Science isn't science until you share what you've found: A conversation about the value of scientific peer review
Peer review evaluation of an individual or groups work by another individual or group with expertise in the same field or a related field. Peer reviewed work may include proposals to conduct scientific research, ongoing research itself, or a submitted papers based on ongoing or completed research. In this episode of the ORISE Featurecast, host Michael Holtz talks to Colleen Iversen, Ph.D., a former ORISE research participation program participant who now serves as a peer reviewer for ORISE. Their conversation covers the importance of the peer review process to the advancement of science, the newly developed ORISE Peer Review Resource Hub, the need for young investigators to become peer reviewers, and how peer review makes you a better scientist and proposal writer.
Access the Peer Review Resource Hub here: https://orise.orau.gov/peer-review/resource-hub/index.html
Dr. Colleen Iversen is an ecosystem ecologist who uses a variety of field and laboratory techniques to understand and predict how ecosystems – from upland forests to flooded peatlands to thawing Arctic tundra – are shaped by their environment. Colleen is a Distinguished Staff Scientist in the Environmental Sciences Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Group Leader of the Plant-Soil Interactions group, and Director of the NGEE Arctic project. She is an Editor at the international plant journal New Phytologist, and she was an elected Early Career Fellow of the Ecological Society of America and a member of the inaugural cohort of ‘New Voices’ at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Colleen sees science communication as the foundation for a shared understanding of society’s future, and she has shared her scientific vision on Public Radio International’s ‘Science Friday’, and in the Alda School’s ‘Flame Challenge’, as well as in organized symposia, sessions, and workshops. For more information on Colleen, visit www.colleeniversen.com.
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Secure and Effective Use of Generative AI: A conversation with Janine Pino, ORNL data librarian
Janine Pino, data librarian for Oak Ridge National Laboratory Research Library and Information Services, discussed “AI Literacy: Secure and Effective Use of Generative AI” as part of the ORISE Symposium on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. In this episode of the ORISE Featurecast, Pino takes a deeper dive into the topic of generative AI, including how to craft strong prompts, critically evaluate AI-generated output, and navigate the opportunities and pitfalls of using these tools in scholarly research and writing.
As a member of the Research Library team, Pino specializes in bibliometric tools, data analysis, and technical training. She joined the lab in 2022 after serving as an academic librarian, online learning liaison, and graduate program instructor. Pino completed her master's degree in information sciences at the University of Tennessee. She welcomes questions and collaborative efforts to improve lab-wide preservation and sharing of scientific and technical information.
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'Once I saw how science can help solve a crime, I was hooked:' A conversation with Valisha Edwards, FBI Visiting Scientist Program
Valisha Edwards is an ORISE Fellow in the FBI Visiting Scientist Program. At the time of this conversation, Edwards was in the Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit where she managed multiple projects ranging from primary explosives to toxicology, overseeing analytical techniques and instrumentation that pertains to these projects. "I typically map out the research in general in its entirety, and then I just do the testing that's required for each project," she said. Edwards has previous experience as a forensic chemist and a police laboratory criminalist. Still, like many of us, she struggles with imposter syndrome. Learn more about Edwards and her research during this thoughtful and engaging conversation. Learn more about the FBI Visiting Scientist Program here: https://orise.orau.gov/fbi/profiles/index.html
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ORISE is the backbone of respect between students and researchers: A conversation with Jake Janssen
Jake Janssen is an ORISE Research Program Participant appointed to the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense. His research focuses on neuroscience, and hazardous chemicals in trauma medicine. In this episode of the ORISE Featurecast, he says "We look at novel polytrauma scenarios involving organophosphates and other pharmaceutical grade drugs, and traumatic brain injuries or TBIs. We want to improve upon treatment guidelines and combat casualty care through new polypharmacy methods, and also identify and study chemicals of concern so that the United States is more prepared for an impending chemical threat from any adversary we may see." In Janssen's conversation with host Michael Holtz, he talks about the underlying importance of his research, his career trajectory and some of the obstacles he has overcome in his life and career. To learn more about ORISE research participation program opportunities at the U.S. Department of Defense, visit https://orise.orau.gov/dodprograms/index.html
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Coding and data analysis are cool: A conversation with Vivian Egan, former ORISE research program participant
Vivian Egan is a self-described nerd who did math for fun as a kid. As a former ORISE research program participant at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Egan is doing time series studies on human behavior, two concepts that don't ordinarily intersect. Time series studies usually focus on financial or environmental data, so focusing on human behavior is novel. She's studying how people multitask and their reaction time to certain stimuli (think loud noises or other interruptions). In a recent conversation with the ORISE Featurecast, Egan talked in-depth about her research, the trajectory of her career, obstacles she's faced and successes she's realized along the way. To learn more about ORISE research opportunities at AFRL and other U.S. Department of Defense programs, visit https://orise.orau.gov/dodprograms/index.html
This is the ORISE FeatureCast. Join host Michael Holtz for conversations with ORISE experts on STEM workforce development, scientific and technical reviews, and the evaluation of radiation exposure and environmental contamination. You’ll also hear from ORISE research program participants and their mentors as they talk about their experiences and how they are helping shape the future of science. Welcome to the ORISE Featurecast.
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