Jackson Gainer PhD

Dr. Jackson Gainer is a Student Affairs Specialist in the Office of Research Education at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He holds a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Tennessee, where he studied viral activity and carbon cycling in marine environments. Before joining ORNL in 2023, he was an Assistant Professor of Biology at Tennessee Wesleyan University. He also served as the director of the Quality Enhancement Plan where he lead efforts to integrate career readiness into the curriculum. At ORNL, his work focuses on expanding access to research opportunities for regional colleges and Emerging Research Institutions.

 

Presentation Title:

Building Academic Bridges: ORNL Opportunities for Students and Faculty

Presentation Abstract:

Interested in connecting your students or developing a collaboration with a national lab? Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) largest multi-program research facility, offers a range of programs designed to support students, recent graduates, and faculty in gaining research experience aligned with national priorities in energy, computing, and security. This session will provide a practical overview of ORNL’s academic engagement pathways, including internships, graduate research fellowships, visiting faculty appointments, and specialist training programs. Attendees will learn how these opportunities can be used to strengthen research skills, build collaborations, and contribute to projects that align with the DOE’s broader mission to foster innovation at the intersection of computation, energy, security, and the future workforce.