b'Additionally, INL Postdoctoral Specialist JR Ratliff played a pivotal role in coaching and guiding young engineers from Alabama A&M University to secure first place at the sixth annual AMIE design challenge, held during the BEYA Conference in February. Ratliffs focus on building relationships with 15 HBCUs allowed him to effectively engage and mentor students from these esteemed institutions. During the design challenge, he facilitatedhis presentation on stacking the students design-thinkingnuclear atoms for improved physics process, helping them develop aand cleaner energy. The Peoples28human-centered solution titledChoice award went to Elizabeth the Rural Alabama WastewaterWorsham, a systems integration Initiative, which addressed theengineer, for her explanation on pressing need for clean water inhow coal is not a dirty word.urban America and aligned withLastly, INL continues to leverage the Infrastructure InvestmentInterns Hired into and Jobs Act. Learn more here. university programs as anregular full-time excellent workforce pipeline. In FY-23, 28 interns were hired intoPositionsregular full-time positions, and 35 personnel completed INL graduate fellowships with a 62% conversion rate. Of these, 31% transitioned Furthermore, INL hosted its firstto regular full-time positions, 31%35moved to postdoc positions and research SLAM competition on37% pursued opportunities outside Sept. 6. Participants deliveredthe lab. Additionally, 70.59% ofCompleted concise, engaging three-minuteformer postdocs became INLINL Graduate presentations of their work usinghires. In FY-23, the INLs postdocFellowhipsnon-scientific terms. A panel of fourprogram had 99 postdoctoral INL judges selected the first- andresearch associates, with 45% second-place winners, while anbeing new hires. So far, 21 have converted to regular, full-time staff audience vote determined thescientist positions. The prestigious99Peoples Choice Award. Michael Moorehead, an advanced nuclearDistinguished Postdoctoral materials scientist, secured firstAssociate appointment saw a place with his presentation ondoubled applicant pool in FY- Postdoctoral baking with metals. Kevin Vallejo,23, highlighting the programsResearch an epitaxy physicist and staffesteemed reputation. Associatesscientist, was the runner-up with S T U D E N T S, P O S T D O C S A N D FAC U LT Y AC H I E V E M E N T S F Y23 7'