"I chose a career in science because it gives new perspectives on how to think about the world."

"Many topics interest me, and collaborative research presents me opportunities to develop interdisciplinary solutions to global issues."

"I have always been amazed by the level of scientific progress and resources driven by ORNL."

"Growing up in China, I was passionate about how science and technology could revolutionize the world."

Studies on the structure of RNA were done at ORNL in the early 1950s by biologist Elliot “Ken” Volkin and biochemist Waldo Cohn. They used radioisotope and chromatography techniques that were originally developed for plutonium production at the laboratory’s Graphite Reactor during World War II.

We ask some of our 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.

We ask some of our 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.