Oak Ridge Today

Jason Davis named health physicist for ORISE REAC/TS facility

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Jason Davis, health physicist at the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site, received the 2017 Elda E. Anderson Award from the Health Physics Society earlier this year. He is pictured with his wife, Samantha. (Photo by ORAU)

Jason Davis, health physicist at the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site, received the 2017 Elda E. Anderson Award from the Health Physics Society earlier this year. He is pictured with his wife, Samantha. (Photo by ORAU)

Award-winning health physicist has worked at ORAU since 2009

Jason Davis has been named health physicist for the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site, a world-renowned U.S. Department of Energy asset located at the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and managed by ORAU.

Davis is a highly regarded health physicist, bringing more than 14 years of experience in health physics and radiological engineering to REAC/TS, a press release said. He has worked in academia as well as for DOE and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His primary area of interest is internal dosimetry, and he has experience in external dosimetry, diagnostic medical imaging, radiation biology, and radiation protection.

REAC/TS is a deployable DOE asset and a leader in emergency medical response to radiological/nuclear incidents, the press release said. The REAC/TS team provides emergency response, advice, and consultation for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation. REAC/TS also offers continuing education for medical personnel, emergency planners, and others on the medical management of radiological/nuclear incidents, as well as decontamination techniques, through instructional and hands-on education. [Read more…]

ORISE accepting applications for Homeland Security summer research for minority serving institutions

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Chemistry student Kayla Bailey, right, and Associate Professor Matthewos Eshete spent their summer at Kansas State University in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Summer Research Team (SRT) Program. They studied biodegradable nanoparticles’ interactions with proteins in the body to help design more effective vaccines and drug delivery systems, among other applications. (Photo courtesy ORISE/ORAU)

Chemistry student Kayla Bailey, right, and Associate Professor Matthewos Eshete spent their summer at Kansas State University in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Summer Research Team (SRT) Program. They studied biodegradable nanoparticles’ interactions with proteins in the body to help design more effective vaccines and drug delivery systems, among other applications. (Photo courtesy ORISE/ORAU)

 

ORISE is currently accepting applications for the 2018 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Summer Research Team Program for Minority Serving Institutions, a press release said.

The purpose of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Summer Research Team (SRT) Program is to increase and enhance the scientific leadership at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in research areas that support the mission and goals of DHS, the press release said. The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) administers this program through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. ORISE is managed by ORAU for DOE.

This program provides faculty and student research teams with the opportunity to conduct research at university-based DHS Centers of Excellence (DHS Centers), the press release said. [Read more…]

DOE not responding to questions about budget, Perry’s advocacy

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Energy Secretary Rick Perry drives a 3D printed personal utility vehicle at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility on Hardin Valley Road on Monday, May 22, 2017. His passenger is Craig Blue, director of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs at ORNL. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Energy Secretary Rick Perry drives a 3D printed personal utility vehicle at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility on Hardin Valley Road on Monday, May 22, 2017. His passenger is Craig Blue, director of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs at ORNL. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The U.S. Department of Energy is not responding to questions about Energy Secretary Rick Perry’s advocacy of Oak Ridge or the fiscal year 2018 budget request.

The only question from Oak Ridge Today that DOE has answered is: Will the department have a teleconference to discuss the budget request with reporters? The answer was “no.”

DOE, which could have a funding decrease under President Donald Trump’s budget request, has not responded to any specific questions about the budget itself. Oak Ridge Today has tried about a dozen times in the past month to reach someone in the public affairs office at DOE headquarters in Washington, D.C., using emails, phone calls, and on Wednesday night, a five-part tweet to active Twitter accounts for Perry and the DOE press staff.

Oak Ridge Today has sought information from the department since Trump sent the fiscal year 2018 budget request to Congress on Tuesday, May 23. Among other things, the news website has wanted to make sure that it is correctly interpreting the preliminary budget numbers published online by DOE. (See here, here, and here for more information about the budget request.)

According to the information Oak Ridge Today has received and reviewed, some Oak Ridge programs and sites could see funding increases under the president’s budget request, while others could see decreases. The programs and sites that could benefit include the environmental management program (the cleanup work at federal sites), Oak Ridge Office, and Y-12 National Security Complex. Those that could lose funding are DOE’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information, or OSTI; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, which is managed by ORAU; and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Oak Ridge Today has sent specific questions about funding for most of these programs and sites to the public affairs office at DOE headquarters, but no spokespeople have responded, not even to acknowledge that the messages were received or to reply with a “no comment.”

Oak Ridge Today has also tried to follow up on Perry’s pledge to be a strong advocate for at least some programs in Oak Ridge. Perry made the pledge at ORNL’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility in Hardin Valley on Monday, May 22. The pledge came after he toured ORNL, the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, and Y-12. During his visit to Oak Ridge and Hardin Valley, Perry learned about the planned Uranium Processing Facility and nuclear weapons work at Y-12, the environmental management program, and advanced manufacturing, 3D printing, materials science research, and supercomputing at ORNL. [Read more…]

ORISE unveils new website, provides one location for resources such as STEM internships, fellowships

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A screenshot of the new ORISE website.

A screenshot of the new ORISE website.

 

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, or ORISE, has unveiled its new website, providing one location for a wide range of resources, a press release said.

The new ORISE website offers a portal for students and graduates looking for STEM internships, fellowships, and other professional development opportunities; information on scientific peer review; medical consultation for radiation incidents through the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site, or REAC/TS; worker health studies; environmental and radiological assessments; lab services; and much more ORISE information, the press release said. (STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.)

“A great deal of user research was performed before work on the actual website began, including conducting focus groups with people who the website is designed to target,” said ORISE Director Jim Vosburg. “We used this research to design the website for ease of navigation and to match the design and content with what our target audience wants and needs.”

The website navigation is primarily based on users identifying themselves, such as students and graduates, educators, scientists, health and environmental professionals, so they can quickly navigate to the areas they want to visit, the press release said.

Top-level navigation also features ORISE capability areas and assets, which allows users to more precisely locate the content that interests them, the press release said. [Read more…]

ORAU welcomes four new institutions to university consortium

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ORAU recently welcomed Arizona State University and Yale University as its newest sponsoring institutions during the 72nd annual meeting of its Council of Sponsoring Institutions. Oakland University and Villanova University were named new associate members.

“We are honored to have these four institutions joining our growing university consortium,” said Andy Page, ORAU president and chief executive officer. “Membership in ORAU’s consortium broadens the already diverse opportunities these universities provide for students and faculty researchers in many critical areas of science and technology.”

ORAU includes 120 sponsoring institutions across the nation and in England. Now in its 70th year, ORAU originally was formed under the auspices of the Oak Ridge Institute for Nuclear Studies and consisted of 14 southern academic institutions.

An ORAU sponsoring institution is a nonprofit institution of higher learning granting doctoral degrees in multiple science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, fields. Associate members are institutions of higher learning offering bachelor’s, master’s, or a limited number of doctoral degrees in the STEM fields. [Read more…]

After Senate confirms Perry as energy secretary, Alexander invites him to Oak Ridge

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Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

The United States Senate has confirmed former Texas Governor Rick Perry to serve as U.S. energy secretary, and Senator Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, has invited him to Oak Ridge.

The Thursday afternoon vote to confirm Perry was 62 to 37. Alexander was one of the 62 senators voting to confirm Perry. So was Senator Bob Corker, also a Tennessee Republican.

“I’ve known Rick Perry for a long time and am pleased the Senate has voted to confirm him as energy secretary,” Alexander said in a statement. “He appreciates the role the Department of Energy plays in the management and modernization of our nuclear weapons—an important part of the work done at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge. He also understands that national laboratories like the Oak Ridge National Laboratory are essential to maintaining our country’s brainpower advantage. I have invited him to come to Tennessee early this year to see firsthand the important work done in Oak Ridge.” [Read more…]

ORISE’s Radiological, Environmental Analytical Laboratory receives accreditation for operations quality

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Photo courtesy ORAU

Photo courtesy ORAU

 

Compliance with this international standard demonstrates the highest level of accuracy for testing and calibration

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education’s (ORISE) Radiological and Environmental Analytical Laboratory has received A2LA accreditation for ISO/IEC 17025, an international standard that ensures the quality and accuracy of laboratory equipment calibration and sampling analysis. A2LA, short for American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, is an accreditation body that confirms laboratory compliance with ISO/IEC 17025.

To achieve the accreditation, A2LA conducted a rigorous evaluation of the laboratory’s technical competence and quality management systems. The assessment began with a significant gap analysis, which had more than 1,000 lines of inquiries detailing the requirements for a proper management system, a sound quality system, and a competent technical system of sample analysis. The evaluation also required a four-day, onsite assessment performed by an A2LA inspector, a press release said.

“When it comes to laboratory testing and equipment calibration, ISO/IEC 17025 is the highest standard of quality in the world,” said Andy Page, president and chief executive officer for ORAU, the managing contractor for ORISE. “This distinction is a great differentiator for ORISE, and it provides our customers with the assurance that the Radiological and Environmental Analytical Laboratory is able to consistently produce accurate and precise results.” [Read more…]

CareerLink showcases internships, research opportunities for minorities at ORNL

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ORISE, ORNL host 43 faculty and undergraduates from minority institutions for networking event

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, or ORISE, recently partnered with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to host a CareerLink Event Day that provided a full day of networking and workshops for faculty and undergraduate students from minority institutions.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists Programs and held at ORNL, this inaugural event benefitted 43 distinguished faculty and undergraduate students from historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, and minority education institutions, or MEIs, who are interested in career opportunities with DOE or its national labs.

“Events like this help excite and educate faculty and students from our nation’s minority education institutions about STEM-related careers,” said Craig Layman, associate director with ORISE. “Students learn more about the critical mission areas of ORNL and, at the same time, network with potential mentors who are among ORNL’s top scientists and engineers.” [Read more…]

ORISE accepting applications for DOE energy fellowship summer program

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Women and minorities encouraged to apply; deadline is Dec. 30

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education is currently accepting applications for the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2017 Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship Program, or MLEF, which is a 10-week summer program for students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math.

The MLEF Program provides students with the opportunity to gain and develop research skills by training under the mentorship of program officials and scientists within the DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy, a press release said. This program is open to currently enrolled, full-time, degree-seeking students in a science, technology, engineering, or math, or STEM, program at an accredited college or university at the bachelor’s (sophomore or higher), master’s, or doctoral level with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. U.S. citizenship is required.

Participants will support Office of Fossil Energy mission-related research while gaining insight into how DOE is working to meet the energy challenges of the future. The goal of the program is to improve opportunities for women and minority students in the STEM fields although all eligible candidates are encouraged to apply. [Read more…]

U.S. Homeland Security seeks faculty, students for summer 2017 research

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is seeking faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students interested in participating in one of its 10-week programs in summer 2017, including its Summer Research Team Program for Minority Serving Institutions, and its Homeland Security—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (HS-STEM) Summer Internship Program.

The deadlines for applying for both programs occur in December 2016.

Summer Research Team Program for Minority Serving Institutions [Read more…]

Overall number of health physics degrees drops to lowest level in more than decade

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Despite number of bachelor’s and master’s degrees decreasing, number of doctorate degrees increased significantly

The overall number of students who graduated in 2015 with health physics degrees dropped to the lowest level in more than a decade. This is according to the latest annual study conducted by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, which surveyed 22 health physics programs, representing nearly all such programs at the nation’s universities.

The report, titled “Health Physics Enrollments and Degrees Survey, 2015 Data,” showed that a total of 136 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees were granted between September 1, 2014, and August 31, 2015.

Table 1. Health Physics Degrees, 2006-2015

[Read more…]

Some of nation’s most accomplished STEM teachers selected as Albert Einstein Educator Fellows

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Teachers representing 10 states, District of Columbia will apply classroom experience to congressional, federal executive branch offices

Thirteen accomplished K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, teachers from across the United States have been named 2016-2017 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellows. The fellows will spend 11 months serving in a federal agency or U.S. congressional office in Washington, D.C., engaged in the national STEM education arena.

The Albert Einstein Distinguished Education Fellowship, or AEF, Program provides a unique opportunity for accomplished K-12 STEM educators to apply their extensive classroom knowledge and experience to their host offices to inform federal STEM education efforts.

The 2016-17 Einstein Fellows are as follows: [Read more…]