Sarah Donaher

PhD Opportunity: Nuclear Energy Workforce, Outreach, and Impact Sarah Donaher, Assistant Professor in Environmental (Radiological) Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville , is recruiting a highly motivated PhD student for a DOE-funded project through the Consortium for Reactor Safety Training . The student may enroll through Environmental Engineering , Nuclear Engineering , or Civil Engineering . The research direction is flexible and may include nuclear deactivation and decommissioning (D&D) , engineering education , workforce development , outreach and science communication , and socio-technical approaches to improving public understanding of nuclear energy. This opportunity is especially relevant for students interested in nuclear energy , environmental engineering , civil engineering , engineering education , and communication/outreach . The project emphasizes training the next generation of the nuclear workforce and strengthening community engagement around nuclear technologies, including their economic and environmental benefits. Eligibility highlights: strong fundamentals in energy and/or engineering; interest in interdisciplinary work and real-world impact; willingness to travel throughout Tennessee for public outreach; and strong technical writing and communication skills. Experience with social science methods such as survey design is desirable. How to apply: email your CV and a brief statement of interest to sdonaher@utk.edu. The post does not list a formal deadline, but it identifies this as a Spring 2027 PhD opportunity.