Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)

Applying to graduate school, particularly in STEM fields, requires careful planning and a strategic approach due to the complexity of applications and limited program availability. This guide outlines key steps, including understanding program requirements, researching availability, networking with potential mentors, and crafting professional outreach to advisors, helping prospective students navigate the process effectively.

Make plans to join us August 25-28, for the 2026 ORISE Symposium! This virtual event will feature professional development webinars, a poster session showcasing the research of ORISE participants, and ceremonies recognizing the winners of this year’s Ignite Off! competition and Future of Science Awards. The symposium will be open to all ORISE participants, alumni, mentors, and federal agency staff.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is something most people interact with every day, even if they don’t realize it. Maps apps, the predictive text you see when you’re writing an email or document, or the ad you get served on social media because you searched the web for something. While useful in our daily lives, AI is also beneficial in the classroom. As this episode is posted, students and educators from around the country are about to compete in the finals of the Presidential AI Challenge in Washington, D.C. In this episode of the ORISE Featurecast, Michael Holtz is joined by guest co-host Natasja Brown. Together they have a great conversation with Dr. Ann Schwartz, an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship alum, and Kyle Kuhlers, a current AEF Fellow. Join them for an interesting and inspiring conversation.

A recent article in Science, titled “Resolving the Radiation Risk Debate,” examines renewed national attention on the “linear no-threshold” (LNT) model, which assumes that any amount of radiation exposure, no matter how small, carries some risk. Among the key research efforts includes the Million Person Study, one of the largest and most comprehensive investigations of chronic, low-dose occupational radiation exposure ever undertaken.