Staff

Karen Sikes became director of the National Isotope Development Center (NIDC) in January 2024. She leads the day-to-day activities of the NIDC, managing the interface with the isotope user community and facilitating the DOE IP mission.

Sikes joined the NIDC in 2017. In her previous role as NIDC’s associate director for production planning, she managed production planning of critical isotopes across the DOE IP’s facility network, including national laboratories and partner universities, to ensure reliable and efficient distribution. She was also responsible for monitoring and analyzing key isotope market segments and supply chains to aid the DOE IP in strategic program decisions.

Before joining the NIDC, Karen managed a team of research analysts, communications specialists, and engineers in support of numerous clean energy initiatives for DOE and other government agencies. 

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in biomedical engineering; a Master of Science degree in industrial engineering with a concentration in product development and manufacturing; and a Master of Business Administration degree with concentration in operations management, all from the University of Tennessee.

Kevin Felker joined the NIDC in March 2015. He is responsible for various radioisotope products as well as radioactive material transportation. He also serves as the product line manager for stable isotopes available through the DOE IP.

Kevin came to ORNL in 1977 as a chemical engineering assistant and has held numerous positions at ORNL, including with the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center, Fuel Cycle Research and Development (FCRD) Separations area, as the deputy to the national technical director for the FCRD Separations and Waste Forms area; and with the Pu-238 Production Program. Kevin has several years of experience in hot cell and glove box operations and handling of high-specific-activity actinides. He has authored and coauthored several scientific papers, including some published in refereed journals, and has made numerous presentations at national and special topic meetings. He graduated with high honors with a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Tennessee.

Michael Cody joined the NIDC in May 2023. In his role, Michael works directly with the NIDC, DOE, and the Isotope Program Managers to develop, implement, and maintain quality systems that meet regulatory, operational, and customer specifications for stable and radioisotope products produced by the Isotope Program. He is responsible for assisting DOE IP sites in evaluating, designing, and implementing cGMP processes and providing technical and administrative leadership in all aspects of QC/QA functions.

Before joining the NIDC, Michael spent over 20 years in the global pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing industry, where he developed, implemented, and maintained Quality Management Systems designed to ensure compliance with global regulatory requirements, industry standards, and certifications. He holds a BS in Business Administration with a focus on Management of Information Systems from Tennessee Technological University.

Daniel Sims joined the NIDC as the Reactor Product Line Manager in December 2023. He is responsible for radioisotope reactor products and production planning at the NIDC. 

Before joining the NIDC, Daniel spent over 13 years in radiation safety, serving as a general manager, radiation safety officer, and state inspector. He holds a BS in Physics with a concentration in Health Physics from Francis Marion University.

Amanda Jackson joined the NIDC in July 2024. She manages the Accelerator Isotope Product Line and coordinates production across the DOE IP accelerator production sites.

Amanda has more than 25 years of experience in the nuclear production industry. Prior to joining NIDC, Amanda was Group Lead for Radiochemical Engineering and Development Center Operations at ORNL. She led and supported radioisotope production activities in a radiological and nuclear facility, including hot cell and glovebox production, and managed the day-to-day current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) operations of Ac-225 production activities at REDC.

Amanda previously worked at ORNL as a radioisotope production technician.  She then moved to Operations Supervisor for Isotek Systems LLC. Prior to coming to ORNL, she was a senior laboratory technician for BWXT/Nuclear Fuel Services.

An East Tennessee native, Amanda holds an Associate of Science degree in Chemical Technology and a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Chemistry with a minor in safety.

Jacob Haskew joined the NIDC as the Communications and Outreach Manager in June 2022. Jacob is responsible for planning and managing communications and outreach strategies that help advance the NIDC and DOE IP’s efforts to produce and distribute isotopes that are in short supply. These strategies include customer communications, web marketing and communications, outreach events, conferences, and more.

Before joining the NIDC, Jacob provided communications coordination for local government and a private liberal arts college. He also has an extensive background in local television news. Jacob holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications with a focus on journalism and electronic media from the University of Tennessee.

Serving the financial needs of the Isotope Program since 1987, Donna brings over 30 years of financial experience unique to the isotope industry. She has been affiliated with the NIDC since its inception and is responsible for the management of accounting and financial activities. Donna is a graduate of Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting and has previously held designations as a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.

Kayla Holley joined the NIDC as a financial analyst in June 2023. In this role, she is responsible for the management of accounting and financial activities.

Prior to joining the NIDC, Kayla supervised an accounting team that provided financial packages for multiple investment portfolios across the United States. Kayla graduated from George Mason University, Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting. With over seven years career experience, her education and financial expertise allow her to support the business needs of the Isotope Program.

Katie Medlock joined the NIDC in January 2022 bringing her exceptional business analytics expertise to the management of accounting and financial activities supporting isotope sales.

As a member of the ORNL business professional team since 2005, Katie gained her expertise through accomplishments in her previously held positions in the areas of Cost Accounting, Business Analysis, and Research Financial Support. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Finance and a collateral in Accounting.

Eva joined the NIDC in September 2019 and brings 24 years of experience from the ORNL Isotope Program. As a product distribution specialist, she coordinates customer orders and contracts for both stable and radioactive isotope products.

Eva previously worked as a process engineer in the Stable Isotope Group where she performed target fabrications, custom conversions of isotopes to alternate chemical forms, isotope dispensing, and quotations for technical services. She also worked with calutron operations at Y-12, enriching stable isotopes for several years. Eva holds a BS in biochemistry from the University of Tennessee.

Meera Patwardhan joined the NIDC as a Product Distribution Specialist in September 2022. She is responsible for managing the sale and distribution of isotope products to research and commercial institutions.

Before joining the NIDC, Meera worked in the quality assurance department of a global manufacturing company. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry and Business with magna cum laude honors from Kalamazoo College, Michigan.

Patty Winter joined the NIDC in December 2020. She is responsible for expanding and enhancing information systems to help meet DOE IP objectives. The focus of her position is on designing, implementing, and maintaining system functionality to support effective and efficient operations.

Patty brings experience as a programmer and systems analyst from previous employment at ORNL and in the consumer products industry. She has held functional and technical positions on various process improvement initiatives including application correction, data conversion, process standardization, task automation, system replacement, and report development. Patty received a BS and an MS from Elmira College in Elmira, New York.

C. Renae Humphrey has served since October 2011 and has over 30 years of experience in office management. Renae is responsible for helping the NIDC office run smoothly by coordinating administrative activities, collecting and entering data, developing and distributing reports, and performing other administrative functions in support of the NIDC director and the NIDC office. Renae is the point of contact for the NIDC and is responsible for handling requests and queries from NIDC management and staff, DOE IP personnel, internal and external customers, ORNL personnel, and NIDC guests and visitors.

Renae previously performed data entry and website development for ORNL’s Laboratory Research and Development Program. Renae has a BS in business administration from Knoxville College.

Betty Lane has worked for the NIDC since June 2016 and has served in her current role since June 2017. She has more than 25 years of experience in administration management as well as experience in property management and the health care insurance industry.

Betty is responsible for customer support, radioactive and stable isotope quotations, management support, data collection for research and development approvals, data collection for product orders and shipments, conference planning, and various other functions.

Kim Bryant joined the NIDC in June 2023 as a Project Management Assistant. Kim brings more than 35 years of experience in customer service, project management and industrial supply chain. 

Kim is responsible for price quotations, accepting orders and preparing invoices for isotope products and services from Department of Energy (DOE) and University sites. Additionally, Kim provides backup support to other administrative staff as needed. 

Anthony Chapman joined the NIDC in October 2023 as a Market Analyst. He works directly with NIDC staff and DOE IP management to perform market research on isotopes used for medicine, science, and industry. In this role, he monitors and analyzes global isotope market activity in order to advise the DOE IP on emerging technologies, market changes, pricing, and other technical data.

Before joining the NIDC, Anthony held positions in information services, data management, and research services. He received a Bachelor of Science from Lee University, Master of Science from the University of Tennessee, and commissioned from Officer Candidate School, United States Army Infantry School. He currently serves as a logistics officer in the US Army Reserve.