From recovering valuable metals and identifying unknown pathogens to designing robust quantum hardware and providing a 3D view of microplastics, Department of Energy (DOE) scientists are tackling the problems that matter. At the 2026 National Lab Research SLAM, 17 early-career researchers had a chance to show off that work - and to compete.
In just three minutes and using just a single slide, the scientists presented to an audience of more than 200 policymakers, congressional staffers and laboratory representatives in the Congressional Auditorium on Capitol Hill on April 15, 2026. Over 2,150 additional viewers tuned in to watch the livestream of the event, with laboratories hosting watch parties across the country.
Sponsored by the House Science & National Labs Caucus and the Senate National Laboratory Caucus, the National Lab Research SLAM aims to highlight the key role and impact of DOE laboratories on the nation's innovation ecosystem.
Keegan Orr represented Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) with his presentation, "How lasers help deliver pizzas anywhere in 20 minutes." With a tasty analogy, Orr described his work to design materials that can survive the extreme conditions of hypersonic flight.
Finalists vied for awards in five categories: Energy Security, National Security, Scientific Discovery, Advanced Materials and People's Choice. A panel of esteemed judges evaluated the scientists on their comprehension, content, engagement and communication.
Kalen Rasmussen of the National Laboratory of the Rockies captured the award for Energy Security with his presentation, "From microbes to metals: powering energy security." In his eyes, the biggest takeaway from the SLAM was the power of distilling complex science into something anyone can enjoy and learn from.
"You can have macro-sized science, and you can present it in a micro-sized three-minute talk, and you can do it very clearly to a very broad audience and even to people who may not be subject experts or even scientists," said Rasmussen. "And hopefully, especially being in a place like here in D.C., we can convey a message that really inspires them."
In the National Security category, Los Alamos National Laboratory's Marina Mancuso received the award for her talk, "Protecting our country with intelligent immunity."
"I've learned that there's a healthy balance between competition and collaboration. Throughout the week, all of us finalists have given genuine feedback to help make our talks the best that they could be," said Mancuso. "And I think as a result, everybody just outshone each other in the best possible way."
Yashwanth Balaji from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory was recognized for his presentation in the Scientific Discovery category, "Shielding quantum computers from the chaos of cosmic rays." To make quantum science understandable, he put in a significant amount of work.
"I had to change quasi-particles to shockwaves. Another thing that I had to change was superconducting gap to an energy barrier," said Balaji. "These were examples that I had to think through really quite a while and practice with other folks who don't necessarily understand my topic at all and try to make them to get it."
In the Advanced Materials category, Samantha Kruse of Sandia National Laboratories was awarded for her talk, "Deep dive: revealing the 3D chemistry of microplastics."
"This experience has taught me how important it is to just try all of the time. I think it's really easy, especially as postdocs, to just focus on our research. And yes, that's absolutely important," she said. "But I think that science communication and growing those skills is also so important. This event is an amazing example of the amazing things that can come out of that effort."
The People's Choice Award, decided by audience vote, was presented to Jenny Smith of SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory for her talk, "Burst mode to breakthroughs: real-time selection for big science." For her, the SLAM showed the importance of getting a broad audience invested in research.
"Every day [as scientists], we're so focused on a very specific technical problem, and it takes all of our focus to make progress in that area," said Smith. "But it's really nice to have this experience to be able to explain it to a broader audience and sort of re-motivate yourself for why you're doing what you're doing."
The competition included remarks from Chuck Fleischmann, U.S. congressman for Tennessee's 3rd district and Ben Ray Luján, U.S. senator for New Mexico. Jean-luc Doumont, a noted expert in research communication, coached the finalists and emceed the event. The panel of judges included:
- Chris Fall, senior advisor, U.S. Department of Commerce and former director, Office of Science, U.S. DOE
- Helena Fu, director of the Office of Strategy and Technology Roadmaps, deputy chief AI officer, U.S. DOE
- Asha M. George, director, Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense, Atlantic Council
- José M. Hernández, president and CEO of Tierra Luna Engineering, Regent, University of California Board of Regents and retired NASA astronaut
- Jenilee Keefe Singer, senior director, Government Affairs, Special Competitive Studies Project
Organizers from Los Alamos (Antonya Sanders, postdoctoral and student programs director), Sandia (Jason Jarvis, government relations officer) and LLNL (Stephanie Turza, communications manager), along with efforts from staff across the national laboratory complex were key to the competition's success.
Learn more about the finalists and the event at the National Lab Research SLAM site.
