ORISE Archives - Oak Ridge Today

Virtual career fair for ORNL on Feb. 20

Posted at 2:34 pm February 15, 2019
By Amy Schwinge Leave a Comment

Submitted

Discover the variety of internships and research participation programs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory by participating in the Laboratory Internship Virtual Event, or LIVE, career fair on Wednesday, February 20, from noon to 3 p.m.

During the LIVE virtual career fair, participants will connect with ORNL recruiters and staff, talk to ORNL’s staff scientists about their research and how they are solving some of the world’s most compelling challenges, and learn more about the different directorates that make up ORNL, the largest U.S. Department of Energy open science laboratory, a press release said.

Register now or learn more about this LIVE virtual career fair: https://orau.6connex.com/event/LIVE/ORNL19Q1/login. [Read more…]

ORAU reports minimal impact from government shutdown

Posted at 1:48 pm January 25, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Part of the ORAU campus in central Oak Ridge is pictured above on May 29, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

ORAU on Friday reported that the partial shutdown of the federal government has had, for the most part, a minimal impact on its operations.

The partial government shutdown is now in its 35th day. It’s the longest shutdown ever, and it includes about 25 percent of the federal government.

ORAU has a customer base that includes more than 20 federal agencies.

“The impact to date has been varied, but for the most part minimal,” ORAU spokesperson Pam Bonee said in an emailed response to questions on Friday. “The majority of our work is funded or had sufficient funds to carry the work into the first quarter of 2019.” [Read more…]

Director named at Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site

Posted at 1:05 pm January 19, 2019
By Amy Schwinge Leave a Comment

Carol Iddins

Carol J. Iddins has been named director of the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site in Oak Ridge.

In this position, Iddins will provide direction and medical leadership while managing the operations of REAC/TS, a press release said.

“Dr. Iddins will ensure support to multiple government and non-governmental agencies for national readiness as well as provide advice and consultation for the medical management of radiation injuries and illnesses,” the press release said. “She will lead REAC/TS as the United States’ only collaborating center for radiation emergency management for the World Health Organization and coordinate international response through the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Radiation Assistance Network.”

Iddins served as associate director of REAC/TS for four years. Before that, she worked for five years as a staff physician at REAC/TS. In these roles, she provided subject matter expertise for patients with radiological injuries and illnesses; disaster medicine; emergency readiness and preparedness; research; and developing and delivering educational courses, the press release said. She has participated in many U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration national-level exercises as well as deployments to actual real-world incidents, the press release said. [Read more…]

ORISE, Rotary Club plan to package 20,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger

Posted at 10:59 am March 3, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

More than 100 volunteers from the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge will package 20,000 nutritious meals for Rise Against Hunger, an international hunger relief organization, in a few hours on Thursday, March 8.

The event is marking the expansion of a warehouse on ORISE’s south campus by helping feed people around the world.

“Volunteers will follow an assembly-line process to package highly nutritious dehydrated meals comprised of rice, soy, vegetables, and 23 essential vitamins and minerals,” a media alert said. “Rise Against Hunger will distribute the meals primarily to school feeding programs in developing countries around the world.”

ORISE is managed by ORAU, a nonprofit corporation and federal contractor, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

Discover ORNL research opportunities at Virtual Career Fair

Posted at 11:49 pm February 15, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Undergraduates, graduate students, and recent college graduates may find the research opportunity that meets their career goals during the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Science Education and Workforce Development Virtual Career Fair next week.

The Virtual Career Fair will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday, February 22. It will be hosted by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a press release said.

“The virtual career fair is a great opportunity for students to investigate research opportunities available at ORNL,” said Bill Cox, ORISE group manager. “Participants will have the same ability to ask questions as if they were at a career fair in person.” [Read more…]

Applications being accepted for research opportunities with Higher Education Research faculty program

Posted at 5:38 am February 9, 2018
By Amanda Freuler Leave a Comment

Pasquale Fulvio, Ph.D., researched carbon composites during his time in the Higher Education Research Experiences faculty program. (Photo submitted by ORAU)

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education is currently seeking college faculty for paid research opportunities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory through the Higher Education Research Experiences program, a press release said.

This research program provides opportunities for teaching and non-teaching faculty, like Pasquale Fulvio, to use the unique resources of ORNL to enhance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, encourage careers in science and technology, and improve scientific literacy, the press release said.

Appointments will be located at ORNL and generally take place during the summer; part-time appointments may occur during the semester depending on the requirements of the project. Sabbatical appointments may also be available. The program provides stipends based on the certified academic institution salary for faculty, as well as limited travel and housing assistance, if eligible, the release said.

Applications are open year-round, and appointments are made throughout the year with flexible start and end dates, the press release said. [Read more…]

Applications being accepted for NSF Mathematical Sciences Internship Program

Posted at 9:46 pm January 4, 2018
By Oak Ridge Associated Universities Leave a Comment

Call for applications closes February 1, 2018

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is accepting applications for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Mathematical Sciences Graduate Internship Program, a 10-week summer program for graduate students pursuing a doctoral degree in mathematics, statistics, or applied mathematics.

To qualify, applicants must be enrolled as a graduate student pursuing a doctoral degree in mathematics, statistics, or applied mathematics at an accredited U.S. college or university, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher, a press release said. For a complete list of discipline areas, visit http://www.orise.orau.gov/nsf-msgi/. Students graduating with a doctoral degree prior to the expected internship start date are not eligible, the press release said.

Selected participants will receive a stipend of $1,200 per week for their participation in the internship and limited travel reimbursement. All applications must be submitted by February 1, 2018. [Read more…]

ORISE seeking applications for DOE Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy science, technology policy program

Posted at 12:05 am January 4, 2018
By Amy Schwinge Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education is accepting applications for the 2018 U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Science, Technology, and Policy Program.

Opportunities are available in the areas of policy and marketing for the Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs.

The deadline to apply is January 18, a press release said. [Read more…]

Jason Davis named health physicist for ORISE REAC/TS facility

Posted at 12:50 pm December 27, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

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…]

Nuclear engineering science lab program at ORNL accepting applications for spring, summer 2018

Posted at 10:27 am December 27, 2017
By Amanda Freuler Leave a Comment

The Nuclear Engineering Science Laboratory Synthesis program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is accepting applications for spring and summer 2018. NESLS is a cooperative research initiative at ORNL administered through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and geared toward undergraduate and graduate students interested in nuclear engineering and science, a press release said.

NESLS offers students educational and research opportunities at a multidisciplinary national laboratory, the press release said. Research areas of interest may include nuclear security technologies; nuclear systems analysis, design, and safety; and fuels, isotopes, and nuclear materials.

To qualify, applicants must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student in a nuclear engineering, science, or eligible related program at an accredited U.S. college or university. Students working toward an associate of science or associate of engineering degree at a community college are also eligible to apply. All applicants must be 18 years or older and have at least a cumulative grade point average of 3.0. For a complete list of eligibility requirements, visit http://www.orau.org/ornl/nesls/. [Read more…]

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

Posted at 11:22 pm December 20, 2017
By Amy Schwinge Leave a Comment

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

Posted at 9:10 pm June 29, 2017
By John Huotari 2 Comments

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…]