Learn why Dr. Rachel Slaybaugh loves her job as a Program Director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.
January 21, 2020
minute read time
Dr. Rachel Slaybaugh currently serves as a Program Director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). Her focus at ARPA-E includes a wide range of technologies to enable advanced nuclear reactor systems. She also manages agriculture for biofuels: sensors and data processing pipelines to inform genetics and make high throughput phenotyping easy. Slaybaugh is also an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. There, she researches numerical methods for neutral particle transport with an emphasis on supercomputing and advanced architectures. Her research applies to reactor design, shielding, and nuclear security and non-proliferation. Slaybaugh also runs the Nuclear Innovation Bootcamp to train the next generation of people working on nuclear energy. She was appointed to the Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee and she serves as a Senior Fellow at the Breakthrough Institute. Slaybaugh earned an M.S. and Ph.D. in nuclear engineering and engineering physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She holds a B.S. in nuclear engineering from Pennsylvania State University.
What inspired you to work in STEM?
The “cool” factor of science combined with the opportunity to make a difference. When I was in high school I learned about special relativity and I thought, “you mean reality works this way?!!?” I was so fascinated, I wanted to learn more. It turns out engineering was a fit for me than physics because I prefer the direct application and problem solving. I have always been passionate about environmental issues—when I learned about nuclear energy (which uses the famous equation from special relativity) and how it can play a key role in our clean energy future, I was hooked.
What excites you about your work at the Energy Department?
I get to make a huge difference and I have the coolest job. In my job I do research and engage with innovators, experts, and thought leaders to figure out what I think will make a difference in clean energy (I primarily work on nuclear energy, but I also work in agriculture). After I’ve refined my thesis and convince my colleagues it’s compelling, I turn that thesis into a research program. Then I get to select teams, distribute funding, and manage those teams to accomplish what we’ve agreed will make a difference in the world. I get to spend every day engaging with cutting edge technology and helping it get to impact.
How can our country engage more women, girls, and other underrepresented groups in STEM?
By asking the experts who do research on these questions and taking their advice. I am an expert in computational science, so I wouldn’t take my advice (though if you want it: stop asking people from underrepresented groups about solving this problem, they’re busy doing the jobs they’re trained for; ask the experts).
Do you have tips you'd recommend for someone looking to enter your field of work?
Reach out to some people you think are doing interesting work and ask for an interview to learn more about them. Attend an American Nuclear Society meeting; there are national meetings as well as local and student sections. Listen to The Titans of Nuclear podcast. Check out whatisnuclear.com and do some reading.
When you have free time, what are your hobbies?
My favorite thing to do in the world is sit around and talk to people about ideas—all types of ideas, not just technical ones. I don’t know if that’s a hobby. I am active, doing some combination of running, biking, yoga, and rock climbing. I like to cook and read. When I can swing it, I love to hike and camp—really anything outside. I also enjoy going to see music and art; I really enjoy dancing.
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