Hensley Brenda Underwood 2016

Technically, I am not a graduate of Oak Ridge High School, as I spent my graduation day on my honeymoon. It actually worked out well as my husband then (at great sacrifice) sent me to school at UT in Microbiology, and I, in turn sent him to UT for graduate studies. We parted ways shortly after he graduated.



I got a job at the ORNL, in the Biology Division working on Nucleic Acid Enzymology, which is the forerunner of Molecular Biology.  I heard about many Biology staff moving to Litton Bionetics at Ft. Detrick, in Frederick Maryland,  to work on carcinogens. I followed along and have been in the area ever since then. During this time I managed to get an M.S. in Molecular Biology at Hood College.



A friend at Ft Detrick set me up with a blind date, from Ohio, to go on his boat. After about 30 min. into our meeting, my friend asked if we were going to re-live the Civil War. Even after 30 years marriage, this pretty much describes our relationship. I obtained an MBA in order to help with my husband’s business. That did not work out (see above).  After 10 years of marriage and later in life, I had my miracle child, Zak.



Since we lived in Rockville MD, it made since to apply to work at the National Institutes of Health. I have been at NIH for 30 years. I obtained another M.S. in IT, which led me into the knowledge management field.  In my present position, staff and I manage a database concerning the science supported by the National Institute of Child Health. There is never a boring moment here as we need to quickly answer research questions from , the White House, Congress, the press, and public. The Zika virus is keeping us busy now.
Posted By: NS Administrator - 05-22-2016
Views: 1480