Any thoughts on Oak Ridge Laboratories?

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Oak Ridge, similar to Los Alamos, is noted for its significant Department of Defense (DoD) research presence, which necessitates stricter security background checks for personnel involved in sensitive work. The Spallation Neutron Source is under construction and is expected to be a key facility for those interested in condensed matter physics and neutron scattering studies in the near future. While major security checks at Los Alamos are primarily required for classified work, unclassified work may not necessitate such checks, even for foreign nationals. However, the security protocols at Oak Ridge are still more stringent compared to other research facilities like Argonne, where the process for foreign visitors is less rigorous and quicker.
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I'm thinking about UT-Knoxville, and I've been doing some research on Oak Ridge. I'm wondering if anyone has some opinions about the place.
 
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Oak Ridge, like Los Alamos, has a considerable DoD research and so, a tighter security background check.

The Spallation Neutron Source is being built and scheduled to start soon. So if you're into condensed matter and want to do neutron scattering studies of material, this would be THE place to be in a few years.

Zz.
 
ZapperZ said:
Oak Ridge, like Los Alamos, has a considerable DoD research and so, a tighter security background check.

The Spallation Neutron Source is being built and scheduled to start soon. So if you're into condensed matter and want to do neutron scattering studies of material, this would be THE place to be in a few years.

Zz.


In the case of Los Alamos, major security background checks are only done when the work you're doing requires clearance. Even in my division (where most people are doing DoD work) students doing unclassified work who don't need clearance do not have to go through security background checks (even including foreign nationals). Of course, we're not even allowed in the building where the rest of our division has their offices though.
 
franznietzsche said:
In the case of Los Alamos, major security background checks are only done when the work you're doing requires clearance. Even in my division (where most people are doing DoD work) students doing unclassified work who don't need clearance do not have to go through security background checks (even including foreign nationals). Of course, we're not even allowed in the building where the rest of our division has their offices though.

I don't mean the extensive security check. I mean your "regular" checks are still more extensive than someone wanting to work or visit Argonne, for example. We had foreign nationals (from none sensitive countries) having to apply almost 3 months in advance just to visit Los Alamos for a day in the civilian area. Here at Argonne, we barely require 3 weeks for the same case.

Zz.
 
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