LAB LIFE

Air Force Materiel Command

Supersonic flight. GPS. Space food. Big developments come out of the Air Force Research Laboratory. Lab Life brings you behind the scenes with the Air Force scientists, engineers and professionals who are developing tomorrow’s technology, today.

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20 episodes
Avg 32 min
English

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Apr 17, 2025 · 15 min
Lab Life: Episode 80: SpaceWERX - Partnering to Accelerate our Future in Space
On this episode of Lab Life, we're joined by the Director of SpaceWERX Arthur Grijalva to discuss the importance of investing in low Earth orbit technologies, partnering with academia and industry and above all else, how the team is already shaping the United States Air and Space Force's future in the stars.
Oct 9, 2024 · 1 hr 1 min
Lab Life - Episode 79: Big to Nano
Dr. Richard Vaia of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Dr. Jess Tice of Northrop Grumman, and Dr. Anna Balazs of the University of Pittsburgh join the podcast with special guest co-host, Dr. Branden Brough the Director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, to discuss nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at the nanoscale (about 10, 000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair!), where unique phenomena enable novel applications. We celebrate National Nanotechnology Day on October 9th which pays homage to the nanometer scale, 10 –9 meters. The National Nanotechnology Initiative is a U.S. Government research and development initiative. Over thirty Federal departments, independent agencies, and commissions work together toward the shared vision of a future in which the ability to understand and control matter at the nanoscale leads to ongoing revolutions in technology and industry that benefit society.
May 10, 2024 · 51 min
Lab Life - Episode 78: Robotic Blacksmithing
Dr. Andrew Gillman, an AFRL Materials Research Engineer; Mr. Nate Ames, executive director of The Ohio State University's Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence; and Dr. Michael A. Groeber, an Ohio State University professor join the podcast to discuss the power of partnerships. Their collaboration led to a robotic black blacksmithing system, which uses incremental forming, a heat-assisted metalworking process that permits users to manufacture small lots of customized manufactured parts.
Dec 27, 2023 · 27 min
Lab Life - Episode 77: Chatting with Einstein
Dr. Alex Alaniz joins the podcast to discuss the buzz around Chat GPT, the creation of his own Albert Einstein chatbot and his thoughts on artificial intelligence and wargaming.
Oct 27, 2023 · 40 min
Lab Life - Episode 76: Excuse Our French: Materials Science Goes International
We dive back to a conversation with Dr. Craig Przybyla, a recent AFRL Inspire Speaker, to discuss the Engineering Scientist Exchange Program, why ceramics are a hot topic in aerospace and his work in our AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate.
Sep 22, 2023 · 42 min
Lab Life - Episode 75: When in Rome: Innovate
Ms. Karen Roth joins the podcast to discuss open innovation, community partnerships and her role as Chief Engineer of the AFRL Information Directorate in Rome, New York.
May 19, 2023 · 35 min
Lab Life - Episode 74: Hot Topics in Ceramics
Dr. Lisa Rueschhoff and Dr. Matthew Dickerson from AFRL's Materials and Manufacturing Directorate discuss the power of polymers, high temperature ceramics and the impact materials research has on our everyday lives.
Apr 7, 2023 · 50 min
Lab Life - Episode 73: A "Tripp" through Aerospace Physiology
Dr. Lloyd Tripp discusses aerospace physiology and his work within AFRL’s 711th Human Performance Wing. Listen as we navigate through Dr. Tripp’s fascinating 45 year career, including work with AFRL's Research Altitude Chambers and the only human rated centrifuge owned by the Department of Defense.
Feb 17, 2023 · 27 min
Lab Life - Episode 72: Trek to AFOSR
Colonel Janelle Jackson, Deputy Director and Detachment 14 Commander of the Air Force Office Scientific Research (AFOSR), joins the podcast to discuss AFOSR's worldwide operations and the engineers, actors and family members who inspired her education and career.
Jan 26, 2023 · 29 min
Lab Life - Episode 71: Launching into 2023
Join us as we launch into 2023 with Major General Heather Pringle, AFRL Commander. We discuss prior year successes, current priorities, Department of the Air Force Vanguards, Digital Thread and more in this episode.
Dec 21, 2022 · 36 min
Lab Life - Episode 70: Collaborate to Innovate
Dr. Dan Berrigan and Dr. Lauren Ferguson join the podcast to discuss digital transformation, AFRL's Google pilot initiative and the mantra "collaborate to innovate."
Nov 23, 2022 · 27 min
Lab Life - Episode 69: Nondestructive Evaluation
Dr. John Welter of AFRL’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate joins the podcast to discuss nondestructive evaluation of aircraft and more.
Oct 31, 2022 · 25 min
Lab Life - Episode 68: Fit to Live
Lt Col Saleem Razvi and Capt Mitchell Cochell join the podcast to discuss Air Force Rugby and the importance of being "Fit to Live."
Sep 7, 2022 · 25 min
Lab Life - Episode 67: Novel Ideas in Materials Science
Dr. Tulsi Patel, a National Research Council Fellow at AFRL, joins the podcast to discuss nanoelectronics, quantum, neuromorphic computing, how art can influence science and the Air Force Women in Science and Engineering's literary group - LitWISE.
Jun 10, 2022 · 24 min
Lab Life - Episode 66: Hack-A-Sat
DeliaRae Jesaitis and Stephen Colenzo join the Air Force Research Laboratory's podcast to discuss hackers, the space domain and the event that brings both together...Hack-A-Sat. As our lives become increasingly dependent on technologies that lie deep in space and the commercialization of space accelerates above us…we must do what it takes to secure our universe. In its 3rd year, Hack-A-Sat is designed to inspire the world’s top cybersecurity talent to develop the skills necessary to help reduce vulnerabilities and build more secure space systems. #HackASat3
May 13, 2022 · 27 min
Lab Life - Episode 65: Rocketing Through History
Nils Sedano, Technical Advisor for AFRL’s Liquid Engines Branch joins the podcast to discuss the influence of AFRL technologies throughout United States Air Force and Space Force history, aerospike engines and what makes Southern California testing culture so unique.
Apr 29, 2022 · 27 min
Lab Life - Episode 64: Crime Fiction, Executive Direction and Classical Music
Mr. Timothy Sakulich, the Executive Director of the Air Force Research Laboratory, joins the podcast to discuss problem solving, the art of subtraction and what makes Scandinavian crime fiction so captivating.
Mar 25, 2022 · 22 min
Lab Life - Episode 63: Illuminating Photonics & Plasmonics
Dr. Monica Allen, a principal research electronics engineer with the Air Force Research Laboratory, enlightens listeners on the world of photonics and plasmonics.
Feb 28, 2022 · 19 min
Lab Life - Episode 62: To 5G and Beyond
Dr. Leonard Lightfoot joins the podcast to discuss 5G, microelectronics and the value of challenging yourself when opportunity knocks. As a program element monitor (PEM) for two multi-million-dollar portfolios, Dr. Lightfoot advocates for the relevance and necessity of Sensor technologies and capabilities research, such as for secure and trusted microelectronics systems. He received the 2022 Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) in STEM for Professional Achievement
Jan 24, 2022 · 25 min
Lab Life - Episode 61: Launching into 2022
Join us as we launch into 2022 with Major General Heather Pringle, AFRL Commander. General Pringle discusses space, digital transformation, climate, China, COVID-19, human capital and more in this episode.

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