Oak Ridge National Laboratory

We face these challenges head on, capitalizing on ORNL's unique scientific assets to deliver real-world solutions that protect the people, infrastructure, and economy of the United States.

We are a team of more than 500 scientists, engineers, and professionals who believe the national security missions we serve and the science-based solutions we provide will bolster our nation's capabilities, strengthen our allies and partners, and ensure a prosperous global future.

Materials scientists, software engineers, cyber experts, data scientists, remote sensing specialists, geographers, lawyers, mathematicians -- it takes broad, multidisciplinary skillsets to deliver our vital missions.

Together with diverse teams from across ORNL and our partners, we proudly uphold the laboratory's 80-year legacy of scientific support to national security needs.

Our uranium experts advance scientific understanding of the nuclear fuel cycle, develop and implement collection and detection technologies, and strengthen international safeguards, security, and nonproliferation regimes.

We're advancing the science of cyber and cyber-physical security — including Artificial Intelligence, vulnerability science, identity science, and human-machine interfaces — to characterize our nation's adversaries and enable resilient operation of critical infrastructure.

At the intersection of geographical knowledge, AI, and high-performance computing, our experts are transforming how we observe, analyze, and visualize the built environment and human dynamics around the world.

It's a passion. A calling to serve an important mission. Hear why our researchers come to work every day to deliver the science that secures the nation.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is home to 7000+ scientists, engineers, technicians, and support staff representing more than 70 nations. We are driven by our shared purpose to meet the world’s biggest challenges with intelligence, creativity, and teamwork.

At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, we fulfill our missions by aligning our behaviors, priorities, and interactions with five core values: Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. These values guide how we treat one another, work together, and measure success — not only as individuals, but as groups and as an institution.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory marked three quarters of a century as a research institution in 2018. A few areas at the Department of Energy national laboratory still look like they did in 1943, particularly the Graphite Reactor Museum, where visitors can roam where physicist Enrico Fermi worked with other scientists and technicians in spartan, hastily constructed conditions, cloaked in secrecy.

We care about our community. Our lab supports STEM education programs, grant programs, and employee and corporate giving. Our employees are deeply connected throughout East Tennessee through volunteer service to local nonprofits, schools, and places of worship.

More than 7,000 scientists, engineers, technicians, and support staff representing more than 70 nations form a dynamic culture of innovation at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

We strengthen America through discovery science enabled by multidisciplinary teams and powerful research tools, translating advancements to address national priorities. Building on our expertise and capabilities in materials, neutron science, nuclear science, and high-performance computing, we bridge the gap from fundamental research to real-world deployment, delivering breakthroughs that move innovations from the laboratory to national impact.

We advance technologies to ensure secure, affordable, and reliable energy to fuel the nation’s economic growth and energy independence. Our teams develop solutions across the full energy landscape—from generation and grid modernization to energy storage and end-use technologies—supporting the Department of Energy’s mission and America’s energy future.

We accelerate the transition of research into real-world applications to drive economic prosperity, reduce costs, and give US industries an edge. Through strategic partnerships, technology transfer, and support for entrepreneurship, we foster innovation networks that create jobs, grow industries, and strengthen America's global competitiveness.

We protect America’s future through scientific and technological breakthroughs that secure critical infrastructure and address emerging threats. Leveraging ORNL’s unique capabilities, we deliver solutions that safeguard the nation’s people, infrastructure, and economy against evolving security challenges.

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.