ORNL is proud of its role in fostering the next generation of scientists and engineers. We bring in talented young researchers, team them with accomplished staff members, and put them to work at the lab’s one-of-a-kind facilities. The result is research that makes us proud and prepares them for distinguished careers.
We asked some of these young researchers why they chose a career in science, what they are working on at ORNL, and where they would like to go with their careers.
Samantha Peters
Graduate student, Chemical Sciences Division
Ph.D. student, Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee
Hometown: Lakewood, Colorado
What are you working on at ORNL?
My research involves integrating mass spectrometry–based metaproteomics to study the functionality of the human gut microbiome pertaining to community establishment and degradation of dietary fibers. This work will help us understand the functional roles of microbes as drivers of human health and disease.
What would you like to do in your career?
I want to pursue mass spectrometry advancements that drive biological research. Along with research aimed at technological advances, I am very interested in continuing to explore microbial dynamics—specifically related to community-level function, competition, and cooperation among constituent microbes and host–microbe interactions as they pertain to host health and disease.
Why did you choose a career in science?
I love that science is an unfinished story; there are so many unanswered questions that must be addressed for a better understanding of the natural environment. Answering these questions will help in finding solutions to incredibly complex problems.
