40 Under 40: N. Dianne Bull Ezell advances ORNL's nuclear research while mentoring next generation

N. Dianne Bull Ezell, 38, research and development engineer, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

As she leads nuclear reactor projects for NASA, the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense, N. Dianne Bull Ezell is committed to mentoring and advancing the careers of future scientists around her.

Rising through a competitive and male-dominated field was not easy but Ezell continues her work in advancing nuclear research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory while creating safe spaces for more women and young scientists and engineers in the field.

Her commitment to both advances East Tennessee's role in cutting edge research and nurturing the next generation's interest and role in STEM.

When you reflect on your career so far, which achievement stands out most?

I have been fortunate to combine my passion for electronics and nuclear energy through the development of advanced instrumentation and radiation-hardened electronics. I never imagined I would have completed so many successful irradiations studying material interactions, instrumentation, nuclear fuels and radiation-hardened electronics at this point in my career. However, none of this is solely my own success. I have been privileged to work with exceptional scientists and engineers who fielded the most instrumented irradiation, in the history of ORNL, at the High Flux Isotope Reactor in collaboration with Westinghouse Electric Company.

What is the greatest professional obstacle you've had to overcome and how did you overcome it?

Research at a national laboratory is very competitive. The thing I love most about my job is also one of my largest challenges. If you can acquire the funding, you can define your career’s research. Through this process I have learned to welcome and embrace criticism from peers and reviewers as a means to sharpen my ability to defend ideas and write more compelling proposals.

What will you focus on in 2023?

Mentoring the future engineers changing the face of clean energy. As a group leader, I am privileged to serve a team who bring enthusiasm to the pursuit of cutting-edge research. I recognize that as one researcher, my individual impact is small but as a group we can tackle large challenges. It’s critically important to me that my team meets these challenges by embracing ORNL’s core values of impact, integrity, teamwork, safety and service. I want them to love coming to work, addressing important problems, and return home to their families feeling positive about their jobs and the manner we work.

What is your biggest professional dream?

Seeing an advanced nuclear reactor built in my lifetime! Most of the research I work on today may not be used commercially for many years, and depends on whether we build the next-generation fleet of reactors. Nuclear power is one of many solutions that needs to be implemented simultaneously to solve the clean energy crisis. This will require the support of my technical peers, the federal government and local communities.

What mistake did you learn the most from?

Mistakes often are the biggest contributing factors to our success in research. I am continually learning as I face new challenging problems, and documenting those lessons for others. However, one of my biggest failures was over assuming a selected material would be compatible for an irradiation experiment I was responsible for. A successful outcome from that irradiation would have led to continued funding and a commercial product, but instead ended without the results we desired. From that mistake, I learned to not overlook even the smallest details before executing an experiment.

What motivates you?

Diversity and inclusion are important for creating a safe work environment.

What is the most overrated piece of business advice you've heard?

I have been told many times in my career to slow down, whether that was from a senior scientist who felt threatened or a colleague who felt left behind. However, I try very hard to not compare myself to others but instead challenge myself to be better than I was last year. I have felt my hard work and dedication can sometimes be misunderstood as being overly ambitious or difficult.

What trait do you most want in a co-worker?

Integrity is crucial to effective collaborations in highly competitive research fields.

What about Knoxville would you like to improve?

I remember when I first came to Knoxville as an undergraduate, it was unheard of to go to the Old City alone. Today, I feel the safety in that area and much of downtown has greatly improved. However, we can’t stop continuing to make Knoxville a safe place for locals and visitors. I love the slogan “Keep Knoxville Scruffy” because of the recognition to the importance to support local businesses, food, culture and history but we need to make Knoxville a safe and inclusive town to continue to attract visitors to support and grow local economy.

What don't people know about you?

Overcoming imposter syndrome is very difficult, and I still feel like a newbie sometimes when I walk into a room of my peers and superiors. I have recognized the more prepared I am, the less these feelings hold me back. But I also believe it makes me relatable to my staff as we share in our shortcomings and have compassion for each other. I hope to someday overcome this but, in the meantime, I use it to motivate myself.

• Family: Father Thomas Bull, mother Beverley Bull, sister Karen Bull
• Years worked at current company: 12
• Degrees and certifications: Bachelor of science, master of science and doctor of philosophy in electrical engineering, all from the University of Tennessee
• Community involvement: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers senior member, IEEE East Tennessee Professional Section Treasurer, IEEE Women in Engineering member, East Tennessee FIRST Robotics mentor, American Nuclear Society national and local member, ORNL Women in Science and Engineering founder and ORNL Committee for Women member. Previously IEEE East Tennessee Professional Section chair and vice chair, IEEE UTK Student Chapter vice chair and graduate mentor, ORNL Committee for Women chair and vice chair and ORNL Women Leadership Workshop 2019 Planning Committee chair

This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity

-Anila Yoganathan