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. 6D AGO

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 11/24/2025

    Diving into the application process for the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship

    Nearly every conversation we have on the ORISE Featurecast about the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship discusses the challenge of the application process. In this episode, Michael Holtz and guest co-host Natasja Brown take a deep dive into the application and the process through which AEF Fellows are selected. They are joined by Stacie Marvin, an AEF alumnus who was a fellow on Capitol Hill in 2023, and Lora Taylor, a current Fellow at Library of Congress. Natasja Denise Brown is a passionate science educator with twelve years of experience teaching students from 7th grade through the university level. Most recently, she has taught high school accelerated biology at Ocean Springs High School in Mississippi while also serving as an adjunct instructor at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where she taught Biology I and II. Her dedication to students extends far beyond the classroom. She founded the middle and high school Science Bowl teams at her school, coaching them for the past six years to achieve first place or runner-up finishes nearly every year in the state. In the most recent national competition, her team ranked among the top 32 in the nation. In addition, she has served as the freshman student council sponsor, advised the Red Cross Club, and contributed to the National Honor Society faculty committee. Lora Taylor is a STEM educator and community collaborator who believes learning should be hands-on and connected to real post-secondary opportunities. She joins the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship from Hamilton County Schools in Tennessee, where she has taught across multiple grade levels and roles from AP high school biology to middle school science, digital fabrication, STEM, and computer-aided design (CAD). Lora’s approach blends engineering principles, digital fabrication, and community collaboration. Her classrooms are vibrant, maker-centered spaces where students tackle real-world issues using tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, and physical computing to bring ideas to life. Stacie Marvin is a Math Specialist at Lake Elkhorn Middle School in Howard County, Maryland. In a career that has spanned three decades, she has taught learners from Pre-K to college level. She has served in leadership roles in her schools and district, as grade-level and Math team leader as well as Teacher Development Liaison for new teachers. She courageously seeks out new, proven, and effective teaching practices for her classroom that meet the needs of her students. When she finds and implements an effective strategy that energizes learners, she extends her reach through professional development presentations and mentoring other educators. 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.

    58 min

  6. 11/12/2025

    Science is part of our everyday lives: A conversation with ORISE participant Nafiz Rahaman

    Sk Nafiz Rahaman is an ORISE participant in the Graduate Research Program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. As part of his internship, he is developing an interactive tool to visualize electric grid risks and analyzing the impact of data center growth on energy affordability. In this episode of the ORISE Featurecast, Rahaman talks about the part of his research that focuses on the encroachment of kudzu and other high-growth plants on power lines and the potential to cause outages. His poster “A National-Scale Spatiotemporal Framework for Power Outage Trend Detection Using EAGLE-I Data” was awarded first place at the 2025 ORISE Symposium. Rahaman grew up in Bangladesh and is a doctoral student at Mississippi State University. In this conversation, Rahaman talks about his academic journey, his dreams for the future, and the benefits of being part of a national laboratory team. To learn more about the Graduate Research Program at ORNL, visit https://education.ornl.gov/gro/ To learn about ORISE graduate internships and fellowships, visit https://orise.orau.gov/internships-fellowships/graduates.html

    21 min

  7. 11/05/2025

    The struggle is worth it: A conversation with Kalidas Mainali, Ph.D., ORISE postdoctoral fellow at the USDA ARS

    Kalidas Mainali, Ph.D., is an ORISE postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. He is stationed at the USDA ARS Eastern Regional Research Center in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, where Mainali is studying methods for creating biofuels and other valuable resources from agricultural waste. Mainali is a native of Nepal who also studied in Scotland, so he brings a wealth of world-wise experience to his research, but says that he ultimately decided to pursue his Ph.D. in the United States because of the extensive research opportunities available here. In this conversation, Mainali talks about his educational journey, his relationships with his mentors, and his plans for the future. To learn more about ORISE opportunities at the USDA ARS, visit https://orise.orau.gov/usda-ars/index.html

    23 min

  8. 10/30/2025

    Researcher Jin Whan Bae on the potential prosperity of nuclear energy

    Jin Whan Bae is a Nuclear Reactor Analyst in the Research and Test Reactor Physics Group within the Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He was the recipient of an ORISE Mentor Award in 2024. In this episode of the ORISE Featurecast, Bae talks to host Michael Holtz about his research experience, which covers a wide range of topics related to nuclear science, including fuel cycle modeling and analysis, fission and fusion reactor physics analysis and reactor design, and machine learning applications for nuclear engineering. The conversation focuses on Bae’s educational trajectory, how he has served as a mentor and been mentored by others, and the life shift involved in moving from Korea to the United States. On the personal side, Bae shares his vision for nuclear energy as a force for prosperity without the cost of fossil fuels and carbon emissions.

    19 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
    68
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 ORISE Featurecast
  • Show Website
    ORISE Featurecast