The first cohort of the Chemical Radiation Technician pathway, a joint initiative betweenOak Ridge National Laboratory and Pellissippi State Community College, crossed the finish line! This unique program, part of Pellissippi’s General Technology curriculum, provides students with hands-on experience and a direct path into a critical #STEM field. Among the first graduates: 🔬 Jon Rowland ⚛️ Jared Dowell Clarice Phelps, a major leader in the program and #isotope scientist, gave the keynote address. This pathway is more than just a degree—it’s a launchpad for future experts in #nuclearscience and #radiochemistry. Congratulations to these graduates for paving the way! 🚀
Isotopes at ORNL
Research Services
Oak Ridge, Tennessee (TN) 2,498 followers
Historic beginnings, continuing innovation.
About us
ORNL's Isotope Science and Enrichment Directorate produces isotopes for science, medicine, and space exploration, and leads enrichment technology advancements.
- Website
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https://www.ornl.gov/directorate/isotopes
External link for Isotopes at ORNL
- Industry
- Research Services
- Company size
- 5,001-10,000 employees
- Headquarters
- Oak Ridge, Tennessee (TN)
- Founded
- 1943
- Specialties
- Isotopes, Engineering, Manufacturing, Centrifuge, Nuclear Physics, Chemistry, Radioisotopes, Nuclear Medicine, Enrichment Science, Mechanical Engineering, Hot Cell, Stable Isotopes, Super Heavy Elements, Deep Space, Nuclear Batteries, Clean Energy, and Target Irradiation
Updates
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Check out the incredible work our #isotope staff are doing! Hunter Andrews was quoted in this U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) release about #moltensalts.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers just developed a new way to monitor molten salts in real time. The lab used a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy technique to create a microplasma in a molten salt aerosol stream. The light emitted from the plasma was rapidly analyzed using spectrometers to track the aerosols and gases. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4ic4mA2
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We love cheering on #innovations, big and small, here at Oak Ridge National Laboratory! An #isotopes staff member, Zach Burns, saw a need for efficiency and made it happen. Burns designed specialized storage lockers for targets, nicknamed 'spiders', that are used in HFIR for the plutonium-238 production program 🛰️ . The lockers make work easier for production engineers and techs in HFIR. Thank you, Zach!
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The future Stable Isotope Production and Research Center is progressing! The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently reviewed the project, which will establish stable #isotope production in the U.S. on a large scale, and construction has started. #Stableisotopes are increasingly needed in areas like #nationalsecurity. You can learn more about #SIPRC here ⤵️
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Oak Ridge National Laboratory recently welcomed students from Pellissippi State Community College for a hands-on training experience in gloveboxes at the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center. This immersive experience is part of ORNL’s ongoing collaboration with Pellissippi through the Chemical Radiation Technician pathway, which prepares students for careers in #nuclearscience and #isotope production. 👏 Thank you to our technicians and educators for making this experience possible!
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The staff working with #isotopes at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are committed to three pillars that will set us up for success!
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A specialized instrument that is mostly used by #isotope researchers and detects enormous movements down to ultra-small movements—think nanometers—is helping scientists collaborate and further their research. 🎥 Watch the video to see Oak Ridge National Lab's scanning vibrometer is helping the lab and how it assisted #quantum research. You can read more about the #vibrometer here → https://bit.ly/4gYdo2f
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It was an honor to have U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to talk #isotopes.
It was an honor to welcome U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright to Oak Ridge National Laboratory today, along with U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty and U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, chair of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee. This was the secretary's first visit to a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science laboratory. We were excited to share ORNL’s vital contributions to America’s scientific leadership, energy dominance, and #NationalSecurity. At the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility — home of the world’s first exascale system — we talked about the future of #AI, #quantum, and high performance computing. We toured the High Flux Isotope Reactor, a critical supplier of #isotopes for the nation and a powerful tool for breakthrough science. The day ended at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, where advanced manufacturing capabilities are increasing competitiveness and accelerating innovations for #nuclear and other U.S. industries. I greatly appreciate Secretary Wright sharing his compelling vision for DOE and the national laboratories. There are many energy challenges ahead, and our scientists and staff continuously make the world a better place.
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Oak Ridge National Laboratory is preserving history while looking to the future. Beta-3, a calutron facility at Y-12, played a pivotal role in both World War II and the evolution of #isotope science, first enriching uranium for the #ManhattanProject and later producing #stableisotopes for research and medicine. Now, as buildings deteriorate, ORNL employees are working to preserve historic artifacts before they are lost. A recent tour allowed isotope experts to explore the site, identifying documents, tools and components that showcase Beta-3’s legacy—from its early wartime mission to its lasting impact on nuclear science and isotope production. Though physical tours are no longer possible, efforts are underway to create a virtual tour to document this important chapter of history. 🔗 Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3F4Hrbh
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From military service and #nuclear nonproliferation to leading highly technical teams, Christopher Landers has built a career driven by impact. Now, as the new director of the Department of Energy Isotope Program, he brings a passion for innovation, collaboration, and delivering real-world benefits—whether through medical isotopes for cancer treatment or advancements in foundational science. Landers is set to lead the program into an exciting future! Read more about his journey and vision here: https://bit.ly/413KgjX
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