Propelled by passion for marine energy research, Sandia fellows in the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, or ORISE, program have found opportunities at the Labs to dive into research areas alongside experts in their fields.
Fellow Ava Hermes, whose work is focused on wave energy converter design, is interested in energy innovation and driven to contribute to cutting-edge marine energy research. Ava’s background in mechanical engineering and previous research experience drew her to to the fellowship as an opportunity to apply her skills in a new way.
“I applied for the ORISE fellowship at Sandia because of its leading marine energy research and the opportunity to work with a great mentor on the proposed research project,” Ava said.
ORISE fellowships, funded by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Technology, offer temporary, paid training opportunities that place students, recent graduates and professors at national laboratories and U.S. federal agencies to conduct hands-on scientific research with top experts.
Fellow Michelle Kryl is a third-year docorate student at Georgia Tech studying Ocean Science and Engineering. Michelle grew up near Block Island, Rhode Island, where water power was a new frontier.
“I only really learned about water power when I started researching Ph.D. topics,” she said. “Through my advisors at Georgia Tech and Sandia, I discovered the wave and tidal energy industry and wanted to contribute.”
For Michelle, Sandia offered a natural continuation of her research and a chance to engage with a national laboratory’s resources and expertise.
Fellow Collin Treacy, a second-year mechanical engineering doctoral student from the University of Michigan, was drawn to Sandia by the opportunity to work with engineer Carlos Michelen on differentiable hydrodynamics.
“I was motivated to apply because his background perfectly suited my project,” Collin said. “I’m also very interested in working at a national lab after my Ph.D., so this fellowship is a great way to experience Sandia firsthand.”
These fellows are united by their shared excitement about Sandia’s collaborative environment and the chance to tackle real-world energy challenges.
“It’s exciting to work in a place focused on solving important energy problems through research,” Ava said.
Michelle said, “Being on Sandia’s campus and working with my advisors has broadened my perspective and introduced me to a professional environment I hadn’t encountered before.”
The mentorship and resources available at Sandia have been invaluable. Collin highlighted the guidance from Carlos: “Seeing his thought process in software development while keeping the bigger picture in mind has been eye-opening.”
Michelle echoed this sentiment, emphasizing how supportive advisors have made her fellowship meaningful.
For these fellows, Sandia is a place to grow professionally and personally. Ava has strengthened her programming and computational modeling skills, and Michelle has refined her resilience and problem-solving approaches. Collin has expanded his coding expertise, particularly in Julia and automatic differentiation.
Looking ahead, all three express a strong interest in continuing to contribute to energy technologies. Ava hopes to advance wave-energy converter design, Michelle plans to deepen her focus on tidal power, and Collin is considering a career in wave-energy research at a national lab.
Their advice to future applicants is to be intentional about seeking fellowship opportunities, connect with potential mentors and align interests with the fellowship’s goals. As Ava put it, “Demonstrating interest and preparation benefits both you and those you work with.”
Michelle encourages exploring many opportunities and learning from each experience, while Collin recommends pitching ideas and considering feedback carefully.
The ORISE fellowship program not only advances marine energy research but also cultivates the next generation of innovators eager to make an impact.