Further Together the ORAU Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 103: Celebrating workplace diversity: ORAU Diversity Council marks 30th birthday Nov 09, 2022

Show notes

A cornhole competition between ORAU employees and executives, which executives lost, was the high point of the Diversity Council's 30th birthday celebration, which took place on ORAU's Main Campus and virtually in October 2022. The gathering was the first major in-person event since the beginning the pandemic, and celebrated ORAU's commitment to diversity. In this special "man on the street" style episode, host Michael Holtz talks to members of the diversity council against the backdrop of a very fun and important day for ORAU. To learn more about ORAU's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, visit https://www.orau.org/about/principles/diversity.html

Episode 102: The molten salt reactor renaissance, a conversation with Alexander Bataller, Ph.D. Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

Alexander Betaller, assistant professor of nuclear engineering at North Carolina State University, was a 2020 recipient of an ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award. With his award, which was matched by his institution, Betaller built a custom optical furnace as part of his team's research into molten salt reactors. The blueprints for the furnace were from the 70s, and molten salt reactor research is seeing a bit of a renaissance. Learn more about his research and why it's important during this conversation with host Michael Holtz. If you're junior faculty at an ORAU University Consortium institution, consider applying for a Powe Award. Application submissions close on January 9, 2023. Apply here: https://www.orau.org/university-partnerships/member-grant-programs/powe/index.html

Episode 101: Making great things happen: our annual conversation with United Away of Anderson County Oct 25, 2022

Show notes

It's annual giving time at ORAU, and for the third year in a row Michael Holtz sat down with Naomi Asher, executive director of the United Way of Anderson County (and surrounding, let's be real), to talk about how UWAC and its partner agencies meet some of the basic needs of individuals living right here in our communities. Joining this year's conversation are Janet Wood, vice president of community engagement at Emory Valley Center, and Kayla Simon, executive director of ASAP of Anderson County. These organizations and many others who receive United Way funding are doing great work and make donated dollars stretch as far as humanly possible. Give a listen to learn more, and then give: ORAU employees, support the Annual Giving Campaign. https://web2012.orau.net/ORAUGiving/Home/ Learn more about United Way of Anderson County https://uwayac.org/, Emory Valley Center https://www.emoryvalleycenter.org/ and ASAP of Anderson County https://www.asapofanderson.org/,

Episode 100: On implicit and explicit bias: A conversation with Susan Ehrlich Oct 19, 2022

Show notes

Susan Ehrlich, a former assistant U.S. Attorney and a former judge in Arizona, recently wrote a memorandum for the Central Department of Energy Institutional Review Board discussing explicit and implicit biases in human subjects research. Bias is a critically important issue in research, ensuring that biases are addressed and don't exclude participation in human subjects research. In this conversation, Ehrlich shares how she came to be the first author of the memorandum, why it's important and what happens next.

Episode 99: Better research equals better performance as a company Oct 05, 2022

Show notes

ORAU has a thriving and growing research enterprise. Returning guest Ken Tobin, ORAU's Chief Research Officer, joins host Michael Holtz for a conversation about some new developments in the research arena, including the creation of a research scientist job family. Ultimately, research is good for the company from a performance and employee engagement perspective. The conversation is brief but very impactful.

Episode 98: FDA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hilary Marston on ORISE's role in the trajectory of her career Sep 28, 2022

Show notes

Dr. Hilary Marston, an internal medicine physician by training, has long had an interest in public health and global health policy. In 2013, she began work at the National Institutes of Health as an ORISE research program participant as at the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, where she was mentored by Dr. Anthony Fauci and worked on several outbreaks including Ebola, Zika and COVID-19. She also worked for the National Security Council and the White House COVID Response Team before being named Chief Medical Officer at the Food and Drug Administration earlier this year. In this conversation, Marston tells host Michael Holtz how her ORISE experience played a key role in the trajectory of her career, discusses her mentors, how she enjoys mentoring future scientists and so much more. Join us for a great conversation.

Episode 97: ORISE Featurecast: Christina Wildfire on the importance of collaboration Sep 23, 2022

Show notes

We wrap our celebration of National Postdoc Week with an enlightening and inspiring interview with Christina Wildfire, a two-time ORISE research program participant at the National Energy Technology Laboratory. Wildfire's research has focused on using microwave energy to revitalize the coal industry. Currently, as an employee at NETL, she works with scientists and industry to reduce carbon emissions. In this conversation with host Michael Holtz, Wildfire discusses her journey into science (she didn't start out with a plan to study engineering) and the trajectory of her impactful career. Learn more about Dr. Wildfire and NETL here: https://orise.orau.gov/netl/experiences/wildfire.html

Episode 96: ORISE Featurecast: Julie Spencer on using mathematics to end suffering from diseases Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

As part of our annual observance of National Postdoc Week, this episode of the ORISE Featurecast focuses on Julie Spencer, Ph.D., an Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program researcher, who uses mathematics to track and, in collaboration with other scientists, research how to end human suffering from communicable diseases. In this episode, Julie talks to host Michael Holtz about her ongoing work, how she developed an interest in science and math, the importance of collaboration for success in today's research environment, and the value of mentorship, both as a mentor and mentee in the development of her career. Join us for an interesting and, dare we say, fun conversation. Learn more about the ORISE IC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship here: https://orise.orau.gov/icpostdoc/applicants/index.html

Episode 95: ORISE Featurecast: Nick Byrd works to untangle bias in Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Fellowship Sep 12, 2022

Show notes

We all deliver and consume information through the lens of our own biases. Individuals can get the same information and have the same resources, but come to wildly different conclusions. Nick Byrd, a researcher in the ORISE Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, uses his background studying philosophy and applied engineering to help people understand their cognitive biases and engage in reflective thinking to de-bias decision-making processes. The intent isn't to change minds or opinions, but to engage us in critical thinking. Learn more about Nick's work during this conversation with host Michael Holtz. You can learn more about the ORISE IC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship here: About ORISE | IC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program (orau.gov)

Episode 94: ORAU is making an impact on air quality, weather and climate research Sep 02, 2022

Show notes

ORAU's work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division (NOAA ATDD) is one of the hidden gems of our company. It's not work we talk about often, but it is exciting and compelling Our team's work focuses on climate research, atmospheric chemistry and dispersion, and boundary layer characterization. The Climate Reference Network, in particular, is a series of 114 stations around the country that collect data to monitor climate. Some of the stations are located in harsh weather conditions, in locations like Alaska. Kathy Rollow and Mark Hall discuss the importance of the Climate Reference Network, how they keep the sensors on the monitoring stations operating in harsh conditions, that the importance the work of the team working for NOAA ATDD. Join host Michael Holtz for this fascinating conversation. Learn more about our air quality, weather and climate research here: Air Quality, Weather & Climate Research | ORAU

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