Dr. Hayden Fowler first joined Sandia National Laboratories as a postdoctoral researcher in early 2024, and then converted to a staff scientist in late 2025. Before joining Sandia, Fowler completed a Ph.D. in chemical engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder under the advisement of Professor Tim White as an NSF graduate research fellow, where the work focused on developing liquid-crystalline elastomers for programmable mechanical responses. Fowler originally is from Hayden, Alabama, where he got an early start in STEM by completing high school in the Math and Science program at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, then went on to earn a B.S. in chemical engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Outside of work, Fowler enjoys playing guitar, completing art projects and playing video games.
When did you first learn about UV&EB as an industry and technology?
I first learned about this technology and the industry during graduate school. I used UV photopolymerization as a tool to create my own materials, but I was lucky to be exposed to other great players in the field in my department and at my university. This helped me to quickly conquer the learning curve during my postdoctoral position, where I learned much more and applied this knowledge to developing resins for vat photopolymerization.
Have you run into any challenges as a young professional?
Absolutely! Research is hard and requires perseverance. I learned this from (many) failed experiments, lab work and fellowship applications from graduate school. But as I transitioned to a postdoctoral position and then a staff scientist position, I’ve been learning to apply this understanding to new challenges, such as writing proposals and applying for funding as a PI, developing an independent research identity and even just balancing the many hats I must wear in my current position. Luckily, I have developed a very supportive network of mentors and peers that help make these new challenges a little easier to handle. I’m not perfect yet, but I’m learning, improving and showing up at my best every day.
How could more young professionals be encouraged to get involved in UV/EB technology?
I think there’s something special about doing science that is accessible in so many ways, which offers a powerful tool for outreach and encouraging participation in the field. Entering graduate school, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do – until I did an independent study during my first semester with Tim White’s lab. I completely changed my mind, and much of that was due to the nature of the work. Manufacturing a material you can hold, see and understand just through handling it was a selling point for me. That remains true for me today – there’s nothing quite like using additive manufacturing to turn an idea into reality. The current accessibility of additive manufacturing, including vat photopolymerization techniques, amazes me, and I think it’s a powerful tool for exposing young scientists to the technology, whether through “maker spaces” in classrooms or at outreach events. After all, who wouldn’t love to take home a special item they made on demand through printing in these environments?
What are your suggestions for those who are just starting their professional careers?
First of all, acknowledge that there still is a lot you don’t know. This not only includes scientific knowledge, but also general knowledge of what really matters within whatever industry you find yourself in. Then, embrace that lack of knowledge and gain whatever exposure you can to come up the learning curve quickly. This attitude helped me immensely with getting to where I am today.
Second, as uncomfortable as it can be, put yourself out there and talk to people in the field. It is important to develop a strong network, to find opportunities for collaboration and to get to know who your peers within the field are. Go to conferences, talk to experienced and early-career peers, present and discuss your research and interests, both formally and informally. You never know when these interactions could result in knowledge gained, a collaboration or even a job or funding opportunity.
What else do you want to share?
The UV&EB field has been a pleasure to be a part of as an early-career professional. It’s a small world, but everyone has been so welcoming and great to interact with, and I’m grateful to have ended up here. I also am amazed at how collaborative it is across environments, from academia to industry and national laboratories. Everyone really comes together to push the technology forward, and it’s exciting to see all of the amazing work coming out of these efforts.
The RadTech YP Committee aims to help young professionals (YPs) grow in the use and development of UV/EB technology. The committee is comprised of a group dedicated to enhancing interactions between YPs and senior experts within RadTech. YPs are students and professionals early in their careers who utilize UV and EB technology in industry, government or academia. To ask questions or get involved, contact yp@radtech.org.
