Connecting the next generation of STEM professionals with DOE opportunities

Since joining the ORISE STEM Workforce Development team in 2015, Allen Wash has helped connect students and early-career professionals with research and science education opportunities through programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

In his role as an associate manager, Wash helps oversee the National Science Bowl®, the Fusion Energy Sciences Postdoctoral Research Program and a range of other DOE initiatives.

In this Q&A, Wash shares more about his career path, the rewarding aspects of supporting ORISE participants in DOE programs, and the importance of building professional connections in STEM fields.

Describe your role within ORISE STEM Workforce Development.

As an associate manager within ORISE STEM Workforce Development, I oversee a team responsible for managing DOE research participation programs, including initiatives supporting the National Nuclear Security Administration, Office of Environmental Management, and Science, Technology and Policy programs. My role includes providing program leadership, coordinating stakeholder engagement, and ensuring successful program operations and participant experiences. I also manage the DOE National Science Bowl® program and the Fusion Energy Sciences Postdoctoral Research Program, supporting STEM education, workforce development and research opportunities aligned with DOE mission areas.

Can you share a little about your professional experience before coming to ORAU/ORISE?

From 2005 to 2010, I served as a grant manager for the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, overseeing grants awarded to first responder agencies across the state of Kentucky. In this role, I managed funding processes and compliance activities supporting the purchase of personal protective equipment and critical communication equipment to enhance emergency preparedness and response capabilities. I worked closely with local agencies and stakeholders to ensure effective allocation of resources, adherence to federal and state grant requirements, and timely execution of projects that strengthened public safety operations.

It is especially meaningful to watch participants expand their knowledge, gain hands-on experience, and build confidence as they advance toward careers they have worked hard to achieve.

What’s the most rewarding part of working with ORISE participants and program partners?

One of the most rewarding aspects of working with ORISE participants and youth science programs is having the opportunity to play a small part in supporting early-career professionals and students as they pursue their goals in scientific and technical fields. It is especially meaningful to watch participants expand their knowledge, gain hands-on experience, and build confidence as they advance toward careers they have worked hard to achieve. Seeing individuals grow professionally and contribute to important research and innovation efforts makes the work both fulfilling and impactful.

What’s a memorable success story you’ve seen through the ORISE programs you support?

One of the most memorable success stories I have witnessed through the Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) Postdoctoral Research Program involved a participant who began the program as an early-career researcher eager to contribute to the future of fusion energy research. After completing their FES appointment, they were hired by their host fusion research facility, where they continued advancing their research and establishing themselves within the scientific community. Years later, it was incredibly rewarding to see that same individual return to the program as a FES program mentor, guiding and encouraging new postdoctoral researchers as they navigated their own career paths in fusion science.

What advice would you give to someone just beginning their STEM career journey?

I would say, building professional connections throughout your research experiences is an important part of growing within your career field. By collaborating with researchers, mentors, and peers, participants can become part of a broader scientific community that supports knowledge sharing, professional development, and future opportunities. These relationships often lead to mentorship, research collaborations, and career connections that can have a lasting impact as participants continue advancing in their chosen fields.

What’s a project, initiative or accomplishment you’re especially proud to have been part of at ORISE?

One of my proudest accomplishments at ORISE has been my ability to successfully maintain and manage the National Science Bowl® program year after year while upholding the high level of excellence that DOE requires for that event. Coordinating an event of that scale demands careful logistical planning, attention to detail, and consistent collaboration with numerous partners, staff, and participants. I am grateful to work with such professional staff at ORISE to continually manage the event. It has been especially rewarding to help ensure the event continues to provide a positive and impactful experience for students, educators and volunteers while supporting DOE STEM education and academic achievement nationwide.

What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about your work or career path?

My career path has been an interesting and unexpected journey. I earned my degree in public relations and business, and at the time, I never imagined my career would eventually lead me to working in both state government and later with the federal government. Looking back, it is rewarding to see how the skills I developed through my education translated into meaningful public service opportunities that I never considered possible when I was in college.