Abbey Donahue graduated with her BSNE from Purdue in 2009.  In 2016, Donahue completed her M.S. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville with a focus in Criticality Safety.  Donahue spent the first seven years of her career at AREVA, where she completed the Voyager Program, a development program designed to give engineers in-depth technical knowledge by exploring different business sectors and leading projects.

Donahue (pictured left) started her career in the front end of the fuel cycle performing PWR and BWR core design. In 2011, she joined the back end of the fuel cycle, working with transportation and dry fuel storage systems.  Highlights of this experience include leading a U.S. license validation of the TN-106 transportation cask, and the application for Amendment 14 of CoC 1004 for Standardized NUHOMS^®.  In support of her work with AREVA, Donahue achieved a professional engineering license, and is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Maryland.

Ms. Donahue recently accepted an exciting career move into the world of medical isotope production.  Now located in Madison, Wisconsin Donahue is a Systems Integration Engineer for SHINE Medical Technologies.  SHINE is innovating the way medical isotopes are produced using a first-of-a-kind technology that does not rely on a commercial nuclear power reactor.  The process starts with a particle accelerator that collides a beam of deuterium particles with tritium gas.  This process acts as a neutron driver to trigger the fission of uranium.  In February 2016, SHINE received a construction permit from the U.S NRC, and is now working through the detailed design of the facility in support of an Operating License application. 

Throughout her career, Donahue has actively supported the North American Young Generation in Nuclear.  NAYGN provides opportunities for a young generation of nuclear enthusiasts to develop leadership and professional skills, create life-long connections, engage and inform the public, and inspire today’s nuclear technology professionals to meet the challenges of the 21st century.  Donahue has previously served as the Professional Development Chair, responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing NAYGN’s annual workshop.  Currently she serves on the board of directors as the Vice President of the organization and will move into the President role in May 2017.