Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Programs: Cultivating STEM Expertise and Innovation

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) plays a pivotal role in fostering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and workforce development. Managed by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), ORISE connects students, recent graduates, postdocs, and faculty with unique opportunities to enhance their STEM expertise and contribute to national research initiatives. ORISE serves as a trusted partner to government customers, university consortium members and the local community for more than 80 years.

A Legacy of STEM Advancement

The genesis of ORISE can be traced back to Dr. William G. Pollard, a University of Tennessee physics professor who envisioned a peaceful application for the nuclear science emerging from the Manhattan Project. This vision materialized on October 17, 1946, with the incorporation of the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies by the state of Tennessee. In 1992, the Department of Energy (DOE) consolidated numerous legacy programs into what is now known as ORISE.

Diverse Programs for Varied Participants

ORISE offers a wide array of programs catering to individuals at different stages of their academic and professional journeys. These programs facilitate collaborative research at national laboratories and with DOE's federal agency partners, encompassing undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, and faculty levels. The diversity of these programs enables individuals to conduct collaborative research with national laboratories or at one of DOE's federal agency partners.

Opportunities for Undergraduate Students

For undergraduate students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in STEM-related disciplines, ORISE periodically offers scholarships to support their academic pursuits. ORISE provides various resources to address the career planning and professional development needs of all research and non-research participants. Students can search for internships by keyword to find current opportunities. Finding an internship or fellowship means polishing your resume and networking with your peers and professionals to learn about opportunities in the STEM disciplines that offer hands-on experience.

Research Participation Program for CDC, NCEH and DLS

The Research Participation Program for CDC, National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) and the Division of Laboratory Sciences (DLS) provides opportunities for members of the academic community (i.e., postgraduates, students, and faculty) to participate in DLS programs, projects, and activities. The program is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). College and university faculty, students, and post-graduates are provided opportunities for hands-on participation in research and development activities at federal laboratories. These requirements help ensure that participants are still engaged in formal education and that the experience will enhance their personal education and skills. As a result of these appointments, technology is introduced (or reintroduced) into the universities and colleges and integrated into campus-based instruction and research programs.

High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP)

The Department of Defense’s (DoD) High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) sponsors two summer research opportunities: the High Performance Computing Internship Program (HIP) and the Faculty Immersion Experience (FIX). These 10-week experiences are offered in collaboration with more than a dozen DoD hosting organizations nationwide.

HS-POWER Program

The DHS Science and Technology Directorate Office of University Programs sponsors the Professional Opportunities for the Student Workforce to Experience Research (HS-POWER) Program for undergraduate and graduate students. HS-POWER is open to students majoring in a broad spectrum of homeland security related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines as well as DHS mission-relevant research areas.

DHS Summer Research Team (SRT) Program

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 TSL is a DHS Science and Technology Directorate Federal Laboratory located at the William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City International Airport, New Jersey. The core mission is to enhance homeland security by performing research, development, and validation of solutions to detect and mitigate the threat of improvised explosive devices. TSL helps protect our nation’s civilian air transportation systems. By virtue of its accomplished experts, state-of-the-art facilities, and partnerships, TSL offers the homeland security community and transportation security partners the ability to advance detection technology from conception to deployment through applied research, test and evaluation, assessment, certification, and system qualification. DOT through an ORISE internship or fellowship.

NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

Kelly Whalen, Ph.D., studies black holes and how they interact with galaxy growth as part of her research for the NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Whalen says there are a lot of misconceptions about black holes because of pop culture and science fiction depictions. There are different kinds of black holes, and they are not gigantic forces of destruction. She tells Further Together, the ORAU Podcast that black holes can also create by forming new stars.

SULI Program

I came in as a senior Ph.D. student with relatively fixed interest in one field. The SULI program helped me develop a host of skills that will benefit me in my future career.

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Impact and Outcomes

ORISE internships and fellowships significantly impact career paths and add value to research opportunities. These appointments facilitate the introduction (or reintroduction) of technology into universities and colleges, seamlessly integrating it into campus-based instruction and research programs.

REAC/TS: A Vital Component

The Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) operates as a part of ORISE. REAC/TS provides emergency response and subject matter expertise on the medical management of radiation incidents for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation. REAC/TS is designated as a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre, which are key institutions that provide expertise and function as an extension of the international public health agency’s mission to improve health outcomes for all people.

ORISE and ORNL: A Synergistic Relationship

ORNL educational programs provide experiences that complement academic programs and provide opportunities for additional learning, development, and training in a workplace setting. ORNL provided computing and data resources, but it was Ayalew who learned and provided those analytical techniques to our plant-microbiome project. Located near the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, ORNL’s campus is just 1 hour away from the nation’s most visited national park. Within a day’s drive of all major cities on the East Coast, ORNL provides the best of both worlds: proximity to the great outdoors and growing urban centers with diverse cultural attractions. In addition, East Tennessee is affordable, with a cost of living 8% lower than the national average and no state income tax.

Promoting STEM Education

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) outreach is vital to the nation’s development of future scientists, engineers and innovators.

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