Accelerating the Implementation of Energy Technology

Meet Laura Ward

From a young age, growing up in Colombia, Laura Ward, Ph.D., was fascinated by the invisible power of electricity. While other children were content to play with their toys, she and her brother Julio, whom she affectionately called Julius, were determined to uncover what made the toys work. Together, they spent hours dismantling remote-control cars and electronic gadgets, marveling at the intricate circuits hidden inside. This playful exploration was more than simple curiosity; it was the beginning of a lifelong passion for understanding how energy flows and powers the world.

That early spark was later shaped into a clear direction when Ward finished high school, and her mother introduced her to a mentor who would change her life. Ricaurte Vergara, Ph.D., was dean of the Universidad del Valle, located in the Valle del Cauca, Colombia. He encouraged her to see herself not only as a student of technology, but as a woman capable of leading in a field where female voices were often absent. With Vergara’s guidance, she began to understand that engineering was not just about machines or systems, it was about imagination, persistence and vision. This pivotal influence inspired Ward to pursue higher education where she earned a doctoral degree in electrical engineering from Texas Tech University and then discovered the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy
Innovator Fellowship (EIF) program through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) a year later.

The Energy Innovator Fellowship (EIF) program provides recent graduates and early career energy professionals the opportunity to engage with critical energy organizations in advancing solutions that will help modernize the power system, improve energy infrastructure for transportation and industry and make the U.S. power system more reliable, affordable and resilient. A key program initiative is to increase access to energy career opportunities across the country.

The EIF mission was perfectly aligned with Ward’s own vision. She understood that regulations and policy are essential to supporting the adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs) and the integration of advanced technology such as inverters, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. However, true progress with this integration depends on engineers being able to communicate effectively with non-technical policymakers and stakeholders.

For Ward, the fellowship was more than a professional milestone, it was a chance to bridge technical research in grid modernization with community impact, regulatory frameworks and real-world solutions. Through immersion in the energy industry during her fellowship, she demonstrated how innovation, when paired with collaboration and clear communication, can drive grid resilience and affordability at the heart of the nation’s energy future.

Ward’s fellowship is with the Energy Administration at the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE)—the office that sets energy policy for Washington, D.C. —with a focus on grid modernization and DER integration. Her main project examined Washington, D.C.’s electrical grid regulations, tariff structures and hosting capacity. The primary objective of her research is to enhance community access to reliable power and energy distribution systems while advancing the modernization of the electrical grid.

A day as an EIF fellow is full of opportunities to learn and advance her vision. Ward spends her time doing everything from reviewing utility data, modeling DER scenarios and attending stakeholder meetings, to collaborating with scientists of varied disciplines, like engineers, and policymakers. Some of the integrative skills she’s putting into practice include regulation interpretation, grid-hosting capacity analysis revision and DERs interconnection planning.

“I have suggested actionable recommendations that will help Washington, D.C., increase DERs adoption, enhance grid resilience and move toward its decarbonization goals, including achieving 15% local solar generation by 2041,” said Ward.

As part of the fellowship, Ward also developed a web-ready, public-facing grid modernization narrative that translates complex technical and regulatory analysis into an accessible format for policymakers, stakeholders and the broader public. The content synthesizes multiple grid modernization initiatives into a single, navigable platform that supports transparency, stakeholder education and cross-agency coordination. Developed in collaboration with the host office, the web-ready material is intended as an analytical and communication resource rather than a formal utility plan, demonstrating how ORISE fellows can convert advanced engineering and policy into decision-ready tools with real-world applicability.

She has contributed to several scientific papers and presented them at conferences, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power and Energy Society (IEEE PES) Energy and Policy Forum, with posters titled “Advanced Inverters For a Resilient DC Grid,” “Energy and Policy Roadmap for Grid Modernization Aligned with IEEE 1547-2018,” and “Advanced Inverters: Enabling High Solar Penetration, Grid Resilience and Regulatory Compliance for Clean Energy.” The posters were well-received and highly appreciated by both the audience and the evaluator judges, who recognized their vision and relevance.

Ward recommends the EIF program, and after her fellowship ends, she plans to continue optimizing and innovating the power grid through large-scale renewable energy projects.

“As a global citizen and woman leader in STEM, as well as a lifelong learner, I am grateful for this opportunity to contribute to a more just and sustainable energy future. This fellowship has solidified my commitment to blending research, innovation and policy to make energy more accessible and resilient for all,” said Ward. “I aim to support the District of Columbia with my contributions by offering the best recommendations and helping influence decision-making around the integration and adoption of advanced technologies and digital transformation in the artificial intelligence age, strengthening the electrical grid at the heart of the nation.”

For Ward, the potential impact her research may have on communities and real-world solutions that regular people benefit from is a “bridge worth building.”

The EIF program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI), Office of Electricity (OE), and Office of Indian Policy and Programs (IE), and is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), managed by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU).