ORISE Featurecast

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
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This is the ORISE FeatureCast. Join host Michael Holtz for conversations with ORISE experts on STEM workforce development, scientific and technical reviews, and the evaluation of radiation exposure and environmental contamination. You’ll also hear from ORISE research program participants and their mentors as they talk about their experiences and how they are helping shape the future of science. Welcome to the ORISE Featurecast.

  1. 12h ago

    AI's role inside and outside the classroom: An Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship conversation

    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. Dr. Ann Schwartz is the Director of Emerging Tech Workforce Impact Fellow with the Maryland Department of Labor in the Office of the Secretary. Previously, she was the Assistant Director for Research Infrastructure in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) where she revitalized the development of the National Strategic Computing Reserve and led the US Delegation at the G7 Conference for Large Research Infrastructures. Previously, Ann was the Director of the Computing Community Consortium bridging computing research and policy. She began her work in policy as an Einstein Fellow at the National Science Foundation working on Computing Education and Workforce, building on her prior experience as a high school math and computer science teacher. Ann received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering, her Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from George Washington University and her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from George Mason University. Kyle Kuhlers has taught business and computer education for 22 years in rural and urban Iowa high schools, the last seven years at Waterloo Community School District in the Waterloo Career Center. The last four years have been exclusively Information Technology and Cybersecurity education. Before teaching, Mr. Kuhlers was an IT professional for 6 years at Oral-B Laboratories toothbrush manufacturing facility. He has a BBA from the University of Iowa in Finance and Marketing, along with teaching certifications in Business Education, Information Technology Endorsement, and Computer Science Endorsement. In 2023, Mr. Kuhlers completed the University of Louisville National Cybersecurity Teachers Academy Certification, which included 12 graduate credit hours of learning over two summers. The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Act gives the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) the responsibility for managing the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship. The DOE Office of Science’s Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) manages this program for DOE in collaboration with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) and the partnering Federal agencies, which, at the time of this recording, included the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Library of Congress (LOC), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the US Geological Survey (USGS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The DOE sponsors five placements in congressional offices. To learn more about the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship, visit https://science.osti.gov/wdts/einstein.

    44 min

  2. May 20

    Honing new skills as an ORISE Fellow at the Health Research Services Administration

    Maggie Mangas is a former ORISE Research Program Participant whose fellowship was with the Health Research Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program. Mangas was excited about the opportunity to develop her quantitative research skills. Her background includes conducting qualitative research. Mangas was drawn to the ORISE fellowship because she saw an opportunity to be in a government setting, along with this data training component. She says her mentor was fantastic about creating an environment to hone her desired new skills. Hear more about Mangas’s ORISE experience, some of the projects she was part of, and how she became interested in science. Read more about Mangas here: https://orise.orau.gov/people/success-stories/2026/maggie-mangas.html

    20 min

  3. Apr 7

    Leveling up in the classroom: Albert Einstein Fellows discuss gamification and education

    Gamification in the classroom applies game design elements, like points, badges, leaderboard, and leveling up, to increase student engagement and improving learning. Gamification does not mean turning everything into a game, though. As our Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellows discuss in this episode of the ORISE Featurecast, gamification is selective. Natasja Brown, guest co-host for this cohort of AEF Fellows, and host Michael Holtz are joined by Shane Wines and Steve Kirsche, two experts on gamification in the classroom. Dr. Shane Wines is a distinguished educator, researcher, and leader in computer science education. With over a decade of experience teaching and coordinating middle and high school computer science programs, he currently serves as both the Computer Science Coordinator and a high school teacher for Calvert County Public Schools. He facilitates professional development for the Maryland Center for Computing Education and Code in the Schools, mentors computer science educators, and was named Calvert County's 2020 STEM Teacher of the Year. A recipient of the Maryland Governor's Citation, Dr. Wines also served as president of the Maryland Chapter of the Computer Science Teachers Association, leading a statewide network of over 500 educators who advocate for accessible and high-quality computer science instruction. Steve Kirsche is a middle school science program specialist for Saint Johns County School District in Florida. He previously taught math and science at both the middle school and high school levels and served as an Albert Einstein Fellow from 2019-2020 in the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at NASA. Steve earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Upon graduating, he was commissioned in the United States Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer. He served at commands in the United States and Japan and is a veteran of Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Act gives the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) the responsibility for managing the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship. The DOE Office of Science’s Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) manages this program for DOE in collaboration with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) and the partnering Federal agencies, which, at the time of this recording, included the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Library of Congress (LOC), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the US Geological Survey (USGS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The DOE sponsors five placements in congressional offices. To learn more about the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship, visit https://science.osti.gov/wdts/einstein.

    35 min

  4. Mar 12

    The rewards of mentorship: A conversation with Scott Crawford, Ph.D., at NETL

    Keri Cagle, Ed.D., ORISE Director, joins Michael Holtz as special co-host for the ORISE Featurecast. In this episode, they talk to Scott Crawford, Ph.D., a research physical scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Lab in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who has served as an ORISE mentor and was once an ORISE research program participant. NETL is dedicated to innovating and accelerating the nation’s energy solutions in hydrocarbon, geothermal energy and critical minerals production. Crawford’s research is focused on developing low-cost sensors for economically critical metals, as well as hydrogen sensing development, and serves as the responsible person for the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy lab at NETL. In this conversation we discuss Crawford’s career trajectory, the importance of mentorship, and how ORISE has been a key partner in the success of NETL and other research participation programs. To learn more about NETL, visit https://netl.doe.gov/ To learn more about ORISE research participation programs, visit https://orise.orau.gov/internships-fellowships/index.html

    39 min

  5. Feb 25

    Understanding the power of data: A conversation about CEDR with Sara Howard, Ph.D.

    Sara Howard, Ph.D., is an epidemiologist for the ORISE Health Studies group. She is co-project manager of the Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource (CEDR), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) data repository relating to the health effects for DOE workers, contractors, subcontractors, former workers, as well as the communities around DOE sites. Through CEDR, data is made available to researchers, educators and students, whether they are asking questions specific to radiation or are learning computer science, programming and statistics. Having a robust data resource like CEDR is important, Howard said, because science evolves. More questions may be asked. “Maybe we want to go back to this historical information, and maybe it's applying a new dosimetry model to the original exposure estimates and seeing how that compares against to what was already calculated. Maybe it is asking a completely new question or analyzing with a new method. That can get us even further in science. But you can't do any of that if you don't have data.” To learn more about CEDR, visit: https://oriseapps.orau.gov/cedr/

    21 min

  6. Jan 27

    Grace and glory: Albert Einstein Fellows and a student discuss National Science Bowl®

    National Science Bowl® is a fast-paced academic competition that offers teams of high school and middle school students from across the country a chance to match their wits in math and science in a series of head-to-head competitions. Regional competitions are held across the country, and 115 teams will advance from regionals to the National Science Bowl® in Washington, D.C., this April, all expenses paid! ORISE and Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellows have played a role in providing logistical support for years. In this episode of the ORISE Featurecast, hosts Michael Holtz and Natasja Brown discuss Science Bowl with educator Mary Lou O’Donnell and Sirius Drahos, who was one of Brown’s students when she coached her school’s Science Bowl team. To learn more about National Science Bowl®, visit https://science.osti.gov/wdts/nsb Volunteers are a crucial component to a successful Science Bowl. If you are interested in volunteering, visit https://science.osti.gov/wdts/nsb/Volunteers Marylou O’Donnell currently works for ORISE assisting Jan Tyler in all things related to the National Science Bowl. This role evolved from her 2019 to 2020 AEF fellowship in which she served as the DOE fellow. Living in Long Island NY, she served 24 years as a chemistry, biology and research teacher in Plainview-Old Bethpage school district. She was the coordinator of their award-winning Independent Research Program. Her students placed nationally at the INTEL STS (Regeneron STS), the International Science and Engineering Fair, the DuPont Challenge, Toshiba Exploravision and eCybermission. Prior to this she worked for a decade in the NYC public school system as a computer science, biology, chemistry, and research teacher. Sirius Drahos is a freshman at Ocean Springs High School with a strong passion for math and science. His love for these subjects led him to join his school's Science Bowl team. He has always enjoyed experimenting with chemistry and computer science kits and even received monthly engineering kits for a year. After high school, Sirius plans to attend Mississippi State University to major in software development. His ultimate goal is to work at Mojang Studios, and if hired, he’s ready to make the big move to Sweden. Beyond academics, Sirius has been involved in soccer since he was four years old. In 2024, he transitioned from player to referee, taking on a new role in his local recreational league. In his free time, he enjoys computer gaming, basketball, writing music, and spending time with friends and family. His favorite science subjects are chemistry and Earth science because he loves seeing real-world applications and hands-on demonstrations. The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Act gives the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) the responsibility for managing the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship. The DOE Office of Science’s Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) manages this program for DOE in collaboration with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) and the partnering Federal agencies, which, at the time of this recording, included the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Library of Congress (LOC), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the US Geological Survey (USGS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The DOE sponsors five placements in congressional offices. To learn more about the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship, visit https://science.osti.gov/wdts/einstein.

    47 min

  7. 12/17/2025

    Research into reducing food-borne illnesses: A conversation with Sheetal Jha, ORISE research program participant

    Imagine using a protein from bacteria as a cleaning solution to reduce or eliminate food borne illnesses. That's the research Sheetal Jha conducted as an ORISE research program participant at the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Jha is pursuing her doctoral degree at Louisiana State University and her ORISE appointment ended in October 2025. Her presentation on bacteriocins and safer foods was named Fan Favorite at the 2025 ORAISE Ignite Off! competition Jah completed her undergraduate and graduate studies in India with a focus on pharmaceuticals, but her interest in public health, safety and food science served as a bridge to her current research focus. To see Sheetal Jha's ORISE Ignite Off! presentation, "Bacteriocins at work for safer food," go to https://orise.orau.gov/internships-fellowships/resources/ignite-off-competition.html To learn more about ORISE research participation program opportunities at the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, visit https://orise.orau.gov/usda-ars/index.html

    28 min

  8. 12/10/2025

    Understanding foot and mouth disease for agricultural resilience: A conversation with Annakate Schatz

    Annakate Schatz is an ORISE Research Program Participant at the United State Department of Agriculture National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. She is studying foot and mouth disease among hooved animals – pigs, sheep, goats, cattle and water buffalo – in Vietnam. Foot and mouth disease is not present in United States, but it is endemic around the world. The disease has some significant economic consequences for farm productivity and potential trade restrictions. As a result, the USDA wants to make sure that we have a good understanding of how the disease functions and how it might spread. By building resilience to that disease in other countries, we can prepare for how the US might respond, should there be an outbreak. In her off hours, Schatz enjoys roller derby, a conversation about which could have been an episode all by itself. To learn more about ORISE Research Participation Programs at the USDA, visit https://orise.orau.gov/usda-ars/index.html

    25 min
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About

This is the ORISE FeatureCast. Join host Michael Holtz for conversations with ORISE experts on STEM workforce development, scientific and technical reviews, and the evaluation of radiation exposure and environmental contamination. You’ll also hear from ORISE research program participants and their mentors as they talk about their experiences and how they are helping shape the future of science. Welcome to the ORISE Featurecast.

Information

  • Creator
    Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 ORISE Featurecast
  • Show Website
    ORISE Featurecast