Megan Morris, Ph.D.—Helping empower the next generation of STEM professionals

Megan Morris, Ph.D., a manager with ORISE STEM Workforce Development, oversees multiple workforce development programs administered by ORISE. Before joining ORISE in July 2023, Morris was a researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where she served as a mentor for ORISE participants in the Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship Program.

We sat down with Morris to learn more about her background in science, her advice for potential applicants and how she likes to spend her free time.

Q: Please describe your role within ORISE STEM Workforce Development.
A: I am a manager with ORISE STEM Workforce Development. I oversee multiple workforce development programs administered by ORISE, including the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program.

Q: What’s your favorite part of working at ORISE?
A: Easy answer, the people I work with! That includes my ORISE co-workers, agency sponsors and program participants. They are a source of inspiration and interacting with them makes for a rewarding experience. Every day is unique, and we all work collaboratively together to tackle unique challenges.

Q: What was your experience before joining ORISE?
A: I am a scientist by training! Prior to coming to ORISE, I was a microbial ecologist. After finishing my Ph.D., I completed two postdocs, the first at Stanford University and the second at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).

I became familiar with ORISE when I was working at LLNL. I was a mentor for the Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship Program administered by ORISE, and I had numerous mentees apply for ORISE opportunities through DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. I was so intrigued by the work ORISE was doing to support scientific initiatives, and my passion for mentorship and empowering the next generation of scientists really aligned with the values of ORISE mission!

Q: What advice would you give to those who are considering an internship/fellowship opportunity?
A: I received a couple pieces of advice from former mentors that really resonated with me: 1) You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take, and 2) If you’re going to do something, you must do it to the best of your abilities. These sound so simple, but I love that they can be applied universally. An internship or fellowship has the potential to unlock doors to future opportunities, so don’t hesitate to apply and embrace these experiences! The relationships and network connections you build through your internship or fellowship will be instrumental to your success and future career, so make sure you shine bright in front of others and make every moment count.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: Getting outdoors is so energizing for me. I love to go hiking and bring my camera along to snap nature photos. I also really enjoy trying new experiences—whether that is exploring a city while I’m traveling, trying new restaurants or attempting an intricate recipe with unique ingredients.

Q: What’s one fun fact about you?
A: One of the coolest (and scariest) things I’ve ever done is swim with whale sharks in Australia!