Further Together the ORAU Podcast

Join your host Michael Holtz as he discuss all things ORAU, through interviews with our experts who provide innovative scientific and technical solutions for our customers. Michael and his guests will talk about ORAU’s storied history, how we’re impacting an ever-changing world, as well as our commitment to our community.

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Recent Episodes

Episode 100: On implicit and explicit bias: A conversation with Susan Ehrlich

Posted October 19, 202200:21:25

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

Posted October 5, 202200:17:07

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. Learn more about ORAU's research enterprise here: https://www.orau.org/research/index.html

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

Posted September 28, 202200:25:31

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

Posted September 23, 202200:29:50

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

Posted September 20, 202200:27:28

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