Corey Cooke's academic journey, which began with a significant hurdle over misunderstanding research funding, has turned into a successful partnership connecting the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Tennessee Technological University's budding electrical and computer engineers. While initially leaving his doctoral studies, Cooke resumed his efforts at Tennessee Tech while working full-time, a backstory that underpins his current role at ORNL—a role that helps emerging talent and seasoned researchers alike, according to a recent article.
As an electrical engineer and researcher with an impressive resume that includes the leadership of the Radio Frequency and Intelligent Systems group at ORNL, Cooke has now taken the mantle of guiding both students and professionals through graduate education, transforming the laboratory into a proverbial classroom. His work aids ORNL staff in seeking higher degrees via Tennessee Tech, providing a unique blend of academic aspiration and practical application. This effort, he says, is to help those who are already performing at an advanced level to "bring their credentials in line with their skills," ORNL reported.
Cooke's own experience of integrating doctoral studies with professional work, particularly during his time at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, serves as a model for ORNL employees. Through his guidance, staff navigate tuition assistance and select relevant research topics—a dual function that benefits both their academic progression and the lab's staff expertise pool.
Success stories abound; take Tyler McCormick, for instance, who found his way to ORNL after a class with Cooke while at Tennessee Tech. McCormick defied his own expectations about ORNL's research scope and career opportunities. "I would never have come to the lab if it wasn’t for him," McCormick told ORNL, highlighting Cooke's influence as a bridge between industry and academia for students and professionals alike.
The focus on cross-disciplinary applications is evident in Cooke's work which spans wireless communications, radar technology, and machine learning, among others. His ambition is to leverage artificial intelligence and high-performance computing to solve complex problems in wireless communication systems. This includes non-invasive methods for ensuring the security of supply chains within power grids, a concern that marries theoretical research with tangible industry needs.
The culture of collaboration fostered by Cooke extends to a lab-wide Radio Frequency Research Forum, which strengthens the interconnectedness of different scientific fields within ORNL. Hollis Neel, a research associate who's benefitted from Cooke's mentorship, praised his approach to teaching and problem-solving. "He's exceptionally bright yet has zero issue admitting when he doesn't know something and will go straight to the white board and derive it," Neel said in a statement. Neel's experiences in Cooke's classes highlight the direct applicability of the coursework to the real-world challenges faced in their field.
The dynamic partnership between ORNL and Tennessee Tech is just one example of how academic institutions and industry can collaborate to address real-world problems, a synergy that Cooke continues to champion and grow. The program, managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, serves as a testament to the advantages of such collaborations in tackling complex scientific challenges.
