Oak Ridge National Laboratory
11/11/2024 | News release | Archived content
ORNL Director’s Awards recognize excellence in innovation, leadership
UT-Battelle's annual awards celebrate exceptional contributions in research, operations and community engagement among ORNL staff members. Credit: ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
November 11, 2024
UT-Battelle, which manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the Department of Energy, recognized outstanding individuals and teams at the annual Awards Night event held Saturday at The Venue at Lenoir City. The prestigious awards celebrate exceptional contributions in research, operations and community engagement. The evening concluded with ORNL Director Stephen Streiffer presenting three Director's Awards to those selected from among the honorees.
"This year's Director's Award recipients stand out as exceptional models of accomplishment and leadership," said ORNL Director Stephen Streiffer. "I'm pleased to recognize Ayana's impressive early-career achievements in machine learning, Benjamin's improvements in waste management processes for greater sustainability, and the LandScan HD team's innovative, AI-driven research that is directly helping decision-makers."
Credit: ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
Ayana Ghosh received the Director's Award for Outstanding Individual Accomplishment in Science and Technology for her pioneering work in integrating atomistic simulations with causal machine learning. Her innovative methods for real-time, autonomous experimental workflows are advancing the design and characterization of novel chemicals and materials, positioning her as a leader in computational sciences and materials research.
Credit: ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
Benjamin Rothrock was honored with the Director's Award for Outstanding Individual Accomplishment in Operations for his leadership in radioactive waste management at ORNL. Rothrock has driven significant improvements in waste reduction and processing, while mentoring staff and preparing ORNL for self-sufficiency in waste management. His leadership has saved the lab millions of dollars and set a new benchmark for safety and environmental stewardship, strengthening ORNL's position as a leader in sustainable waste management practices.
Credit: ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
The LandScan HD Novel Improvements Team - Jacob Arndt, Philipe Ambrozio Dias, Justin Epting, Dalton Lunga, Jessica Moehl, Joe Pyle, Andrew Reith, Darrell Roddy, Benjamin Swan, Marie Urban, Sarah Walters and Carson Woody - received the Director's Award for Research Accomplishment in Science and Technology for their development of AI-driven building-damage indicators and rapid population updates. Over the last year, the LandScan HD Team has developed novel, innovative methods to rapidly assess infrastructure damage in armed conflict zones and areas affected by natural disasters. The team's work has significantly enhanced situational awareness, supporting critical decision-making by the Intelligence Community, Department of State, White House and Pentagon. These innovative tools have been crucial for emergency response efforts, helping inform planning, preparedness and recovery operations.
Awards Night provided a special opportunity to celebrate the outstanding contributions of ORNL's staff, highlighting the laboratory's significant impact on East Tennessee and the nation. These awards serve as a reminder of ORNL's vital role in advancing scientific discovery and addressing some of the country's most pressing challenges.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for DOE's Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.