Georgia Tech Research Podcast

GTRI will soon welcome the next cohort of its STING (Sparking Technology Innovation and Growth) program, a 10-week professional development experience designed to help employees better understand sponsor needs, define meaningful problems, and collaboratively develop solutions with real-world relevance. The upcoming STING 7.0 cohort will begin in Spring 2026. STING first launched in 2020. The program was created to address a familiar challenge in applied research environments: many of the skills that lead to successful outcomes are difficult to formalize, often learned only through years of experience. STING was designed to bring out those skills, make them teachable, and give participants a structured way to practice them in a low-risk, but high-impact setting.

The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast focuses on a critical but often unseen component of Georgia's agricultural infrastructure: the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network (GPLN). Host Stephanie Richter, a senior research scientist in GTRI's ATAS laboratory, is joined by Dr. Louise Dufour-Zavala, executive director of GPLN, for a conversation on poultry health, disease prevention, emergency response, and the laboratory network's close coordination with industry, state, and federal partners. Throughout the episode, Richter and Dufour-Zavala explore how GPLN functions day to day, why its work is essential to Georgia's economy, and how science, speed, and communication work together when animal health is on the line. GPLN exists to help keep Georgia's poultry flocks healthy, safe, and market-ready. That mission plays out through an extensive testing and surveillance operation, with approximately 1.7 million samples processed annually. The episode emphasizes that this testing supports not only flock health but also food safety, business continuity, and export eligibility.

The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast offers listeners a rare, behind-the-scenes look at XPAT through a conversation with the two researchers who led its development: Maxwell Tannenbaum and Dante Dimenichi of GTRI's Aerospace, Transportation, and Advanced Systems Laboratory (ATAS). XPAT, the X-band Polarization-Diverse AESA Testbed, was named GTRI's "Large Investment IRAD of the Year" earlier this year.

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) podcast celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps, Nov. 10, 2025. GTRI employees who are Marines share their experiences, emphasizing the Corps' traditions and values. Key moments include the Birthday Ball, which reinforces Marine identity, and deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, highlighting the camaraderie and challenges faced. Stories from veterans including Courtney Daniels, Patrick Clark, Kirk Blehm, Kyle Blond, Terence Sterba, Rupert Simon, and Eric Scott, illustrate the Marine Corps' impact on their lives and the lessons they apply in their civilian roles at GTRI. The podcast underscores the importance of Marine Corps traditions in fostering teamwork, leadership, and resilience.

This episode of the Georgia Tech Research podcast discusses PFAs, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, with Dr. Christopher Heist and Jordan Ash. PFAs, known as "forever chemicals," are synthetic compounds with strong carbon-fluorine bonds, making them highly persistent in the environment. They are ubiquitous in products like waterproofing, stain-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foam. The episode highlights the challenges in analyzing PFAs due to their widespread presence and the need for specialized equipment. The discussion also covers the impact of PFAs on human health, including cancer risks, and the efforts to reduce exposure through filtration and product updates. The conversation emphasizes the importance of collaboration and ongoing research to address PFAs contamination. Dr. Heist will discuss the project as a featured speaker during the Georgia Food Safety Conference, to be held Nov. 5- 6 at The Georgia Tech Research Institute Headquarters Conference Center (250 14th Street, Atlanta, GA).  

In the latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast, host Stephanie Richter speaks with Dr. Dimitri Mavris, Distinguished Regents Professor and Executive Director of Georgia Tech's Professional Master's in Applied Systems Engineering (PMASE) program. Now in his 46th year at Georgia Tech, Mavris reflects on his journey from student to professor and on the evolution of systems engineering as a discipline. "It wasn't the plan—it became the plan," he said. Mavris described PMASE as a program designed for working professionals navigating the increasing complexity of technology. He emphasized that staying relevant requires constant education. "Only by never stopping reading and learning will one have a chance of keeping up." Since taking leadership of the program, enrollment has grown from 28 to 81 students, supported by collaborations with GTRI researchers and Georgia Tech Professional Education. New initiatives include a certificate program for General Dynamics and plans for a European variant based at Georgia Tech-Europe. Mavris also discussed the growing influence of artificial intelligence and data-driven engineering. "AI isn't new," he said, "but its scale today makes discernment critical. Students must learn not just to use tools—but to judge what's credible."

The most recent episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast features a conversation with Georgia Tech Human Resources (GTHR) leaders about the many benefits and programs available to Georgia Tech and GTRI employees. Host Scott McAtee, assistant director-HR business partner at GTRI, is joined by Kimberly Goler-Stubbs, Yolanda McDaniel, and Michelle Jordan-Dumas, who each oversee different aspects of employee health, benefits, and retirement. The discussion highlights how Georgia Tech's benefits go beyond health care and retirement.

The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast brings together two leaders from the Human Centered Engineering Division (HCED) at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI): Dr. Theresa Kessler, branch head of the Human Performance Branch, and Stuart Michelson, associate division chief. Together, they break down common misconceptions about human factors, explaining how careful attention to human-system interaction can save time, money, and even lives. They explain why trust is not the ultimate goal, why manpower, personnel, and training studies are critical, why UX/UI is more than attractive interfaces, and why human systems integration must be treated as foundational.

The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast turns its focus to the people at the heart of cutting-edge defense and technology research. In this episode, Dr. Theresa Kessler, principal research scientist in the Human Centered Engineering Division (HCED) at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), shares how her team's work bridges the gap between technology and the humans who depend on it. Dr. Kessler's research centers on improving the way humans interact with increasingly complex systems, particularly in defense contexts where clarity and reliability can have life-or-death implications. HCED integrates principles of psychology, engineering, and systems design to ensure that technology enhances, rather than hinders, human performance. “Our goal is to understand the human in the loop,” Kessler explains in the podcast. “When systems are designed with human factors in mind, they become more intuitive, more resilient, and ultimately more effective.”

GTRI's independent research and development (IRAD) investment aims to develop and advance research that addresses national security and global challenges. The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast brings listeners into the 2025 IRAD Extravaganza, an annual event where Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) researchers present their boldest ideas and emerging projects. This year, more than 200 posters filled the lobby and meeting spaces of GTRI Headquarters, creating an atmosphere buzzing with creativity, curiosity, and collaboration. The podcast episode features interviews with researchers, students, and leaders in attendance, each offering a unique perspective on the role of Independent Research and Development (IRAD) in shaping the future.   Speakers and time marks: Speaker #1 @01:22 = Walker Byrnes Speaker #2 @03:13 = Nathan Damen Speaker #3 @04:02 = Amy Mo Speaker #4 @04:40 = Julian Grinberg Speaker #5 @05:01 = Calvin Hur Speaker #6 @05:27 = Justice Williams Speaker #7 @06:12 = Benjamin Riley Speaker #8 @07:20 = Peter Tuuk Speaker #9 @09:10 = Alexis Noel Speaker #10 @10:24 = The Office of Technology Licensing (Mary Albertson – Director) Speaker #11 @13:24 = Judy Song Speaker #12 @15:18 = Shelby Allen; Robert “Bob” Wright Speaker #13 @19:45 = Thomas Williamson Speaker #14 @20:48 = Maxwell “Max” Tannenbaum; Dante Dimenichi Speaker #15 @25:01 = "IRAD of the Year" Winner - XPAT

In the most recent episode of the GTRI Tech Connect series, Principal Research Scientist Dr. Jon Duke discusses the groundbreaking Georgia All Payer Claims Database (APCD) project. APCD is a state initiative that centralizes health care claim data to improve access, quality, and cost of care for Georgians. Sponsored by the Georgia Office of Health Strategy and Coordination, the APCD aggregates over 1.5 billion medical records, 750 million pharmacy records, and even dental claims data from health insurers across the state. This massive, de-identified dataset allows researchers to address healthcare challenges at an unprecedented scale, from maternal and behavioral health to rural healthcare access.

In the latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast, GTRI Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP) research scientist Stephanie Richter interviews Maeve Mobley and Alyssa Albino, two Georgia Tech students who interned at ATRP. Alyssa, a business major with a concentration in marketing; and Maeve, a literature, media, and communications major, worked to tell ATRP's story in its marketing/communications unit. They discuss their roles in expanding the social media presence of ATRP. Maeve and Alyssa emphasize the importance of utilizing Instagram and LinkedIn accounts to effectively showcase ATRP's research and core values. 

In a special behind-the-scenes episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast, the usual hosts—Stephanie Richter and Eric Klein—become the guests. Hosted by summer intern Randeep Hora, a high school student with a keen interest in research and storytelling, this retrospective episode offers a candid, entertaining, and insightful look into the podcast's evolution, mission, and dynamic team.

In the latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast, the featured guest is Dr. Greg Badura, a senior research scientist in GTRI's Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory (EOSL). Greg talks about space imagery research and GTRI's evolving role in supporting space domain awareness. He also touches on his career, which spans both Earth observation and orbital object monitoring. The conversation also touches on Greg's ideas on mentorship and learning. He also provides nuggets of wisdom on collaboration.

In a special episode of the Georgia Tech Research podcast commissioned by GTRI's SERV@GTRI employee resource group (ERG), four GTRI professionals who are Army veterans share their personal journeys, reflections on Army history, and insights on how military service has informed their current roles. This episode is in commemoration of the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army.

The GTRI Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP) Co-op program is highlighted in the latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast. Austen Monteith, a fourth-year chemistry student at Georgia Tech, discusses his work on extending the lifetime of peracetic acid (PAA) in chiller water and GTRI researcher Dr. Jie Xu's nanoparticle project. Courtney Martin, a biology student at Kennesaw State University, focused on bacterial reduction and plating. They detail the collaborative nature of their research and how the program has influenced their career paths.

The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast, spotlights a GTRI-led collaboration with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) focused on real-time sensing of peracetic acid (PAA) levels in poultry processing. The episode features Dr. Jie Xu, who leads the project, alongside team members Lance Barrett and Walker Byrnes. The host is Research Scientist Stephanie Richter.    

Senior Research Scientist Dan Sabo from GTRI's Intelligent Sustainable Technologies Division shares updates on his work with peracetic acid (PAA) in poultry processing. Dan now leads a project that's playing a critical role in food safety across the poultry industry. Stephanie Richter, host of the podcast, notes that Dan has become an invaluable resource not only for his technical expertise, but also for his ability to “translate” complex chemistry into practical solutions for the industry.

The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast highlights the research and integration efforts of GTRI and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The episode focuses on GTRI's “Enhanced Chilling” project, which aims to improve immersive chilling processes, particularly in poultry processing applications. The guests are GTRI researchers Dr. Comas Haynes and Saikamal Srinivas.

The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast is devoted to the research and integration efforts of Georgia Tech and GTRI. The episode's guests are Benjamin (Ben) Riley, a principal research associate in GTRI's Chief Technology Officer's office; and Benjamin (Ben) Yang, a principal research engineer in GTRI's CIPHER lab. They are the coordinators of the Hives Early Career IRAD program (FY26).  Ben and Ben give details about the program, which has a proposal deadline of March 28.

At the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), Georgia Tech Research Institute's (GTRI) Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP) captured industry attention with two groundbreaking technology demonstrations. Highlighted in the latest Georgia Tech Research Podcast episode, hosted by Stephanie Richter, the expo showcased how ATRP continues to drive innovation in poultry production. "IPPE is a fantastic event that allows us to showcase what our great folks do here at GTRI," said Doug Britton, ATRP program manager. "We get a chance to network, learn what's state-of-the-art, and build relationships crucial for driving our innovation forward." The ATRP booth featured two key projects: the revolutionary poultry rehang shackle system by Dr. Konrad Ahlin and the autonomous chicken house monitoring robot, Go-Bot, led by Colin Usher. Konrad's demonstration focused on improving safety and ergonomics in poultry processing. "We're developing a system for performing the rehang action, simplifying a physically and mentally demanding job," explained Konrad. "Our device allows operators to push the birds onto a rehang mat, reducing the risks associated with manually hanging birds on fast-moving shackles." Meanwhile, Colin Usher's Go-Bot, a fully autonomous ground robot designed to monitor chicken houses and collect eggs, drew significant interest. "It started as a wild idea in 2014," Colin recalled. "The first time we showed it, farmers didn't ask about research—they just wanted to buy it. That blew our minds."

Alexis Noel, Ph.D., a senior research engineer at GTRI, manages the GTRI SEEDLab makerspace, which opened in September 2021. The SEEDLab, which includes 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC machines, fosters creativity and collaboration among GTRI employees. Despite its small 400-square-foot space, the lab has over 300 employees with room access and over 660 monthly users. Opened in September 2021, the SEEDLab (short for “Support for Early Engineering Design”)—is housed in the Baker Building and has quickly become a hub of activity for GTRI researchers, staff, and students. It provides access to cutting-edge tools, including multiple 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC machines. Despite its compact 400-square-foot space, the lab serves a rapidly growing community. “There are over 300 GTRI employees who have room access to the SEEDLab,” says Alexis. “We have over 660 individuals who sign in during work hours every month.”

This episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast highlights the fifth annual Georgia Regulatory Symposium, held in late 2024 at GTRI Headquarters building in Atlanta. The event was organized by Wendy White, Industry Manager for Food & Beverage at the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) of Georgia Tech.  The annual event brings together stakeholders from government, industry, and academia to discuss regulatory compliance and emerging issues in food safety.  The symposium, evolving from a breakfast event, now includes diverse speakers and topics such as cybersecurity, avian influenza, and peracetic acid research.  In the podcast episode, Wendy emphasizes the importance of collaboration between regulators and industry professionals.  The podcast also features on-the-scene interviews with attendees at the Georgia Regulatory Symposium. The attendees, from various industry sectors such as food manufacturers and regulatory agencies, speak about how their attendance at the Georgia Regulatory Symposium is valuable for networking and learning about industry updates and best practices.   If you would like to stay up to date on the upcoming 2025 Georgia Regulatory Symposium, please complete this short interest form: https://gamep.ac-page.com/regulatory-symposium GaMEP exists to enhance the economic well-being of Georgia by helping manufacturers improve their performance in the global market. Manufacturing is the second-largest private industry in Georgia. 

You are invited to listen to the next Tech Connects podcast on Friday, January 24th. The purpose of the Tech Connects series is to disseminate institutional knowledge of technical capabilities and portfolios across all of GTRI. The January 24th Tech Connects event will feature Paul Brancato and Moeiini Riley, researchers in the Electronic Systems Laboratory (ELSYS) Test Engineering Division (TEN). Low-Cost Jamming Solutions within Contested Radio Frequency Environments Modern warfare requires the use, control and dominance of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum has become a critical domain for military operations. With the increasing reliance on wireless communications and electronic systems, the rapidly evolving landscape of electronic warfare (EW) and cyber options requires new solutions to help maintain this dominance. The aim of Paul and Moeiini's research is to investigate the viability and effectiveness of employing a low-cost jamming solution, known as low-cost kitten (LCK), to enhance cyber-EM activities (CEMA) within contested radio frequency (RF) environments.  LCK is a cost-effective variant of GTRI's Angry Kitten electronic attack system that enables dynamic jamming of RF transmissions. LCK uses simple and cheap commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technology, and with only small modification, operates within the RF band of ground-based army systems. This provides EW capability to army units that currently do not have this capability. This research also became part of a summer 2024 GTRI Research Internship Project (GRIP), known as Command Post Kitten developed entirely at the Warner Robins field office. GRIP is sponsored by GTRI's Office of the Chief Technology Officer. The focus here was on the development, testing, and evaluation of the LCK in CEMA operational environments, considering factors of affordability, portability, and adaptability for various operational scenarios.

In the latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast, host Stephanie Richter sits down with Janet Standeven, Program Director of the Frugal Science Academy at Georgia Tech's School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. A former high school educator and a passionate champion of synthetic biology, Janet's journey exemplifies how accessible science education can spark innovation and, as GTRI's mission states, “educate future technology leaders.”

This episode gives listeners a primer on Learning and Development (L&D) initiatives at Georgia Tech and Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). Hosted by Eric Klein, the episode features insights from Dr. Diamond Ford, Senior Director of Employee Experience and Development, and Ms. Sarah Cockrell, Director of Employee Development and Culture. The discussion underscores the vital role of L&D in fostering organizational success, innovation, and employee engagement, highlighting Georgia Tech's commitment to creating a collaborative and supportive workplace.

Daniel (Danny) Browne recently took the helm as the Director of the Information and Communications Laboratory (ICL) at GTRI. In the latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast, hosted by GTRI research scientist Stephanie Richter, Danny shares insights into his journey, leadership philosophy, and vision for the future of GTRI. The episode highlights not only Danny's impressive career trajectory but also his collaborative and forward-thinking approach to research and innovation.

The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast focuses on a key agricultural technology initiative at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI): the USDA Farm Processing and Transport (FPAT) project. The episode features Dr. Alexander Samoylov, a Principal Research Scientist at GTRI, who shares insights into this project, which aims to reshape the poultry industry's approach to transport and processing.

The latest episode of the Georgia Tech Research podcast delves into the remarkable journeys of two Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) researchers, Megan Birch and Sheila Isbell, both recently honored as finalists in the 2024 Women in Technology (WIT) Women of the Year Awards. Hosted by GTRI Senior Researcher Eric Klein, the episode explores Megan and Sheila's stories, insights, and the impact they have made at GTRI. Megan, a research scientist in GTRI's Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory (EOSL), was recently named the inaugural winner of the WIT "Young Professional" Woman of the Year Award, while Sheila, principal research scientist and chief of the Software Engineering and Analytics Division within the Information and Communications Laboratory (ICL), was recognized as a finalist in the "Medium/Mid-Sized Company" category. Their stories not only celebrate personal achievements but also shed light on the influence of women in STEM fields and the ongoing efforts to inspire more women to enter and thrive in technology.

This episode focuses on the International Food Automation Networking (IFAN) Conference at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. The IFAN Conference focuses on Robotics and Automation in the food industry and examines new technology trends, industry challenges, and evolving research. The conference brings together industry leaders from across the globe for two days of education sessions and networking opportunities. The conference is organized by the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI); FAN Limited; and BMC, UK. Targeted toward corporate food manufacturing engineering leaders, equipment suppliers, and end customers of such technologies, the IFAN conference seeks to provide meaningful networking opportunities, highlight tangible research and development activities, and provide a broader context for automation deployment in the food manufacturing sector. The episode includes live interviews conducted by GTRI Researchers Stephanie Richter and Eric Klein with attendees during the IFAN event.

GTRI recently celebrated its 90th anniversary with a gala event that brought together current and former employees, as well as others who have partnered with GTRI over the years.  More than 300 people gathered at The GTRI Headquarters Conference Center in Atlanta, Georgia for a gala event that paid tribute to GTRI's history of innovation and collaboration. The Aug. 16 event featured dignitaries from across GTRI, the Institute, and the State of Georgia. This podcast episode is a compendium of some of the highlights from the 90th Anniversary Celebration event.  It features recordings of the speeches by: GTRI Director James J. (Jim) Hudgens Georgia Tech President Angel Cabrera University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue. The podcast also features excerpts from a "roundtable" discussion with prominent former and longstanding current GTRI employees on "GTRI: Past, Present and Future." Joining former GTRI Director Stephen Cross as panelists were Dr. Don Davis, former Deputy Director of the Electronics, Optics, and Systems Directorate (EOSD); Jeanne Balsam, GTRI Principal Research Associate Emerita, and Kim Toatley, who is the current AVP of Finance and Research Administration & Chief Financial Officer. The podcast episode also includes the thoughts of attendees at the gala event. The dozens of people you will hear in this episode (and many others) were stopped by members of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast team for impromptu "interviews." Their off-the-cuff thoughts show the passion, enthusiasm, and spirit of the people of GTRI, who are leading it into the final decade of its eventful and innovative first century.

The September 27th Tech Connects event will feature Courtney Crooks, Principal Research Scientist and Senior Staff in SEAL's Command, Control, Communications Division (C3D). Designing Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence for Decision Advantage in C3 Operations Courtney's research expertise is in forensic cyberpsychology, behavioral analysis, and human-centered design of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technology with health and defense applications. Courtney's research applies foundational psychoanalytic theory to understand the national security, ethical, and societal implications of psychological responses to cyber-enabled information ecosystems and emerging technology such as AI. She further specializes in understanding the mechanisms of human-machine teaming, cognitive security, malign influence, and coercive control, through the application of human-centered design principles to build exploratory decision support technologies and human system analysis of the lived experience of key stakeholder populations.

This episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast features a conversation with David Zurn, Principal Research Engineer in the ELSYS Laboratory of GTRI. Since joining GTRI's Electronic Systems Laboratory (ELSYS) in 2003, Zurn has worked on a variety of EW-related research efforts including radar warning receiver hardware and software development and test, missile warning system hardware and software test, and development of hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) test solutions tailored to EW applications. Zurn is currently the Division Chief of the Test Engineering Division within ELSYS. In this podcast episode, Zurn and episode host Stephanie Richter discuss his career at GTRI, emphasizing his focus on student experiences and the importance of meaningful tasks for researchers. He highlights his work on electronic warfare systems, including radar warning receiver design and cognitive electronic warfare systems. Zurn also mentioned his role as interim lab director and the challenges of managing up. He emphasizes the importance of servant leadership, diversity, and customer satisfaction, noting GTRI's growth from $300 million to nearly $1 billion in search awards over the past decade."  

You are invited to listen to the next Tech Connects podcast on Friday, August 23rd. Maybe you have heard of Tech Connects, but you're not sure what it is? Then join us for the next Tech Connects research podcast, featuring Dr. Charles Domercant, Senior Research Engineer and Research Engagements Manager for GTRI's Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Charles will speak in more detail about Tech Connects and why it is important to GTRI's mission and vision.

This episode features a conversation with Lee Wadzeck, the 2023 GTRI Leadership Award recipient. During the course of the podcast, he details his leadership style. Wadzeck is Chief of the Command, Control, and Communications Division (C3D) within the Sensors and Electromagnetic Applications Laboratory (SEAL) at Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). In that role, Wadzeck leads a team of researchers focused on identifying and delivering critical state-of-the-art tactical airborne communications and networking solutions to address a wide array of problem sets. Prior to joining GTRI, Wadzeck served more than 20 years in the United States Air Force. His last duty assignment was as 18th Wing Superintendent of Exercises/Joint Interface Control Office, stationed at Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan.

This episode covers the AI-SLAMS  (Artificial Intelligence-driven Smart Low-cost Ammonia Monitoring System) project.  The project is part of the NSF Convergence Accelerator 2023 cohort for phase one to advance solutions and critical areas. AI-SLAMS brings together insights and advances in chemical sensing, material science/nanotechnology, poultry science, manufacturing, AI, and data science. The project aims to identify challenges and opportunities and develop technology concepts and workforce training plans for developing and deploying a smart poultry farm ammonia monitoring system. This will help ensuring health growth, adequate weight gain, and welfare of birds, in association supportive worker safety on the farm.  In this podcast episode, project lead Dr. Judy Song of GTRI is joined by research team members Dr. Brian Fairchild, a UGA poultry science professor, and Dr. Doug Britton, manager of GTRI's Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP).  

In this episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast, Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Mark Whorton previews GTRI's upcoming 2024 IRAD Extravaganza. The objective of Independent Research and Development (IRAD) is to support The GTRI Strategic Plan through investment in projects with anticipated long-term return. Independent research investment is intended to expand capability and sustain a competitive position in critical research areas as well as foster exploration and accelerate entry into new areas that may have a high payoff for GTRI's stakeholders and potential customers.

This episode focuses on “Machine Learning Operations (MLOps)," an Independent Research and Development (IRAD) project by a team of GTRI researchers that was presented in 2023 during GTRI's IRAD Extravaganza. A noteworthy part of the IRAD Extravaganza is the IRAD of the Year Ceremony, which awards particularly outstanding projects. For each annual IRAD Extravaganza, projects are nominated for "IRAD of the Year" awards. Finalists for the IRAD of the Year were judged in two categories: Large Investment Projects, with multiyear funding greater than $50,000. Small Investment Projects, which have one-year funding of $50,000 or less.  The “Machine Learning Operations (MLOps)" project won in the Large Investment Projects category.  Research team members Maia Gatlin and Austin Ruth are the guests in this podcast episode. Gatlin and Ruth are both Research Engineers in GTRI's Electronic Systems (ELSYS) Laboratory. This IRAD focuses on the development of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to create a deployable platform of various tools for Machine Learning Operations (MLOps). The team has successfully deployed and tested the infrastructure to showcase the benefits of the platform through various use­  cases. The primary goal is to show that the infrastructure in place can not only support inference and training of machine learning models but also can incorporate active learning and continuous delivery of models to specified repositories. With the IaC, the platform is also deployable to edge and fog machines to perform tasks at the supported resource level.

The Military Graduate Research Program (MGRP) is a key component of GTRI's Intelligent Sustainable Technology Division (ISTD). The Military Graduate Research Program (MGRP) provides opportunities for U.S. military personnel to conduct part-time research at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) while obtaining a STEM graduate degree at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Military personnel perform state-of-the-art research as a Military Graduate Research Assistant (MGRA) working alongside full-time GTRI Research Faculty. Currently, ISTD has two military graduate research assistants (MGRAs) who are part of MGRP. In this episode, we hear from Lieutenant Kelly Bowers of the United States Navy and Second Lieutenant Margaret Warner of the United States Air Force. They will discuss how they selected their branch of service, how they came to be MGRAs at GTRI, and some of their conducted research at ISTD.

Understanding the Physics of Giant Electrical Discharges Above Thunderstorms Cloud top discharges are the largest electrical discharges on planet earth and produce many spectacular colors, including purple, blue, and red. These discharges span up to 50 miles long and can directly transfer electric charge to outer space, yet the scientific community still doesn't understand how they do this. With support from the National Science Foundation, Levi's research into cloud top discharges dives deep into the physics to learn scientifically how these discharges develop during sever weather and how they interact with the atmosphere and impact the environment. For example, these discharges produce nitric oxide (NOx), which affects the amount of ozone in the stratosphere, which in turn affects the warming and cooling of the planet.  Levi's research will seek to capture electrical discharges above the clouds using a high-speed imaging system to learn more about their physics and how thunderstorms produce such massive discharges. The goal is to gain a better understanding as to why some storms produce cloud top electrical discharges while others do not. This will also lead to a better understanding about the physical properties of these type of discharges such as their conductivity and energy. The high-speed imaging system that Levi and his team will use will be the first of its kind, and will be able to measure up to four simultaneously electromagnetic wavelengths at high speeds. Join the Slack Q&A with Levi beginning Friday, May 24th on the #tech-connects channel.

This episode of The Georgia Tech Research Podcast is an interview with Janaki Tambe, the new Director of GTRI's Project Management Office (PMO). She assumed that role May 1, reporting to the office of the COO. As the PMO Director, Janaki provides executive oversight and leadership to the PMO office. She will be responsible for maintaining a dynamic and productive team culture, fostering productive relationships across GTRI and Georgia Tech, securing project management work with GTRI laboratories, and providing best-of-class PM subject matter expertise to Department of Defense (DoD) research projects and all other organizational projects in which the PMO is involved. She also maintains accountability for all PMO activities and represents the PMO to GTRI leadership.  

This Tech Connects podcast features Dr. Jie Xu, Principal Research Scientist and Chemical and Biological Systems Branch Head in GTRI's Aerospace, Transportation & Advanced Systems Laboratory (ATAS).  Sensor Development for Rapid Chemical and Biological Detection The optical sensor development represents a collaborative endeavor supported by a diverse coalition of stakeholders. With support from federal agencies such as the USDA, EPA, NSF, and FDA alongside backing from the State of Georgia through the Agriculture Technology Research Program, and strategic partnerships with private sector entities like Salvus. Dr. Xu's research initiatives span a wide spectrum of applications, including food safety, medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and pathogen mitigation. Dr. Xu's research aligns with GTRI's mission of applying science and technology to solve complex problems for government and industry, enhancing GTRI's reputation as a leader in innovative research with real-world impact. She enjoys working with teams comprised of individuals with diverse technical backgrounds, fostering research freedom and collaboration.

Comas Haynes is Principal Research Engineer in ATAS and the Materials/Energy Branch Head within the Intelligent Sustainable Technologies Division of the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI).  Enhanced Chilling Automation for Georgia's Poultry Processing Sector Enhancing the State of Georgia economic development is one of the four focal points listed in the GTRI mission statement. The enhanced chilling project is sponsored by the State of Georgia through the Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP), along with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a recent co-sponsor. ATRP intends to drive transformational innovation in the state's (and ultimately the nation's) poultry, agribusiness, and food manufacturing spaces. Since Georgia is the #1 state in the nation in the poultry processing sector, this project is a significant part of GTRI's alignment with its mission statement.

This episode features a discussion with Austen and Jalan, the fall 2023 Intelligent Sustainable Technologies Division (ISTD) Cooperative Education (co-op) students.   The co-op work-study program provides academic credit for structured work experiences, helping young people complete the school-to-work transition.   The topics covered in this discussion include their experiences, their goals, and their pathway to a great career in research while gaining hands-on work experience with the Agricultural Technology  Research Program (ATRP) projects.   This episode is a great discussion for anyone, but it has a unique appeal to high school students interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research. 

There are five “P's” in Georgia agriculture: Poultry, Pines, Peaches, Pecans, and Peanuts.  This episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast deals with research by GTRI's Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP) on peanuts.   Peanuts are the official state crop of Georgia. Annually, Georgia's peanut harvest is nearly half of the total yield of the United States. ATRP research focusing on peanuts is thus well in line with GTRI's Mission aim to "Enhance State of Georgia economic development."

Center for Scalable and Intelligent-Automation in Poultry Processing (CSI-APP) This podcast highlights interdisciplinary research on a current four-year project that is being sponsored by the USDA. It is a collaboration among GTRI, Georgia Tech, Fort Valley State University, University of Arkansas and University of Nebraska. Its goal is to help modernize the poultry processing industry through novel forms of automation, the need for which has been dramatically demonstrated by the pandemic. Georgia is by far the US's largest poultry producer. Poultry is a billion-dollar industry in the state and this project aligns with GTRI's commitment to serve Georgia. The project has four research objectives: (1) intelligent automation of poultry deboning, (2) virtual reality telepresence to enable human-robot collaboration on the plant floor, (3) intelligent automation of poultry plant sanitation and health, and (4) determination of the societal impacts of automating traditional manual jobs. Recent advances in robot hardware, sensors and artificial intelligence capabilities will be fully leveraged. The project has potentially global ramifications.

This episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast highlights a current research project under the Georgia Tech Research Institute's Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP). Host Stephanie Richter, a GTRI Research Scientist, talks with Dr. Konrad Ahlin about his exploratory project called The One-Handed Rehang Device. Dr. Ahlin's project aims to address an area of poultry processing that requires tedious, heavy, and repetitive motions for workers.   

The DOD, DOE national laboratories, ARPA-E, and NASA are collaborating to reduce the cost, volume and weight of batteries while simultaneously improving battery performance (power, energy, durability) and resilience to abuse conditions and extreme temperatures. In addition to the current federal emphasis placed on battery and energy storage technology, the state of Georgia is positioned to become a regional and national leader in renewable energy technology. Manufacturing of electric vehicles and EV components is accelerating, especially in the Southeast. Tesla, Kia, Volkswagen, and Apple are just a few of the many companies contributing to the Governor's Office push to establish Georgia as the technology innovation hub of the Eastern US. All-Solid-State Batteries (ASSBs) have gained great attention due to their inherent safety advantages over conventional lithium (Li)-ion batteries, which use flammable liquid electrolytes and are vulnerable to Li dendrite growth when paired with Li metal anode. The focus of this research into is two-fold: from the bottom up, the fabrication of high-performance cells, and from the top down, a parametric model to envision insertion of this research into a feasible future circular economy.

 This episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast is the eleventh in a special series commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Georgia Tech Research Institute's Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP). Host Stephanie Richter, a GTRI Research Scientist, talks with Dr. Doug Britton, Program Manager--Agricultural Technology Research Program at Georgia Tech Research Institute, and Gary McMurray, Division Chief--Robotics, Modeling, & Sensing for Agriculture, at Georgia Tech Research Institute. They speak primarily from their roles at the intelligence Sustainable Technology Division (ISTD). McMurray is the division chief of ISTD and Britton is the Associate division chief of ISTD. The talk extensively about the synergies between ISTD and ATRP--as well as partnerships with other institutions and entities. "We've been very intentional that we want to be seen as a collaborative organization," says McMurray. Britton agrees: "We've built that culture of we're here to support and collaborate and in the end 'It's still your project.'" Britton and McMurray delve into work that ISTD and ATRP have done with universities, DoD and military branches, and non-DoD governmental units. In addition,  they speak on recent "big wins" for ATRP, as well as the future of ATRP and its work.

 This podcast episode is devoted to student support from the R. Harold and Patsy Harrison Foundation. Lance Barrett and Ryan Giometti were the 2022 selected student interns. They were the first recipients of the one-year funded internships made possible by an endowment from the R. Harold and Patsy Harrison Foundation. The internships are part of ATRP's Abit Massey Student Internship Program, which provides Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) undergraduate students an opportunity to work alongside ATRP researchers on real-world challenges facing poultry production and processing. Interns also have the opportunity to gain practical industry knowledge by networking with staff at local poultry companies. The goal is to prepare the next generation of researchers and professionals to produce significant advances in innovation and technology. The program is funded entirely through donations and sponsorship from industry and friends of ATRP.  The R. Harold and Patsy Harrison Foundation was founded by the Harrisons' daughter, Bobbie Ann Harrison Reynolds, and her husband, Raymond H. Reynolds, Jr. (a Georgia Tech industrial engineering alumnus), in honor of her late parents with a primary goal to strengthen and support education. Her father founded Harrison Poultry in 1958 in Bethlehem, Georgia.

This episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast is the ninth in a special series commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Georgia Tech Research Institute's Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP). Host Stephanie Richter, a GTRI Research Scientist, talks to Dr. Konrad Ahlin and Dr. Chris Heist about The R. Harold and Patsy Harrison Research Faculty Fellowship.  The R. Harold and Patsy Harrison Research Faculty Fellowship recognizes innovative, promising early-career research faculty interested in exploring breakthrough applied engineering and science research to address poultry industry challenges.  The fellowship is a prestigious three-year funded fellowship for early-career research engineers and scientists.