Julie G Ezold

Bio

Ms. Ezold has over 30 years experience in the nuclear sciences and is currently a Technical Advisor for the DOE Isotope Program (IP) providing technical support to all aspects of the DOE IP.  The DOE IP produces critical radioactive and stable isotopes in short supply for the nation or that no domestic entity has the infrastructure or core competency to produce.  The IP is typically the only, or one of few, global producers for these novel isotopes. Isotopes are high-priority commodities of strategic importance for the nation and are essential in medical diagnosis and treatment, discovery science, national security, industrial processes and manufacturing, space exploration and communications, biology, archeology, quantum science and other fields. Isotopes can directly enable emerging technology, and contribute to the economic, technical and scientific strength of the United States.

Past experience includes:

Californium-252 Program Manager. Responsible for the scheduling, budgeting, and product quality of each curium target campaign. Typical campaign activities include target fabrication, obtaining target approval for insertion into the High Flux Isotope Reactor, chemical processing of irradiated targets, and final wire fabrication. Campaign products include, but are not limited to Californium-252, Berkelium-249, Einsteinium-253, and other trans-curium products. These trans-curium products have recently been used in the discovery of a new element, Tennessine (Element 117). 

Radioisotope Production and Operations Section Head managing the production and optimization of all radioisotopes that are in a continuing and sustained state of demand and production beyond the research and development phases such as: Nickel-63, Selenium-75, Iridium-192, and Neptunium-237.  She  managed the Bethel Valley Radiochemical Processing, Melton Valley Radiochemical Processing, and the Technical Services, Finishing, and Dispensing Groups that formed the section. This included major radioisotope production efforts ≥$15M/year in scope as well all other ongoing or campaigned radioisotope production activities at ORNL. 

Independent Oversight manager at ORNL - Specific activities included the planning, coordinating, conducting, and documenting of independent assessments of all areas of ORNL;

Eight years at the Y-12 National Security Complex as a nuclear criticality safety engineer and Shift Technical Advisor for Enriched Uranium Operations; and

Three years providing technical support for the Environmental Restoration projects at the Oak Ridge Reservation across a broad spectrum of operations areas such as waste generation and management, health and safety concerns, and regulatory requirements

Ms. Ezold actively supports nuclear science educational activities through the the Directorate’s Educational Outreach Committee, K-2 Science Club, Mentor Program, and others. Recognitions’ for these efforts include the 2007 UT-Battelle Awards Night for Exceptional Community Outreach, the 2009 Patricia Bryant Leadership Award from US WIN, 2009 Presidential Citation from ANS, 2018 UT-Battelle Awards Night for Science Communicator, and 2019 ANS E. Gail de Planque Medal.

Ms. Ezold holds a BS, Nuclear Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1990) and a Masters, Nuclear Engineering, from North Carolina State University (1992).  Her master’s research was conducted at the High Flux Isotope Reactor at ORNL in the assessment of Iodine-129 in commercial nuclear reactors.  After completing her master’s, she joined the staff at ORNL and has held positions in engineering, waste management, criticality safety, and isotope production.

Awards

2019 American Nuclear Society E. Gail de Planque Medal

2018 UT-Battelle Awards Night for Science Communicator

2017 Finalist for Lizzie Crozier French Women's Leadership Award

2009 American Nuclear Society Presidential Citation

2009 Patricia Bryant Leadership Award - U.S. Women In Nuclear

2007 UT-Battelle Awards Night for Exceptional Community Outreach

Professional Affiliations

American Chemical Society - Alternate Councilor

American Nuclear Society - Board of Directors

U.S. Women In Nuclear - Steering Committee