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Narendran Raghavan

Why Science?

ORNL is proud of its role in fostering the next generation of scientists and engineers. We bring in talented young researchers, team them with accomplished scientists and engineers, and put them to work at the lab’s one-of-a-kind facilities. The result is research that makes us proud and prepares them for distinguished careers.

We asked some of these young researchers why they chose a career in science, what they are working on at ORNL, and where they would like to go with their careers.

Narendran Raghavan

Graduate student, Manufacturing Demonstration Facility
Ph.D. student, Energy Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee (Bredesen Center)
Hometown: Chennai, India

What are you working on at ORNL?

My research focus is on understanding the process-structure (microstructure) relationship in metal additive manufacturing (3-D printing) using a combined computational and experimental framework. Prediction of this relationship a priori using numerical modeling of the process reduces the number of cost- and time-intensive trial-and-error experimentations.

What would you like to do in your career?

Additive manufacturing has several key advantages over traditional manufacturing processes. When it comes to industrializing the technology, however, there are challenges. I would like to work on transforming the R&D-level additive technologies to production-scale industrial technology through certification and qualification of parts with the help of computational tools.

Why did you choose a career in science?

I grew up on a farm where my father used to repair/recondition engines and other agricultural equipment himself in the garage. This was the primary reason for my interest in engineering. During the course of my undergraduate engineering years, I understood the significance of the nexus between fundamental science and engineering, which prompted me to take up science as a career.