2023 ANS STUDENT CONFERENCE SPEAKER

Dr. Rian Bahran

Assistant Director for Nuclear Technology and Strategy,

White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP)

Dr. Bahran is currently at the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP) where he serves as the Assistant Director as for Nuclear Technology and Strategy. Dr. Bahran received a PhD in Nuclear Engineering & Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute based on research sponsored by the US Naval Reactors. He also has a Dual BS in Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics from the same university. He began his career at Los Alamos as a postdoc in and went on to become a program manager and R&D Scientist in the Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation Division where he was a recipient of the prestigious “Most Promising Asian Engineer of the Year” for leading the development of transformative nuclear technology solutions. Dr. Bahran has held several adjunct faculty university positions and has lectured at 20+ universities; is a past Fellow of the MIT Seminar XXI national security program; served as an associate editor of the Journal for Nuclear Materials Management; and is the author of 65+ publications (including in Nature Communications) on a wide range of technical nuclear issues. Prior to joining the White House, he served as a Senior Science & Policy adviser in the Office of Under Secretary of Defense for Policy focusing on a wide range of strategic issues. For his exemplary performance during his time at the Pentagon, he received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service.