Oak Ridge Science Semester
Car Pooling. Drivers: Those of you with cars will be called upon to drive others to and from the lab. Your willingness to share rides is appreciated. You are not expected to provide transportation for social purposes or to do anything with which you are not comfortable. You should never feel that you "have to" drive. You also have the right to refuse rides to anyone. It is up to the driver to establish hours of departure to and from the lab. It is also up to the driver to set a "charge" for gas. If there are problems with transportation, contact the Resident Director.
Riders: Gas, insurance and maintenance for a car is expensive. Please keep this in mind as you are getting rides to and from the lab. You should expect to pay a weekly fee to your regular driver. Since the drive will put approximately 100 miles on their car/week, $20.00 - $30/week might be a fair rate. Remember that you are riding at the driver's convenience. If the hours your driver is at the lab are not to your liking, find another driver. Please do not harass or put unnecessary pressure on your driver.
Have a clear method of communicating departure times. Riders and drivers should obtain each other's phone numbers and e-mails and carry the numbers with them.
Driving in a congested area may require some of us to be more cautious than we have been under other circumstances. Be especially careful at stop lights and be sure to follow the two second rule, even if other drivers are not. Some of the roads are very slippery when it is raining heavily. Roads in various areas of the country differ so be alert when you drive and you will be o.k. Tennessee also has strict DUI laws. Do not drink and drive. If you are 21 (or older) and are going to drink alcohol, please have a designated driver. Those of you who are under 21 know the rules (and the law). The police enforce the alcohol rules very vigorously.
Holidays and Absences. Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and the day after Thanksgiving are the only three official holidays during your time at ORNL. These are the only days that you have off from research and/or classes. If you must be gone at any other time during the semester you must 1) make arrangements with your research adviser and 2) notify the Resident Faculty Director and your ORISE contact with a justifiable reason for your absence. Be advised that an extended absence from the laboratory could result in a deduction from your paycheck. It is often possible to make up short periods of missed time. Be sure to discuss possible options with your research supervisor and secure her/his approval for this plan.
If you are going to miss a day due to illness, contact your research adviser or her/his administrative assistant (make sure you have your laboratory numbers with you at home) and inform your ORISE contact. It is not necessary to notify the Resident Faculty Director of your illness, unless you are seriously ill and need to miss a lot of time and/or require hospitalization. If you are a driver, call your riders early enough for them to make alternate arrangements for transportation. If you are a rider, remember to call your driver.
Lunch. Many people bring their own lunch. Most research groups have their own microwaves and refrigerators for food use and preparation. At X-10 there are three locations where you can purchase food and beverages from 11:00 - 1:00: the main cafeteria (Bldg. 5200, weekly menu posted in the ORNL Today newsletter which is on-line, and one canteen (located in Bldg. 1000 - note that this one has limited fare and is take-out only). There are cafeterias at the SNS complex and the NTRC buildings. There are very few vegetarian or special diet options at any of the locations, and do not expect much variety. Generally you have 30 minutes for lunch, although this varies with each research group. Make sure you know what is the norm for your research group and stick to it. Your lunch break is not included in your eight-hour day. Plan accordingly and do not abuse this time.