Students from Japan explore NERS labs and research during March visit
Graduate students from Japanese universities visited NERS to strengthen international collaboration and learn about advanced nuclear research at U-M.
On March 20, 2025, the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences (NERS) at the University of Michigan welcomed Professor Toru Obara of the Tokyo Institute of Technology and a group of graduate students from several Japanese institutions for a day of research presentations, lab tours, and discussions with faculty and students.
The visitors—master’s students preparing to enter doctoral programs—represented Tokyo Tech, Kyoto University, Tohoku University, and Waseda University. Their areas of interest included nuclear security technology, heat removal in fusion reactors, and neutronics for molten salt systems.
The group explored several of the department’s cutting-edge laboratories, including the Michigan Ion Beam Laboratory, the Thermal Hydraulics Laboratory, and the Neutron Science Laboratory.
The visit was part of the U.S.–Japan Nuclear Opportunities for Collaboration (USNOC) program, which fosters international connections among early-career researchers in nuclear engineering.
“These exchanges give us a chance to share ideas across cultures and research traditions,” said NERS Chair Todd Allen. “They help prepare our students—and theirs—for global collaboration in advancing nuclear science and technology.”
NERS looks forward to continuing its involvement with USNOC and similar programs that open doors for international partnership and innovation in nuclear engineering.
Photos courtesy of Professor Toru Obara, Tokyo Institute of Technology.
