diff --git a/pynucastro/networks/rate_collection.py b/pynucastro/networks/rate_collection.py
index fd313404f..aa775db4f 100644
--- a/pynucastro/networks/rate_collection.py
+++ b/pynucastro/networks/rate_collection.py
@@ -127,6 +127,12 @@ def set_solar_like(self, Z=0.02):
 
         self.normalize()
 
+    def set_array(self, arr):
+        """ set all species from a sequence of mass fractions, in the same
+        order as returned by get_nuclei() """
+        for i, k in enumerate(self.X):
+            self.X[k] = arr[i]
+
     def set_all(self, xval):
         """ set all species to a particular value """
         for k in self.X:
@@ -137,6 +143,22 @@ def set_equal(self):
         for k in self.X:
             self.X[k] = 1.0 / len(self.X)
 
+    def set_random(self, alpha=None, seed=None):
+        """ set all species using a Dirichlet distribution with
+        parameters alpha and specified rng seed """
+        # initializes random seed
+        rng = np.random.default_rng(seed)
+
+        # default is a flat Dirichlet distribution
+        if alpha is None:
+            alpha = np.ones(len(self.X))
+
+        fracs = rng.dirichlet(alpha)
+        self.set_array(fracs)
+
+        # ensures exact normalization
+        self.normalize()
+
     def set_nuc(self, name, xval):
         """ set nuclei name to the mass fraction xval """
         nuc = Nucleus.cast(name)
diff --git a/pynucastro/networks/tests/test_composition.py b/pynucastro/networks/tests/test_composition.py
index e85003dd5..3ee3d6cfc 100644
--- a/pynucastro/networks/tests/test_composition.py
+++ b/pynucastro/networks/tests/test_composition.py
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ def test_set_equal(self, nuclei, comp):
         comp.set_equal()
         assert comp.X[nuclei[0]] == approx(1.0 / len(nuclei))
 
+    def test_set_random(self, comp):
+        comp.set_random(seed=0)
+        assert comp.X[Nucleus("C12")] == approx(0.005076173651329372)
+
 
 class TestCompositionVars:
     @pytest.fixture(scope="class")