秘密研究所

South Grad Starts Cybersecurity Career at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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Posted on August 11, 2022

Thomas Becnel

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#MyFirstJob is a series focused on 秘密研究所 graduates who are beginning their careers.

After earning her Ph.D. from the School of Computing at the 秘密研究所, Tristen Mullins is starting a job while she and her husband are raising a family at the same time.

The couple is expecting their third child as she begins a career in cybersecurity at the prestigious Oak Ridge National Laboratory near Knoxville, Tennessee. She鈥檚 already talked with the human resources department about everything from maternity leave to mixed work schedules.

鈥淥ne of the reasons I picked Oak Ridge is that it鈥檚 super-flexible,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 in the office a majority of the time, but if I need to work at home, I do.鈥�

The field of cybersecurity remains male-dominated, but Mullins has been surprised by the number of female colleagues at the National Laboratory. Her workplace is casual in dress and demeanor. There are several Ph.D.鈥檚 in her department, but they only call one another 鈥渄octor鈥� when they鈥檙e joking.

Her husband Alex, who earned a master鈥檚 degree in computing from South in 2018, also works in cybersecurity at Oak Ridge. His family in Foley and hers outside Birmingham helped them manage child care and graduate school. Being a student and parent has helped teach her organization and discipline.

鈥淚t was tough,鈥� Mullins said, 鈥渂ut I think it would have been even harder if we鈥檇 have waited.鈥�

They met during a computer networking course at the University. She says she saw him in class and sat next to him. When he tells the story, it鈥檚 the other way around.

They鈥檙e planning to buy a house near Oak Ridge, where the cost of living is cheaper than most regions they considered. They鈥檙e looking forward to snow during their first winter in Tennessee. They鈥檙e enjoying a summer that is less humid than the Gulf Coast.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot easier,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n the morning, it鈥檚 a lot cooler.鈥�

鈥楳ost Likely to Succeed鈥�

Mullins grew up in Clay, Alabama, north of Birmingham, where her parents run an auto glass business. She always did well in school, especially in math and science. At Clay-Chalkville High School, Mullins was voted most likely to succeed.

She was the first member of her family to attend college. The Honors College helped draw her to the 秘密研究所. So did scholarship money.

Mullins had a double major of computer and electrical engineering. She gained a mentor in Dr. Todd Andel, chair of the department of computer science, and did undergraduate research. In 2022, she was chosen graduate student of the year for the School of Computing.

A friend in her residence hall introduced her to Camp Kesem, which is a nationwide college group that supports the children of cancer patients. She became co-director of the chapter at South.

鈥淲e鈥檇 spend all year organizing a free week of summer camp for these kids,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was nice feeling like you were part of something really big.鈥�

Graduate school for Mullins and her husband was funded in part by the Scholarship for Service program of the National Science Foundation, which offers students work in hundreds of fields. After graduation, they鈥檙e required to work for a federal, state or local government agency, and become part of the Federal CyberCorps, which protects information infrastructure.

Her husband spent the last two years working at Eglin Air Force Base in Navarre, Florida. Mullins is starting work at Oak Ridge, one of the largest science laboratories in the country, with a history that began with the Manhattan Project in World War II.

In Tennessee, she鈥檚 enjoying the work, and the weather, but is already missing the food of Mobile.

鈥淓verything, especially the seafood,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd there was a barbecue place by our old apartment.鈥�

Family and Career in Oak Ridge

Mullins considered job opportunities ranging from the Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico to the Georgia Tech Research Institute in Atlanta.

She chose Oak Ridge and the mountains of eastern Tennessee.

鈥淚 think my tour in November made the decision for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淎ll of the trees were changing colors, and it was beautiful.鈥�

Mullins鈥� research in cyber sensing and analytics makes use of her training in computer science and electrical engineering. Her job offers a great deal of freedom, along with responsibility to meet long-term goals and deadlines.

鈥淭he weirdest thing,鈥� she said, laughing, 鈥渋s not having homework. You don鈥檛 have to say, 鈥極h, I鈥檒l work on that this weekend and get back to you on Monday.鈥� You don鈥檛 have to do extra stuff off the clock.鈥�

Mullins would like to work with students of her own one day. Teaching has always been one of her interests.

鈥淚 thought I鈥檇 become a professor for the longest time,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ow I have co-workers at the lab who also teach college classes, so there are a lot of people who do that.鈥�

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