243954..b13bae31c 100644
--- a/libensemble/generators.py
+++ b/libensemble/generators.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 from libensemble.comms.comms import QComm, QCommThread
 from libensemble.executors import Executor
 from libensemble.message_numbers import EVAL_GEN_TAG, PERSIS_STOP
+from libensemble.tools.tools import add_unique_random_streams
 from libensemble.utils.misc import list_dicts_to_np, np_to_list_dicts
 
 """
@@ -90,6 +91,17 @@ class LibensembleGenerator(Generator):
     ``ask_numpy/tell_numpy`` methods communicate numpy arrays containing the same data.
     """
 
+    def __init__(
+        self, History: npt.NDArray = [], persis_info: dict = {}, gen_specs: dict = {}, libE_info: dict = {}, **kwargs
+    ):
+        self.gen_specs = gen_specs
+        if len(kwargs) > 0:  # so user can specify gen-specific parameters as kwargs to constructor
+            self.gen_specs["user"] = kwargs
+        if not persis_info:
+            self.persis_info = add_unique_random_streams({}, 4, seed=4321)[1]
+        else:
+            self.persis_info = persis_info
+
     @abstractmethod
     def ask_numpy(self, num_points: Optional[int] = 0) -> npt.NDArray:
         """Request the next set of points to evaluate, as a NumPy array."""
@@ -105,6 +117,8 @@ def ask(self, num_points: Optional[int] = 0) -> List[dict]:
     def tell(self, results: List[dict]) -> None:
         """Send the results of evaluations to the generator."""
         self.tell_numpy(list_dicts_to_np(results))
+        # Note that although we'd prefer to have a complete dtype available, the gen
+        # doesn't have access to sim_specs["out"] currently.
 
 
 class LibensembleGenThreadInterfacer(LibensembleGenerator):
@@ -113,10 +127,10 @@ class LibensembleGenThreadInterfacer(LibensembleGenerator):
     """
 
     def __init__(
-        self, gen_specs: dict, History: npt.NDArray = [], persis_info: dict = {}, libE_info: dict = {}
+        self, History: npt.NDArray = [], persis_info: dict = {}, gen_specs: dict = {}, libE_info: dict = {}, **kwargs
     ) -> None:
+        super().__init__(History, persis_info, gen_specs, libE_info, **kwargs)
         self.gen_f = gen_specs["gen_f"]
-        self.gen_specs = gen_specs
         self.History = History
         self.persis_info = persis_info
         self.libE_info = libE_info
diff --git a/libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_asktell_surmise.py b/libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_asktell_surmise.py
index a4e5d9ae9..d0aa5310c 100644
--- a/libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_asktell_surmise.py
+++ b/libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_asktell_surmise.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
     }
 
     persis_info = add_unique_random_streams({}, 5)
-    surmise = Surmise(gen_specs, persis_info=persis_info[1])  # we add sim_id as a field to gen_specs["out"]
+    surmise = Surmise(gen_specs=gen_specs, persis_info=persis_info[1])  # we add sim_id as a field to gen_specs["out"]
     surmise.setup()
 
     initial_sample = surmise.ask()
diff --git a/libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_persistent_surmise_killsims_asktell.py b/libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_persistent_surmise_killsims_asktell.py
index 842573de9..9071e80d4 100644
--- a/libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_persistent_surmise_killsims_asktell.py
+++ b/libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_persistent_surmise_killsims_asktell.py
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@
     }
 
     persis_info = add_unique_random_streams({}, nworkers + 1)
-    gen_specs["generator"] = Surmise(gen_specs, persis_info=persis_info)
+    gen_specs["generator"] = Surmise(gen_specs=gen_specs, persis_info=persis_info)
 
     exit_criteria = {"sim_max": max_evals}
 
diff --git a/libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_proxystore_integration.py b/libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_proxystore_integration.py
index 998a45ab9..a900f876d 100644
--- a/libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_proxystore_integration.py
+++ b/libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_proxystore_integration.py
@@ -11,11 +11,10 @@
 """
 
 # Do not change these lines - they are parsed by run-tests.sh
-# TESTSUITE_COMMS: local
+# TESTSUITE_COMMS: local mpi
 # TESTSUITE_NPROCS: 4
 # TESTSUITE_OS_SKIP: OSX WIN
 # TESTSUITE_EXTRA: true
-# TESTSUITE_EXCLUDE: true
 
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -39,7 +38,7 @@ def insert_proxy(H0):
     )
 
     store = get_store("my-store")
-    picture = Path("libE_logo.png").read_bytes()
+    picture = Path("libE_logo.png").absolute().read_bytes()
     proxy = store.proxy(picture)
     for i in range(len(H0)):
         H0[i]["proxy"] = proxy
diff --git a/libensemble/tests/run-tests.sh b/libensemble/tests/run-tests.sh
index 6cdb5b143..a09eebbd4 100755
--- a/libensemble/tests/run-tests.sh
+++ b/libensemble/tests/run-tests.sh
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ cleanup() {
     filelist=(nodelist_*);              [ -e ${filelist[0]} ] && rm nodelist_*
     filelist=(x_*.txt y_*.txt);         [ -e ${filelist[0]} ] && rm x_*.txt y_*.txt
     filelist=(opt_*.txt_flag);          [ -e ${filelist[0]} ] && rm opt_*.txt_flag
-    filelist=(*.png);                   [ -e ${filelist[0]} ] && rm *.png
+    filelist=(logo_id*.png);            [ -e ${filelist[0]} ] && rm logo_id*.png
   done
   cd $THISDIR
 }
diff --git a/libensemble/tests/unit_tests/RENAME_test_persistent_aposmm.py b/libensemble/tests/unit_tests/RENAME_test_persistent_aposmm.py
index 11cad7c63..9bc097a18 100644
--- a/libensemble/tests/unit_tests/RENAME_test_persistent_aposmm.py
+++ b/libensemble/tests/unit_tests/RENAME_test_persistent_aposmm.py
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ def test_asktell_with_persistent_aposmm():
         },
     }
 
-    my_APOSMM = APOSMM(gen_specs)
+    my_APOSMM = APOSMM(gen_specs=gen_specs)
     my_APOSMM.setup()
     initial_sample = my_APOSMM.ask(100)
 
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ def test_asktell_with_persistent_aposmm():
     eval_max = 2000
 
     for point in initial_sample:
-        point["f"] = six_hump_camel_func(point["x"])
+        point["f"] = six_hump_camel_func(np.array([point["x0"], point["x1"]]))
         total_evals += 1
 
     my_APOSMM.tell(initial_sample)
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ def test_asktell_with_persistent_aposmm():
             for m in detected_minima:
                 potential_minima.append(m)
         for point in sample:
-            point["f"] = six_hump_camel_func(point["x"])
+            point["f"] = six_hump_camel_func(np.array([point["x0"], point["x1"]]))
             total_evals += 1
         my_APOSMM.tell(sample)
     H, persis_info, exit_code = my_APOSMM.final_tell(list_dicts_to_np(sample))  # final_tell currently requires numpy
diff --git a/libensemble/tests/unit_tests/test_asktell.py b/libensemble/tests/unit_tests/test_asktell.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fd80b8829
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libensemble/tests/unit_tests/test_asktell.py
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+import numpy as np
+
+from libensemble.tools.tools import add_unique_random_streams
+from libensemble.utils.misc import list_dicts_to_np
+
+
+def _check_conversion(H, npp):
+
+    for field in H.dtype.names:
+        print(f"Comparing {field}: {H[field]} {npp[field]}")
+
+        if isinstance(H[field], np.ndarray):
+            assert np.array_equal(H[field], npp[field]), f"Mismatch found in field {field}"
+
+        elif isinstance(H[field], str) and isinstance(npp[field], str):
+            assert H[field] == npp[field], f"Mismatch found in field {field}"
+
+        elif np.isscalar(H[field]) and np.isscalar(npp[field]):
+            assert np.isclose(H[field], npp[field]), f"Mismatch found in field {field}"
+
+        else:
+            raise TypeError(f"Unhandled or mismatched types in field {field}: {type(H[field])} vs {type(npp[field])}")
+
+
+def test_asktell_sampling_and_utils():
+    from libensemble.gen_classes.sampling import UniformSample
+
+    persis_info = add_unique_random_streams({}, 5, seed=1234)
+    gen_specs = {
+        "out": [("x", float, (2,))],
+        "user": {
+            "lb": np.array([-3, -2]),
+            "ub": np.array([3, 2]),
+        },
+    }
+
+    # Test initialization with libensembley parameters
+    gen = UniformSample(None, persis_info[1], gen_specs, None)
+    assert len(gen.ask(10)) == 10
+
+    # Test initialization gen-specific keyword args
+    gen = UniformSample(gen_specs=gen_specs, lb=np.array([-3, -2]), ub=np.array([3, 2]))
+    assert len(gen.ask(10)) == 10
+
+    out_np = gen.ask_numpy(3)  # should get numpy arrays, non-flattened
+    out = gen.ask(3)  # needs to get dicts, 2d+ arrays need to be flattened
+    assert all([len(x) == 2 for x in out])  # np_to_list_dicts is now tested
+
+    # now we test list_dicts_to_np directly
+    out_np = list_dicts_to_np(out)
+
+    # check combined values resemble flattened list-of-dicts values
+    assert out_np.dtype.names == ("x",)
+    for i, entry in enumerate(out):
+        for j, value in enumerate(entry.values()):
+            assert value == out_np["x"][i][j]
+
+
+def test_awkward_list_dict():
+    from libensemble.utils.misc import list_dicts_to_np
+
+    # test list_dicts_to_np on a weirdly formatted dictionary
+    # Unfortunately, we're not really checking against some original
+    #  libE-styled source of truth, like H.
+
+    weird_list_dict = [
+        {
+            "x0": "abcd",
+            "x1": "efgh",
+            "y": 56,
+            "z0": 1,
+            "z1": 2,
+            "z2": 3,
+            "z3": 4,
+            "z4": 5,
+            "z5": 6,
+            "z6": 7,
+            "z7": 8,
+            "z8": 9,
+            "z9": 10,
+            "z10": 11,
+            "a0": "B",
+        }
+    ]
+
+    out_np = list_dicts_to_np(weird_list_dict)
+
+    assert all([i in ("x", "y", "z", "a0") for i in out_np.dtype.names])
+
+
+def test_awkward_H():
+    from libensemble.utils.misc import list_dicts_to_np, np_to_list_dicts
+
+    dtype = [("a", "i4"), ("x", "f4", (3,)), ("y", "f4", (1,)), ("z", "f4", (12,)), ("greeting", "U10"), ("co2", "f8")]
+    H = np.zeros(2, dtype=dtype)
+    H[0] = (1, [1.1, 2.2, 3.3], [10.1], [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12], "hello", "1.23")
+    H[1] = (2, [4.4, 5.5, 6.6], [11.1], [51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62], "goodbye", "2.23")
+
+    list_dicts = np_to_list_dicts(H)
+    npp = list_dicts_to_np(list_dicts, dtype=dtype)
+    _check_conversion(H, npp)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    test_asktell_sampling_and_utils()
+    test_awkward_list_dict()
+    test_awkward_H()
diff --git a/libensemble/utils/misc.py b/libensemble/utils/misc.py
index db73ccf91..34b7a0931 100644
--- a/libensemble/utils/misc.py
+++ b/libensemble/utils/misc.py
@@ -81,33 +81,71 @@ def specs_checker_setattr(obj, key, value):
         obj.__dict__[key] = value
 
 
-def _copy_data(array, list_dicts):
-    for i, entry in enumerate(list_dicts):
-        for field in entry.keys():
-            array[field][i] = entry[field]
-    return array
+def _decide_dtype(name: str, entry, size: int) -> tuple:
+    if isinstance(entry, str):
+        output_type = "U" + str(len(entry) + 1)
+    else:
+        output_type = type(entry)
+    if size == 1 or not size:
+        return (name, output_type)
+    else:
+        return (name, output_type, (size,))
 
 
-def _decide_dtype(name, entry):
-    if hasattr(entry, "shape") and len(entry.shape):  # numpy type
-        return (name, entry.dtype, entry.shape)
-    else:
-        return (name, type(entry))
+def _combine_names(names: list) -> list:
+    """combine fields with same name *except* for final digits"""
+
+    out_names = []
+    stripped = list(i.rstrip("0123456789") for i in names)  # ['x', 'x', y', 'z', 'a']
+    for name in names:
+        stripped_name = name.rstrip("0123456789")
+        if stripped.count(stripped_name) > 1:  # if name appears >= 1, will combine, don't keep int suffix
+            out_names.append(stripped_name)
+        else:
+            out_names.append(name)  # name appears once, keep integer suffix, e.g. "co2"
+
+    # intending [x, y, z, a0] from [x0, x1, y, z0, z1, z2, z3, a0]
+    return list(set(out_names))
 
 
-def list_dicts_to_np(list_dicts: list) -> npt.NDArray:
+def list_dicts_to_np(list_dicts: list, dtype: list = None) -> npt.NDArray:
     if list_dicts is None:
         return None
 
-    first = list_dicts[0]
-    new_dtype_names = [i for i in first.keys()]
-    new_dtype = []
-    for i, entry in enumerate(first.values()):  # must inspect values to get presumptive types
-        name = new_dtype_names[i]
-        new_dtype.append(_decide_dtype(name, entry))
+    if not isinstance(list_dicts, list):  # presumably already a numpy array, conversion not necessary
+        return list_dicts
+
+    first = list_dicts[0]  # for determining dtype of output np array
+    new_dtype_names = _combine_names([i for i in first.keys()])  # -> ['x', 'y']
+    combinable_names = []  # [['x0', 'x1'], ['y0', 'y1', 'y2'], ['z']]
+    for name in new_dtype_names:  # is this a necessary search over the keys again? we did it earlier...
+        combinable_group = [i for i in first.keys() if i.rstrip("0123456789") == name]
+        if len(combinable_group) > 1:  # multiple similar names, e.g. x0, x1
+            combinable_names.append(combinable_group)
+        else:  # single name, e.g. local_pt, a0 *AS LONG AS THERE ISNT AN A1*
+            combinable_names.append([name])
+
+    if dtype is None:
+        dtype = []
+
+    if not len(dtype):
+        # another loop over names, there's probably a more elegant way, but my brain is fried
+        for i, entry in enumerate(combinable_names):
+            name = new_dtype_names[i]
+            size = len(combinable_names[i])
+            dtype.append(_decide_dtype(name, first[entry[0]], size))
+
+    out = np.zeros(len(list_dicts), dtype=dtype)
+
+    for i, group in enumerate(combinable_names):
+        new_dtype_name = new_dtype_names[i]
+        for j, input_dict in enumerate(list_dicts):
+            if len(group) == 1:  # only a single name, e.g. local_pt
+                out[new_dtype_name][j] = input_dict[new_dtype_name]
+            else:  # combinable names detected, e.g. x0, x1
+                out[new_dtype_name][j] = tuple([input_dict[name] for name in group])
 
-    out = np.zeros(len(list_dicts), dtype=new_dtype)
-    return _copy_data(out, list_dicts)
+    return out
 
 
 def np_to_list_dicts(array: npt.NDArray) -> List[dict]:
@@ -117,6 +155,13 @@ def np_to_list_dicts(array: npt.NDArray) -> List[dict]:
     for row in array:
         new_dict = {}
         for field in row.dtype.names:
-            new_dict[field] = row[field]
+            # non-string arrays, lists, etc.
+            if hasattr(row[field], "__len__") and len(row[field]) > 1 and not isinstance(row[field], str):
+                for i, x in enumerate(row[field]):
+                    new_dict[field + str(i)] = x
+            elif hasattr(row[field], "__len__") and len(row[field]) == 1:  # single-entry arrays, lists, etc.
+                new_dict[field] = row[field][0]  # will still work on single-char strings
+            else:
+                new_dict[field] = row[field]
         out.append(new_dict)
     return out
diff --git a/libensemble/utils/runners.py b/libensemble/utils/runners.py
index d688a427e..08d52a27e 100644
--- a/libensemble/utils/runners.py
+++ b/libensemble/utils/runners.py
@@ -4,14 +4,13 @@
 import time
 from typing import Optional
 
-import numpy as np
 import numpy.typing as npt
 
 from libensemble.comms.comms import QCommThread
 from libensemble.generators import LibensembleGenerator, LibensembleGenThreadInterfacer
 from libensemble.message_numbers import EVAL_GEN_TAG, FINISHED_PERSISTENT_GEN_TAG, PERSIS_STOP, STOP_TAG
 from libensemble.tools.persistent_support import PersistentSupport
-from libensemble.utils.misc import np_to_list_dicts
+from libensemble.utils.misc import list_dicts_to_np, np_to_list_dicts
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -107,22 +106,9 @@ def __init__(self, specs):
         super().__init__(specs)
         self.gen = specs.get("generator")
 
-    def _to_array(self, x: list) -> npt.NDArray:
-        """fast-cast list-of-dicts to NumPy array"""
-        if isinstance(x, list) and len(x) and isinstance(x[0], dict):
-            arr = np.zeros(len(x), dtype=self.specs["out"])
-            for i in range(len(x)):
-                for key in x[0].keys():
-                    arr[i][key] = x[i][key]
-            return arr
-        return x
-
     def _get_points_updates(self, batch_size: int) -> (npt.NDArray, npt.NDArray):
         # no ask_updates on external gens
-        return (
-            self._to_array(self.gen.ask(batch_size)),
-            None,
-        )
+        return (list_dicts_to_np(self.gen.ask(batch_size), dtype=self.specs.get("out")), None)
 
     def _convert_tell(self, x: npt.NDArray) -> list:
         self.gen.tell(np_to_list_dicts(x))
@@ -155,7 +141,8 @@ def _persistent_result(self, calc_in, persis_info, libE_info):
             self.gen.libE_info = libE_info
             if self.gen.thread is None:
                 self.gen.setup()  # maybe we're reusing a live gen from a previous run
-        H_out = self._to_array(self._get_initial_ask(libE_info))
+        # libE gens will hit the following line, but list_dicts_to_np will passthrough if the output is a numpy array
+        H_out = list_dicts_to_np(self._get_initial_ask(libE_info), dtype=self.specs.get("out"))
         tag, Work, H_in = self.ps.send_recv(H_out)  # evaluate the initial sample
         final_H_in = self._start_generator_loop(tag, Work, H_in)
         return self.gen.final_tell(final_H_in), FINISHED_PERSISTENT_GEN_TAG