Employee Spotlight: Lucas Doran

Meet ORAU Employee Lucas Doran. Lucas is an ORAU contractor working at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a Wet Lab Technician.

As an EPA contractor, Lucas works closely with the Chemical Safety for Sustainability (CSS) and the Safe and Sustainable Water Resource (SSWR) teams to help determine molecular and population level effects of chemical stressors on aquatic organisms. As the teams identify and understand the processes that can impact human health and the environment, they can better evaluate the risks of such pollutants to both humans and ecosystems.

Additionally, Lucas assists with related assignments in support of division research such as the preparation of biological and environmental samples for chemical analysis, field collection of specimens and water samples, database management of toxicity databases, maintenance of laboratory culture and testing systems, and the culture of coral, fish, and frogs.

Background

Lucas graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2018.

Outside of the lab, he participates in scuba diving, a hobby he’s had for nearly fifteen years. In 2015, he earned his National Association of Underwater Instructors certification which allows him to teach classes ranging from the beginning level Open Water Diver course to the leadership level Divemaster course. He enjoys teaching because it provides an opportunity to share his passion with others who are equally excited about the activity. When Lucas is not scuba diving, he can be found playing pickleball.