SOLVING BIG PROBLEMS

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the world’s premier research institution, empowering leaders and teams to pursue breakthroughs in an environment marked by operational excellence and engagement with the communities where we live and work.

What We Do
Who We Are

Our People Are Our Greatest Strength

More than 6,000 scientists, engineers, technicians, and support staff representing more than 60 nations form a dynamic culture of innovation at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Our focus on community, collaboration, and the environment shapes who we are and is integral to our success.

Leading The Way

Mission

Scientific Discovery
Clean Energy
National Security
Researcher

As the US Department of Energy’s largest multi-disciplinary laboratory, we deliver scientific discoveries and technical breakthroughs to realize solutions for complex challenges including the transition to clean energy, mitigation of climate change, improvements to human health, and innovation that strengthens economic competitiveness.

Research

We play a pivotal role in building a clean, efficient, flexible, and secure energy future. Our scientists work with many of America’s best innovators and businesses to research, develop, and deploy cutting-edge technologies and to break down market barriers in sustainable transportation, smart power systems, and energy efficiency for homes, buildings, and manufacturing.

Researchers

ORNL advances the science behind national security. We secure critical assets to keep our national infrastructure running and our people safe. Our work protects nuclear materials to enable their secure, peaceful use for energy production, medical applications, and scientific discovery around the world. We advance human security to strengthen community resilience and save lives in times of disaster and crisis.

Join the Team.
Change the World.

Leveraging the talents of its world-class researchers and exceptional support staff, Oak Ridge National Laboratory is helping solve critical scientific and technical challenges and, in so doing, creating economic opportunity for the nation. ORNL provides access to unique facilities, laboratories, and equipment, drawing thousands of visiting researchers each year. A vibrant and welcoming scientific community, ORNL embraces the pursuit of innovative ideas and invests in its people to ensure their success.

Explore Careers at ORNL
ORNL careers
ORNL careers

Our Stories

View All News
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory contributed to several chapters of the Fifth National Climate Assessment, providing expertise in complex ecosystem processes, energy systems, human dynamics, computational science and Earth-scale modeling. Credit: ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
ORNL scientists contribute Earth system expertise to Fifth National Climate Assessment
An illustration of the lattice examined by Phil Anderson in the early ‘70s. Shown as green ellipses, pairs of quantum particles fluctuated among multiple combinations to produce a spin liquid state.
Three-pronged approach discerns qualities of quantum spin liquids
An electromagnetic pulse, or EMP, can be triggered by a nuclear explosion in the atmosphere or by an electromagnetic generator in a vehicle or aircraft. Here’s the chain of reactions it could cause to harm electrical equipment on the ground. Credit: Andy Sproles/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
Study probes risks to power plants from electromagnetic pulse
A new method for analyzing climate models brings together information from various lines of evidence to represent Earth’s climate sensitivity. Image Credit: Jason Smith, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy
Scientists combine climate models for more accurate projections
ORNL researchers found that a polyelectrolyte additive can improve the stability and performance of a salt hydrate PCM, enhancing the potential for use in heat pumps. Credit: ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
Boosting thermal energy storage with polyelectrolytes
Researchers used Frontier, the world’s first exascale supercomputer, to simulate a magnesium system of nearly 75,000 atoms and the National Energy Research Computing Center’s Perlmutter supercomputer to simulate a quasicrystal structure, above, in a ytterbium-cadmium alloy. Credit: Vikram Gavini
Big flex for big science: Frontier search for lightweight, flexible alloys earns Gordon Bell Prize nomination
Frontier’s exascale power enables the Energy, Exascale and Earth System Model-Multiscale Modeling Framework — or E3SM-MMF — project to run years’ worth of climate simulations at unprecedented speed and scale. Credit: Mark Taylor/Sandia National Laboratories, U.S. Dept. of Energy
Pulling clouds into focus: Frontier simulations bring long-range climate forecasts within reach
Christian Salvador is studying natural and manmade aerosols at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to improve our understanding of how atmospheric pollutants affect ecosystems and the Earth’s climate. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
Air quality control: Understanding atmospheric pollutants with Christian Salvador
View All News

Our Voices

our voices
our voices
our voices
our voices

Partner With Us

Collaborations are critical to modern science and engineering, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory engages in various types of collaboration with a range of organizations.

From private industry, to academia, to state and local governments, various types of organizations tap into ORNL's rare expertise and resources.

Learn More About Partnerships
User Facilities

 

“At the top of the list of ORNL strengths is the ability to deliver, to do great work and to actually get things done that matter to the country and to the world.”

Stephen Streiffer
Stephen K Streiffer
Facts & Stats
60+
Nationalities represented in the workforce
818
Patents issued since 2005
2,000+
Scientific publications per year
Learn more about ORNL