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David Pointer

ORNL has named W. David Pointer, director of the Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division in ORNL’s Fusion and Fission Energy and Science Directorate. As director, Pointer will lead a world-class team of ORNL research professionals focused on addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by current and future nuclear energy systems. 

As a chemical engineer focusing on low-carbon energy sources like hydrogen, Cheekatamarla’s research at ORNL supports the deployment of clean energy technologies in buildings and industries. Credit: Genevieve Martin/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

Cheekatamarla is a researcher in the Multifunctional Equipment Integration group with previous experience in product deployment. He is researching alternative energy sources such as hydrogen for cookstoves and his research supports the decarbonization of building technologies. 

ORNL’s Thomas Proffen, mentee recognized by National Center for Women & Information Technology

Thomas Proffen, a neutron scattering scientist at ORNL and founder of Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls, was recognized with an award from the National Center for Women & Information Technology, or NCWIT. In addition, one of his students received a national honor from the organization. 

Researchers relied on support from ORNL’s Quantum Computing User Program to simulate a key quantum state at one of the largest scales reported. The findings could mark a step toward improving quantum simulations.  Credit: Getty Images

Researchers simulated a key quantum state at one of the largest scales reported, with support from the Quantum Computing User Program, or QCUP, at ORNL. 

An international team using neutrons set the first benchmark (one nanosecond) for a polymer-electrolyte and lithium-salt mixture. Findings could produce safer, more powerful lithium batteries. Credit: Phoenix Pleasant/ORNL

An international team using neutrons set the first benchmark (one nanosecond) for a polymer-electrolyte and lithium-salt mixture. Findings could produce safer, more powerful lithium batteries.

Shift Thermal co-founders Mitchell Ishamel, left, and Levon Atoyan stand in front of one of the company’s ice thermal energy storage modules, which will be submitted to independent measurement and validation testing in May. Credit: Genevieve Martin/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

Shift Thermal, a member of Innovation Crossroads’ first cohort of fellows, is commercializing advanced ice thermal energy storage for HVAC, shifting the cooling process to be more sustainable, cost-effective and resilient. Shift Thermal wants to enable a lower-cost, more-efficient thermal energy storage method to provide long-duration resilient cooling when the electric grid is down. 

ORNL quantum researchers, from left, Brian Williams, Phil Evans, and Nick Peters work on their quantum key distribution system.

ORNL scientists have spent the past 20 years studying quantum photonic entanglement. Their partnership with colleagues at Los Alamos National Laboratory and private industry partner Qubitekk led to development of the nation’s first industry-led commercial quantum network. This type of network could ultimately help secure the nation’s power grid and other infrastructure from cyberattacks.

Neutron Scattering Society

The Neutron Scattering Society of America, or NSSA, recognized Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Ke An and Ken Herwig as fellows for their outstanding contributions to neutron scattering. 

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Three ORNL intellectual property projects with industry partners have advanced in DOE's Office of Technology Transitions Making Advanced Technology Commercialization Harmonized, or Lab MATCH, prize, which encourages entrepreneurs to find actionable pathways that bring lab-developed intellectual property to market. 

ORNL postdoctoral research associate Alex Miloshevsky presents his novel research in quantum networks at the 2024 OFC conference.

ORNL was front and center recently at one of the world’s largest optical networking conferences, the 2024 Optic Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition, or OFC. ORNL researchers had major roles at the OFC 2024, a three-day event held in San Diego, California from March 26-28 which featured thousands of the world’s leading optical communications and networking professionals.