What's it like Being an ORISE STEM Researcher?
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education administers science education programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy and other federal agencies. The diversity of these programs enables individuals—whether undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral or faculty—to conduct collaborative research with national laboratories and partners of federal agencies.
From robotics research to improving the national wastewater infrastructure, ORISE researchers apply their talents and interests to advance research of national interest. Through ORISE internships, fellowships, and research appointments, participants get one step closer to reaching their STEM career goals.
Below are just a few of our interns, fellows, and former researchers, and these are their stories.
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Robby Phillips
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Science, Technology and Policy (STP) ProgramRobby Phillips is an ORISE participant with the Department of Energy (DOE) Science, Technology and Policy (STP) Program. With a passion for addressing climate change, Phillips’ research is used to uplift communities left behind by the energy transition through streamlining information and navigating challenges.
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Dionne Mitcham
CDC Research Participation ProgramDionne Mitcham, MPH, let her passion for public health and emergency management lead her to a fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leaving her with an invaluable experience and connections.
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John Kronenberger
USDA Forest Service Research Participation ProgramJohn Kronenberger is an ORISE intern alum who participated in the USDA-USFS Research Participation Program monitoring wildlife using environmental DNA.
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Zakaridja Guiriansoro
Research Participation Program at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Zakaridja Guiriansoro, M.D, is an ORISE fellow alum who participated in research with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). With his mentor Tatiana Oussova, M.D., Guiriansoro conducted a comprehensive analysis of 26 safety studies for drugs that treat inflammatory or autoimmune conditions.
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Amalia Parra
IC PostdocAs a participant in the Intelligence Community (IC) Postdoctoral Program, Amalia Parra investigates gene networks in Drosophila melanogaster to enhance U.S. national security through improved threat detection and mitigation.
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Molly Simonis
IC PostdocAs a current participant in the Intelligence Community (IC) Postdoctoral Fellowship, Molly Simonis researches the mechanisms of pathogen spillover from bats to humans, focusing on the influences of phylogenetic relatedness and social contact patterns on disease transmission.
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Zachery Enderson
IC PostdocAs a participant in the Intelligence Community (IC) Postdoctoral Fellowship, Zachery Allen Enderson researches the development of infrared detectors using artificial moiré quantum materials to advance quantum information systems and other technological applications.
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Ethan Clements
IC PostdocAs a recent participant in the Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program, Ethan Robert Clements focused on integrating photonics into trapped ion systems to enhance scalability and functionality for quantum information processing.
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Brett Shelley
USDA ARS Research Participation ProgramBrett Shelley, Ph.D., gained his interest in the sciences at an early age, but credits part of his success to the great mentors he has had along the way.
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Syeda Zahra Ali
CDC Research Participation ProgramAs a participant in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Mathematical Statistician Fellowship, Syeda Zahra Ali uses biostatistics to enhance public health interventions and policies, focusing on improving outcomes through rigorous data analysis and research.
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Sade Davenport
IC PostdocSade Davenport, Ph.D., is using her research to inform better understanding of aquatic ecosystems and promote objectives for water quality and safety.
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Greg Tierney
EPA Research Participation ProgramAs an ORISE fellow at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Greg Tierney, Ph.D., uses intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves to evaluate the risks of extreme temperature events.
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Candace Rutt
CDC Research Participation ProgramCandace Rutt started her career at the CDC as an ORISE fellow in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity. Rutt is now part of the Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch at CDC, working on topics like Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Harmful Algal Blooms and Antibiotic Resistance among others.
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Kyle Brumfield
IC PostdocKyle Brumfield in the laboratory at the Maryland Pathogen Research Institute and Department of Cellular Biology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Maryland.
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Cynney Walters
CDC Research Participation ProgramCynney Walters is a current participant with the PulseNet Reference, Outbreak and Surveillance Team at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Walters is a bioinformatician using genomic data to aid with outbreak investigations.