Biosketch
Ethan Ayotte ’26 is a Chemical Engineering major with a nuclear focus from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Growing up, he was surrounded by nuclear conversations — his father worked at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard overhauling nuclear submarines for the U.S. Navy, and he lived just 20 minutes from the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant. These early influences sparked Ethan’s deep interest in nuclear energy and security. Wanting to stay close to home, he chose UMass Lowell and is proud of that decision.
At UMass Lowell, Ethan is highly involved in both academic and extracurricular activities. He serves as the president of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) student chapter, helping connect students with industry leaders and giving tours of UML’s nuclear reactor. He was selected for the Chemical Engineering Student Advisory Council, where he works with faculty and department leaders to provide student perspectives and improve the program. Additionally, he conducts research under Dr. Sukesh Aghara, focusing on nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation in partnership with Brookhaven National Lab and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Ethan is a proud member of the Shah Leadership Academy, which he credits for sharpening his leadership skills and connecting him with inspiring mentors and peers. He is especially grateful for the support and insight of his mentor, Joseph Donahue, former vice president of engineering at Duke Energy. Shah Academy has not only offered Ethan a scholarship but also valuable exposure to real-world challenges and strategic thinking within the nuclear field.
Building directly on this research, he completed an internship this past summer for the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site in South Carolina, where he worked with plutonium at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in South Carolina, a facility specializing in plutonium disposition and safe interim storage of weapons-grade materials. Outside of academics and research, Ethan enjoys spending time with friends, visiting Boston, golfing and working out.