ORAU supports nearly 1,500 postdoctoral fellows and researchers working with federal agencies like NASA and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. Since 1951, we have been dedicated to fostering career development for individuals at all stages, from early-career scientists embarking on their professional journeys to senior researchers gaining expertise while advancing the objectives of research organizations nationwide.
Our story is built around the lifecycle of scientific and technical workers—a broad range of STEM and technical professionals—and encompasses five distinct phases: discovery, development, connection, support and strengthening.
Gabe Grell, Ph.D., is a self-described geek. He is a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow focused on high-energy astrophysics, which involves observing some of the most powerful objects in the universe, including massive stars (10 to 20 times bigger than our sun), black holes, galaxies and supernovae, all of which emit very strong radiation in the form of X-rays. Grell analyzed the data received from satellites measuring these X-rays to deduce the atomic makeup and physical properties of those objects. Grell says he has always been kind of a math and science geek and began taking an interest in astronomy in high school. He majored in astrophysics and physics at Harvard University, then pursued his Ph.D. at the University of Maryland College Park.
For more than 80 years, ORAU has served as a trusted partner to our government customers, our university consortium members, and our local community. In this video, you can meet some of the people behind the ORAU name.
