K-12 Student and Teacher Research Experiences
Recognizing that it is never too early to excite students about science education, the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) offers a variety of research opportunities for both students and the teachers who will be inspiring them. As more teachers are able to connect authentic research with classroom curricula, the more likely students will pursue careers within the scientific workforce.
Experiences of K-12 students and teachers are highlighted in the following profiles:
Nadya Ally
Oak Ridge High School senior Nadya Ally interned in the Biosciences Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory where she helped assemble data on switchgrass, a potential biofuel feedstock.
S. Hakan Armagan
S. Hakan Armagan, a physics/nuclear science and energy teacher, recently completed his third year with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Academies Creating Teacher Scientists program at ORNL.
Elaine Custer
Elaine Custer spent the summer at ORNL helping with the installation of the diffractometer on the Spallation Neutron Source.
Suji Jeong and Gina Lebkuecher
Biomedical scientist Brynn Voy of ORNL mentored Suji Jeong and Gina Lebkuecher—students from the Tennessee Governor’s Academy for Mathematics and Science.
Lucas Laudermilk
High school junior Lucas Laudermilk knew that conducting research at ORNL as part of his academic program at the Tennessee Governor’s Academy for Mathematics and Science represented the chance of a lifetime.
Lorna O’Connor
Lorna O’Connor, a biology teacher in Cape Coral, Fla., took part in the Department of Energy’s Academies Creating Teacher Scientists program at ORNL, where she studied the genetic make-up of hybrid trees.
Adam Riazi
Three years ago, Adam Riazi had no idea there were so many opportunities for high school teachers to do authentic scientific research. That was before he took part in the Appalachian Regional Commission—Oak Ridge National Laboratory Summer Institute.
Ethan Sanders and Aaron Smith
Tennessee Governor’s Academy for Mathematics and Science students Ethan Sanders and Aaron Smith took part in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory SensorPedia project.