A Group of the Nation's Most Accomplished STEM Teachers Selected as Albert Einstein Educator Fellows
The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship (AEF) Program provides a unique opportunity for accomplished K-12 STEM educators to apply their extensive classroom knowledge and experiences to their host offices to inform federal STEM education efforts.
The 2025-2026 Einstein Fellows are as follows:
Rachell Ashley
Brooklyn, NY
Natasja Brown
Ocean Springs, MS
Phillip Cook
Valparaiso, IN
Diana De Paula
Brooklyn, NY
Candace Jackson
Spring, TX
Kyle Kuhlers
Urbana, IA
Michael Lowry
Chattanooga, TN
Kwesi Matthews
Redford, MI
Robert Mayne
North Stonington, CT
Michael Smith
Chagrin Falls, OH
Lora Taylor
Chattanooga, TN
John Tietjen
Lebanon, NH
Sequoyah Wharton
Selden, NY
Shane Wines
Lusby, MD
Natalie Woods
Idaho Falls, ID
Expand
The 2025-2026 Einstein Fellows come from K-12 schools across the country and represent diverse teaching backgrounds—with expertise in science, engineering, computer science and mathematics. Federal agencies and U.S. Congressional Offices will benefit from Fellows' real-world experiences as educators. In return, Einstein Fellows will gain understanding of the role of the Federal Government in the U.S. education enterprise, knowledge of resources available to students and educators, and broader perspectives on national education issues that can be applied to the classroom or to leadership positions in their districts or elsewhere.
The AEF Program, now celebrating its 35th year of operation, is managed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science's Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists in collaboration with the sponsoring agencies and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE).
Sponsoring agencies for the 2025-2026 Einstein Fellows include DOE, the Library of Congress, and the U.S. Department of Defense. In addition to sponsoring placements at DOE headquarters, DOE sponsors eight placements in U.S. Congressional offices.
Applications will open on August 8, 2025, for the 2026-2027 cohort. Additional information about the program, including eligibility requirements, program benefits, application requirements and access to the online application system may be found at https://science.osti.gov/wdts/einstein.
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is a world-class DOE institute designed to strengthen a scientific workforce; promote the integrity of scientific research through peer review; provide 24/7 medical response to radiation accidents; evaluate human health data to protect workers from occupational hazards; and conduct independent environmental cleanup assessments.
Follow the AEF on:
X
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business Wire
IonQ Partners with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Demonstrating Quantum Power Grid Optimization Advancements
COLLEGE PARK, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), the leading commercial quantum computing and networking company, announced a new achievement in applying quantum technology to energy grid optimization challenges. Through a collaborative partnership between IonQ, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the team has successfully demonstrated that its hybrid quantum-classical computing approach can address the Unit Commitment problem, a critical task for power grid operators. The Unit Commitment problem involves determining the optimal schedule for power generators to meet electricity demand at minimal cost. This task becomes increasingly complex as power systems scale and generate more energy using dispatchable energy resources (e.g. nuclear plants, natural gas, hydroelectric…etc.) and intermittent sources such as solar and wind. IonQ and ORNL developed a hybrid approach that combines IonQ's 36-qubit Forte Enterprise quantum computing with classical computing. Using this hybrid approach, the team found varied solutions for power generation scheduling across 24 time periods and 26 generators. 'This demonstration marks a significant milestone in applying quantum computing to real-world energy challenges. We are proud to be partnering on this ground-breaking work with ORNL and the DOE,' said Niccolo de Masi, CEO of IonQ. 'As our systems scale to thousands and millions of qubits, we expect to solve grid optimization challenges at a scale that classic computing methods cannot match.' The energy sector is increasingly viewed as a key early use case for quantum computing advantages, given its reliance on complex optimization and simulation tasks. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, more than 60% of energy used in electricity generation is currently lost, pointing to a significant opportunity for waste reduction through improved planning and computational methods. This research is part of DOE's multi-year GRID-Q project, which brings together national laboratories, academic partners, and private-sector companies. ORNL leads the project, with IonQ as one of only two quantum industry partners tasked with developing scalable quantum algorithms for grid operations. 'This case study, completed by ORNL in partnership with IonQ, demonstrated the feasibility of using an ion-trapped quantum computing device to solve the Unit Commitment problem in the power grid,' said Suman Debnath, who led ORNL's contributions to the project. 'As the quantum device scales, concurrent research is intended to test how the application performance can gain a quantum advantage.' IonQ anticipates that quantum systems with 100 to 200 high-fidelity qubits, which are expected as early as 2026, will be capable of solving grid-scale Unit Commitment problems. The quantum optimization methods demonstrated in this work are applicable to a broad range of industries, including logistics, scheduling, and finance. This latest announcement builds on the established relationship between IonQ and ORNL. The organizations have partnered on several projects including: noise-tolerant methods to help solve the world's hardest optimization problems as well as a novel approach to scalable quantum computing. IonQ is also engaged in a separate $22 million project with EPB of Chattanooga that includes optimizing the energy grid. About IonQ IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the leading commercial quantum computing, quantum networking and quantum applications company, delivering high-performance systems aimed at solving the world's most complex problems. IonQ's current generation quantum computers, IonQ Forte and IonQ Forte Enterprise, are the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners such as Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance results. The company is accelerating its technology roadmap and intends to deliver the world's most powerful quantum computers with 2 million qubits by 2030 to accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. IonQ's advancements in quantum networking also positions the company as a leader in building the quantum internet. The company's innovative technology and rapid growth were recognized in Newsweek's 2025 Excellence Index 1000, Forbes' 2025 Most Successful Mid-Cap Companies list, and Built In's 2025 100 Best Midsize Places to Work in Washington DC and Seattle, respectively. Available through all major cloud providers, IonQ is making quantum computing more accessible and impactful than ever before. Learn more at IonQ Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words. Statements that are not historical in nature, including the words 'anticipates,' 'can,' 'eventually,' 'expect,' 'expected,' 'ground-breaking,' 'opportunity,' 'scale,' 'will,' and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include those related to the IonQ's quantum computing capabilities and plans; IonQ's technology driving commercial quantum advantage or delivering scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing in the future; the relevance and utility of quantum algorithms and applications run on IonQ's quantum computers; the necessity, effectiveness, and future impacts of IonQ's offerings available today; and the scalability, fidelity, efficiency, viability, accessibility, effectiveness, importance, reliability, performance, speed, impact, practicality, feasibility, and commercial-readiness of IonQ's offerings. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: IonQ's ability to implement its technical roadmap; changes in the competitive industries in which IonQ operates, including development of competing technologies; IonQ's ability to deliver, and customers' ability to generate, value from IonQ's offerings; IonQ's ability to implement its technical roadmaps, business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, to identify and realize partnerships and opportunities, and to engage new and existing customers; IonQ's ability to effectively enter new markets; IonQ's customers deciding or declining to extend contracts into new phases; changes in U.S. government spending or policy that may affect IonQ's customers; and risks associated with U.S. government sales, including availability of funding and provisions that may allow the government to unilaterally terminate or modify contracts for convenience; changes in laws and regulations affecting IonQ's patents; and IonQ's ability to maintain or obtain patent protection for its products and technology, including with sufficient breadth to provide a competitive advantage. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's filings, including but not limited to those described in the 'Risk Factors' section of IonQ's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and reports on Form 10-Q. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and IonQ assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. IonQ does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.
Politico
2 days ago
- Politico
DOE questions climate change consensus
President Donald Trump's allies have long floated the idea of a 'red team, blue team' exercise to debate the merits of climate science. On Tuesday, they got their wish. Only the Trump administration left out the blue team. The Department of Energy released a 141-page report on climate science this week to coincide with the administration's plan to repeal the legal backbone of climate rules. Written by five scientists known for denying accepted climate science, the report is rife with disinformation, write Chelsea Harvey and Scott Waldman. It uses misleading and inaccurate statements to argue that climate science has overstated the risks of a warming planet while underestimating the societal benefits of burning fossil fuels. 'It's a red team report without the blue team, and it's explicit about that,' Matt Burgess, an economist who studies environmental policy at the University of Wyoming, told me. Red team, blue team exercises were initially a military concept, where competitors were pitted against each other to test their assumptions. Trump's advisers spent much of his first term contemplating the idea of employing the concept with regards to climate science, but ultimately never acted on it. Climate scientists noted the DOE report's publication comes after the Trump administration pulled the congressionally mandated National Climate Assessment down from its official government webpage. That report involved scores of scientists, public comments and peer review from the National Academy of Sciences, said Phil Duffy, a physicist who studies climate change and served at the Office of Science and Technology Policy during the Biden administration. 'If the administration wanted to have a good review of climate science and the impact of climate change on the United States, then they shouldn't have pulled the plug on that assessment,' Duffy said. Burgess is sympathetic to some of DOE's claims. His research on the overcitation of worst-case climate scenarios is referenced in the report, and he thinks assessments like the NCA could do a better job of incorporating feedback from researchers outside of the mainstream. His view: The report raises legitimate concerns about the uncertainty in some climate research, like the economic costs of climate damage. 'There's way more uncertainty in the social cost of carbon and in climate economic damages than sometimes the mainstream narrative gives it credit for,' Burgess said. 'Where I would disagree a little bit with the report is uncertainty cuts both ways. You can't say this is uncertain, and therefore we know there's no problem.' It's Wednesday — thank you for tuning in to POLITICO's Power Switch. I'm your host, Benjamin Storrow. Power Switch is brought to you by the journalists behind E&E News and POLITICO Energy. Send your tips, comments, questions to bstorrow@ Today in POLITICO Energy's podcast: Zack Colman and Alex Guillén break down EPA's proposal to roll back the endangerment finding. Power Centers Green groups reel as Trump goes 'scorched earth'Environmental nonprofits are watching years of work evaporate as the Trump administration slashes spending, torpedoes regulations and dismantles federal agencies, writes Robin Bravender. The assault has left the movement scrambling to regain traction and gear up for several more years of playing defense. Some organizations aren't getting the surge in donations they saw during the first Trump administration — and prominent green groups have laid off staff when they'd like to boost personnel to fight back. 'The reason for bad vibes is obvious: This is the most anti-environmental administration that our country and perhaps the world has ever seen,' said Bill McKibben, a longtime environmentalist and author. 'It is difficult to be hopeful in the face of all that.' Why utilities may not want climate rule rollbackEPA's proposal to roll back the endangerment finding could add uncertainty to a power sector already grappling with a changing energy landscape, Jason Plautz writes. The proposal — released Tuesday — is part of the Trump administration's efforts to ditch federal rules that limit climate pollution, including those for fossil fuel power plants. But it comes as power markets tilt heavily toward renewable energy sources because of their relative cost and speed to dispatch. The loss of federal climate rules could open up utilities to a flurry of lawsuits and more state regulation, while making it difficult to plan future investments. 'This is one in a number of steps the administration is taking to determine what power plants are built, what power plants retire and what kinds of power can continue to operate in this country,' said Catherine Hausman, an associate professor of public policy at the University of Michigan. But, she added, 'We have enough cheap wind and solar available that there's no economic reason to prop up inefficient old coal power plants, despite what regulations say.' US, EU unite to fight Chinese exportsUrsula von der Leyen won the European Union a trade deal with the U.S. after playing hardball in Beijing last week, Antonia Zimmermann writes from Brussels. The U.S. and EU agreed to work on fast-tracking materials used for solar panels and batteries — items that China has flooded the global market with. Von der Leyen, the European Commission president, indicated in comments after the trade announcement that Washington and Brussels needed to team up to confront the competitive threat from China. 'On steel and aluminum, the European Union and the U.S. face the common external challenge of global overcapacity,' she said. In Other News Power moves: Tech companies are increasingly turning to the nation's aging nuclear power fleet for electricity, even as the plants have struggled to compete with cheaper renewables and gas. Get in line: Two new aluminum smelters being planned in the U.S. will need a lot of electricity at a time when artificial intelligence is already straining demand. Subscriber Zone A showcase of some of our best subscriber content. Trump on Wednesday slapped tariffs of up to 50 percent on certain imports of copper, which is essential for electric wiring and power grids. EPA's move to repeal the endangerment finding is likely to face a legal gauntlet in the courts. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum moved to end what he called 'preferential treatment' for wind and solar projects at the agency. That's it for today, folks! Thanks for reading.
Gizmodo
6 days ago
- Gizmodo
A Rare Interstellar Object Is Zipping Through Our Solar System. This Brand-New Telescope Saw It First
Nearly a month ago, a mysterious object was seen hurtling through the solar system and later confirmed as an interstellar visitor traveling toward the Sun. Several telescopes have since turned their attention to the wandering object, but it turns out the brand-new Vera C. Rubin Observatory was the first to catch a glimpse of 3I/ATLAS. In an act of cosmic serendipity, astronomers pointed the Rubin Observatory toward the patch of sky where the interstellar object appeared during its commissioning phase. Images captured by the observatory, perched atop a mountain in the Chilean Andes, later revealed the comet in its full glory. Rubin's observations of 3I/ATLAS were recorded on June 21, around 10 days before its official discovery, according to a recent paper available on the preprint website arXiv. The Rubin Observatory, overseen by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DOE), boasts the largest digital camera ever built for astronomy. Its car-sized, 3.2-gigapixel camera is designed to capture ultra-high-definition images and videos of the cosmos. The observatory unveiled its first images to the public on June 23, observing millions of galaxies and stars in the Milky Way over a period of just 10 hours. The images were not only beautiful—they also revealed supernovas and distant galaxies that could help astronomers study the universe's expansion. With its revolutionary precision, it's no wonder then that the Rubin Observatory captured the recently discovered comet before any other telescope. 3I/ATLAS was first spotted in data collected by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) between June 25 and 29, and again on July 1. By July 2, the Deep Random Survey remote telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, had seen it too. The International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center confirmed that this comet came from outside our solar system on July 2, marking the third discovery of an interstellar object. Since then, astronomers have been rushing to gather as much data as they can on the mysterious object. The Gemini North telescope on Maunakea, Hawaii, recently snapped a close-up view of 3I/ATLAS, capturing the comet's coma in extreme detail. Initial observations of 3I/ATLAS suggest it's the oldest comet ever found, around 2 billion years older than our solar system. Compared to the two previously discovered interstellar objects, 'Oumuamua and Comet 2I/Borisov, 3I/ATLAS is not only older, but it's also faster. A recent study, which has yet to undergo peer review, found that 3I/ATLAS has a hyperbolic velocity of about 37 miles per second (60 kilometers per second). Rubin's early observations of 3I/ATLAS are important considering they are the earliest images captured of the comet by a high-precision telescope. The new paper includes 49 images in total, although some were excluded because they were captured during Rubin's alignment sequence and were out of focus. Nineteen of the images were captured during intentional operations and confirm that 3I/ATLAS does in fact behave like a comet, with a cloud of gas and dust surrounding its icy nucleus, according to the paper. Just as it was the first to spot the comet, Rubin will also be the first to lose sight of it. On August 22, 3I/ATLAS will shift out of the area in the sky currently being watched by the observatory. Until then, the astronomers behind the paper will keep an eye out for the interstellar visitor in Rubin's images.
