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Aditi Verma featured in National Academies article on tackling inequities in emerging technologies webinar
The article, Tackling Inequities in Emerging Technologies, describes the webinar's design to foster discussions across disciplines about the challenges to equity and the need to ensure community involvement in the face of new processes, technologies and strategies.
U-M NERS team win Best Undergraduate Computational Methods, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning Presentation at 2023 ANS Student Conference
Their paper is titled "pyMAISE: A Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Benchmarking Software for Nuclear Reactor Applications".
Unbreakable bonds
The properties of PFAS are so great that we have used these chemicals widely—so widely that now they contaminate our water, our air, our land and our bodies. What can we do about it? Engineers have some ideas, although it’s not going to be easy.
NERS Alum Andrea Kritcher is on the 2023 TIME100 List
Andrea Kritcher has been named to TIME100, a list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022.
Kathryn Huff, US Department Of Energy Assistant Secretary, visits April 7
A national leader in nuclear energy speaks with students as part of the Osborn Lecture Series.
NERS alum Dr. James Baciak and NERS professor Dr. Igor Jovanovic are among the founders of the new Consortium for Nuclear Forensics sponsored by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
The five-year, $25 million research award is one of the largest federal research grants ever received by the University of Florida.
NERS Student O Hwang Kwon talks about the possible successors of fossil fuels at the 2023 Rackham King Talks
In his talk, “Which Would Be the Successor of Fossil Fuels—Renewables or Nuclear?”, O Hwang Kwon aims to convey the message of the urgent need for action as he firmly believes that by working together as a team, the world can successfully overcome the challenge of climate change.
NERS Professor Atzmon retires after 35 years with the department
His research was primarily focused on phase transformations and the mechanical behavior of amorphous and nanocrystalline metal alloys.
Case Study: Conjugate Heat Transfer Simulation for a Fuel Element of an Experimental Nuclear Reactor
NERS researchers Professor Brendan Kochunas and Dr. Yuxuan Liu have created a free online learning resource for those wanting to learn how to do engineering analysis for a nuclear reactor fuel element with ANSYS.
NERS students win a student-led competition, acquire seed funding to develop proposal for pulsed-power and nuclear fusion facility
The work of Akash Shah and Brendan Sporer will support pulsed-power-driven fusion research, fusion-enabling technologies, and fundamental science pursuits.
Young Carla
A Prequel to “A Step-by-Step Guide to Nuclear Innovation Policy.”
New Conceptual Molten Salt Nuclear Reactor Simulation and Design
NERS Master's student O Hwang Kwon’s research relating to the feasibility of a new conceptual molten salt reactor is aimed at improving safety and efficiency.
Imaging of gamma rays and fast neutrons using a dual-particle imaging system
NERS Ph.D. student Ricardo Lopez’s research using the dual-particle imaging system developed at U-M to help in localizing the source of emission of majority of radioactive materials.
NERS Professor Brendan Kochunas honored with faculty development professorship
The Charles and Elizabeth Schrock Faculty Development Professorship is awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions to teaching and research.
Use of ultrashort-pulsed lasers to excite fluorescence of chlorophyll in plants as an optical biosensor for nuclear activity
Recent NERS Ph.D. graduate Lauren Finney’s research on remote detection of a signature for uranium exposure in algae published in Scientific Reports.
Smaller, Robust Heat Exchangers
Funded with $4 million from the US Department of Energy's Integrated Research Projects program, the U-M Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences is leading a project focused on compact heat exchangers.
Land use matters as communities cut carbon emissions
Communities will have varied tolerances for the acreage occupied by renewables. A new study quantifies the land needed for different options.
First light at the most powerful laser in the US
The ZEUS laser at the University of Michigan has begun its commissioning experiments
Majdi Radaideh, Stephen Raiman, and Yang Zhang join NERS faculty
The new additions to the department point to a positive future and offer a breadth of educational and research experience.
New display honors George Summerfield’s legacy
The late NERS professor is remembered for his contributions to neutron transport theory and warm humor.
Q&A with River Bennett
An interest in clean energy brought River to the graduate programs at NERS and ISD.
U-M students given DOE Innovations in Nuclear Technology R&D Awards
The award program strives to facilitate innovation and the creation of new ideas in nuclear-technology-relevant disciplines.
New partnership between U-M/ZEUS and ELI-Beamlines will study antimatter creation with lasers
The National Science Foundation award will support a collaboration between U-M, the ELI Beamlines facility, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Lauren Finney supported Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory experiments
Lauren participated in research testing the effects of oxygen on uranium speciation during a summer internship.
Brendan Kochunas wins DOE Distinguished Early Career Award
Kochunas’ research seeks to advance our understanding of the digital twins’ concept for nuclear engineering applications.
Sara Pozzi appointed University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor
Pozzi was one of six university faculty members to be recognized for outstanding contributions to excellence through their commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Three NERS grad students awarded INL fellowships
Marisol Garrouste, So-Bin Cho, and River Bennett were selected for their remarkable talent in research areas aligned with the goals of INL in collaboration with DOE.
Tingshiuan Wu given Best Student Poster Presentation Award at MARC XII Conference
The NERS PhD student gave a poster presentation on “Fast neutron directionality from position-sensitive recoil and capture reconstruction using Bayesian updating.”
$5.1M to advance nuclear energy awarded to U-M
The Department of Energy will support research into better heat exchangers as well as improved predictions for neutron physics and radiation damage.
NERS faculty receive $5.1M in DOE funding awards
The awards will support our research in compact heat exchangers, SPn transport in advanced reactors, and irradiation creep mechanisms.
MTV hosts University Program Review
The annual review provides a venue for students and collaborating scientists to showcase their research and allow programmatic oversight and technical interchange between student researchers, National Laboratories, and government research managers.
NERS alumni Steven Brown and David Goodman developing quantitative gamma imager
The imager will resolve the location and shape of nuclear materials for more accurate mass quantification.
Solar Powered, Point-of-Use Plasma Disinfection Tool for Clean Water on Demand
John Foster's group is developing a plasma-device for disinfecting water on-demand that will be solar- or human-powered.
Todd Allen, John Lee, and Kristine Svinicki supporting National Academies Studies
The studies are centered around advanced nuclear, fuel, and threats.
PhD Student Lonnie Garrett given NNIS fellowship
The fellowship supports exceptional students in the field of international safeguards.
Imre Pázsit named “Doctor Honoris Causa” of Budapest University of Technology and Economics
The title was conferred in appreciation of Pázsit’s internationally reputed activities.
Undergraduate Andrew Panter awarded INL UNLP Scholarship
UNLP plays a key role in helping the Department of Energy accomplish its mission of leading the nation's investment in the development and exploration of advanced nuclear science and technology.
PhD Student Meredith Eaheart awarded UNLP fellowship
The fellowship is awarded to exceptional students researching innovative nuclear energy solutions to today’s climate challenges and help in production of clean electricity and reduction of carbon emissions.
Christopher C. Davis, Carly Evans, and Colin J. Stewart win Health Physics Society awards
The U-M students were recognized at the 2022 Spring Young Investigators Virtual Symposium.
Abbas Jinia given IEEE-NPSS Graduate Scholarship Award
The NERS PhD student researches active interrogation applications to detect concealed nuclear material.
Honoring the past and sizing up nuclear’s future at the Phoenix rededication
The Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project, conceived as a war memorial following World War II, remains relevant in the face of climate change and international conflict.
Mark Perreault retires after 23 years
Perreault was Senior Electronics Technician for the Plasma, Pulsed Power, and Microwave Laboratory.
NEA Appoints Aditi Verma to Global Forum Working Groups
The groups are in support of NEA’s Global Forum on Nuclear Education, Science, Technology, and Policy.
Ionizing radiation induces a negative nonlinear absorption coefficient in quartz glass
NERS PhD Student Bryan Morgan’s research on non-linear absorption in quartz glass published in Optical Materials Express.
NERS and Engineering Physics Students Receive Awards from Rackham and College of Engineering
Mackenzie Warwick, Pujan Ajmera, Julian Kinney, and Dion Li were honored for their outstanding achievements and academic excellence.
NERS Professor Alex Bielajew retires after 25 years with the department
Bielajew’s research focused on Monte Carlo code development.
Aditi Verma receives Catalyst Grant from Graham Sustainability Institute
Verma and her team are developing a participatory approach to nuclear energy infrastructure design.
Nuclear “shadow corrosion” reproduced in the lab, paving way to longer fuel life
Now that it's understood, researchers are on their way to preventing this type of degradation in nuclear power plants.
Monica Rondeau earns CCRA Certification
Rondeau supports NERS faculty in both pre- and post-award research administration.
Q&A with Brendan Sporer
Brendan won a Best Paper Award at the IEEE Pulsed Power Conference.
NERS awarded funding from the Department of Defense for new pulsed power driver
The equipment will be located in the Plasma, Pulsed Power, and Microwave Laboratory.
In Memoriam: Ziyaeddin Ahmet Akçasu
The NERS Professor Emeritus will be remembered for his contributions to multi-component polymer solutions, his gift for teaching, and gentle spirit.
Aditi Verma guest edits special humanities issue of Nuclear Technology
The special issue examines the intersection of nuclear technology and social sciences.
Kristine Svinicki given Henry DeWolf Smyth Nuclear Statesman Award from ANS and NEI
The award recognizes outstanding service in developing and guiding the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Imre Pázsit given Eugene P. Wigner Reactor Physicist Award from ANS
The award recognizes outstanding contributions toward the advancement in the field of nuclear reactor physics.
Xiaodong Sun named Fellow of the American Nuclear Society
Professor Sun was recognized for significant contributions to research in reactor thermal hydraulics and for those as an educator and mentor of nuclear engineering students and researchers.
Igor Jovanovic named Fellow of the American Nuclear Society
Professor Jovanovic was recognized for contributions made to the advancement of nuclear science and technology through notable original research or invention in the nuclear field.
Emily Vu won a Best Student Paper Award from the American Nuclear Society
Vu is a graduate student conducting research in electron transport in stochastic media.
John Foster named Fellow of the American Physical Society
Foster is recognized for improving fundamental understanding of transport across the span of low-temperature plasmas.
Sara Pozzi awarded ANS E. Gail de Planque Medal
The award recognizes exemplary accomplishments by a woman in the fields of nuclear science and engineering.
Nuclear nonproliferation: $1.9M to improve detection of weapons-grade material
Untangling the signatures of smuggled nuclear materials from the radiation background created by shooting neutrons at suspected cargo is the task of U-M research team.
Augmented reality for testing nuclear components
A new machine learning platform detects and quantifies radiation-induced defects instantaneously and could be extended to interpret other microscopy data.
Dion Li discovers electromagnetic shock phenomenon omitted from Ramo-Shockley theorem
The Engineering Physics student was published in IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.
Annie Kritcher leads revolutionary nuclear fusion experiment
The NERS alum and her team at LLNL came close to reproducing the power of the sun on earth.
Heath LeFevre awarded NSF fellowship
The NERS postdoc researches radiation hydrodynamics relevant to astrophysics.
Sara Pozzi awarded INMM Vincent J. DeVito Distinguished Service Award
The award is given for noteworthy contributions to the nuclear materials management profession.
NERS alum share their NRC award stories
NERS and the NRC have a common goal of educating the next generation of nuclear engineers.
Denia Djokić and Aditi Verma join NERS and Fastest Path
Djokić joined the team as an Assistant Research Scientist and Verma as an Assistant Research Scientist, and as an Assistant Professor in Fall 2022.
The Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project returns to NERS
The World War II memorial is devoted to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Most powerful laser in the U.S. to begin operations soon, supported by $18.5M from the NSF
With first light anticipated in 2022, the NSF will provide five years of operations funding, ramping up as the ZEUS user facility progresses to full capacity.
Strong magnetic fields change how friction works in plasma
Rather than just slowing down a charged particle moving through a plasma, friction can also push from the side in a strong magnetic field.
Kaitlyn Barr given DOE Innovations in Nuclear Technology R&D Award
The award program strives to facilitate innovation and the creation of new ideas in nuclear-technology-relevant disciplines.
Gary Was retires after 41-year career in materials and nuclear energy systems
Was’s career was distinguished by his dedication to teaching as well as his contributions to research.
Scott Baalrud receives funding to research high-energy-density plasmas
Baalrud will research the dynamic structure of magnetized high-energy-density plasmas.
NERS PhD Alum Stephen Taller receives DOE Rapid Turnaround Experiment award
The award will allow Taller to use the Michigan Ion Beam Laboratory to perform in-situ dual ion beam irradiation.
NERS graduate student Matthew Lynch receives NASA Graduate Research Fellowship
Matthew will look at novel techniques to develop high sink strength nickel-based alloys for nuclear power and propulsion.
NERS undergrads receive internships at DOE National Laboratories
Natalie Kot and Julian Kinney will intern at DIII-D and LANL.
Ryan McBride leads IEEE TPS Best Paper
The paper is based on a tutorial presentation at the Mini-Course on Charged Particle Beams and High-Powered Pulsed Sources.
U-M faculty receive $1.2M in DOE funding awards
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding $61 million to support 99 projects spread across 30 states and a U.S. territory. The U-M Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences (NERS) has received $1,150,000 to fund two projects to advance nuclear technology. The awards are through two DOE programs: the Nuclear Energy University Program…
Ronald F. Fleming (1937–2021): In Memoriam
The NERS alum and faculty member will be remembered for his unconventional spirit, devotion to his students, and posing the question “What does it all mean?”
Michigan Center for Materials Characterization joins U-M NSUF Partner Facilities
The facility is dedicated to the micron and nanoscale imaging and analysis of materials.
Yuxuan Liu and Brendan Kochunas receive funding to integrate heat transfer simulation in the Virtual Ford Nuclear Reactor
The funding was provided by the Office of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education.
Annalisa Manera receives NRC academic grant
Manera will use the grant to advance the understanding of heat pipe behavior close to their thermal limits and more.
NERS PhD Student Pengyuan Xiu receives DOE Rapid Turnaround Experiment award
Pengyuan will use the data obtained from the project to contribute to his thesis work.
NERS students awarded IUP fellowships and scholarship
The program seeks to enhance the future of the U.S. nuclear workforce.
Fluid motion induced by plasma interaction with water with self-organization
NERS PhD Student Zimu Yang writes Featured Article in the Journal of Applied Physics.
Brendan Sporer receives DOE NNSA Fellowship
The NERS PhD student has embarked on a project to create high-density field reversed configurations.
NERS researchers awarded ANS Best Paper Award
The paper investigates the heat transfer performance of the sodium heat pipes which will be adopted in the future Special Purpose Reactors (SPR).
Prof. Ryan McBride named PPML Director
The current Director, Prof. Ronald Gilgenbach has decided to step down effective May 1.
NERS PhD Student Oskar Searfus awarded NNIS Graduate Fellowship
The Fellowship is awarded to exceptional students pursuing doctoral research in the field of international safeguards.
Global climate efforts require nuclear energy—and the US is positioned to lead
This year, the U.S. will set new Nationally Determined Contributions toward mitigating climate change, building on the Paris climate agreement. As promises for greenhouse gas reductions become more ambitious, international forecasts projecting that nuclear may contribute at most 10 percent of the global energy supply by 2050 are not ambitious enough.
NERS Students host virtual Glow Blue class
The class introduced Detroit-area middle and high school students to fundamental nuclear concepts.
NERS Students receive Leaders and Honors Awards
The College of Engineering gives the awards in celebration of the students who have demonstrated excellence.
Q&A with Kristine Svinicki
Suzanne Baker recently chatted with Svinicki about her new adjunct professor role at NERS.
Kristine Svinicki joins NERS as adjunct professor
The NERS alumna served as Chairman and Commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for over a decade.
Scott Baalrud named to Physics of Plasmas Editorial Board
NERS Prof. Scott Baalrud’s three-year editorial board appointment began this week.
Prof. Kim Kearfott to develop radiation protection XR
The extended reality experience will introduce future health physicists to scenarios they will likely face on the job.
NERS graduate student Pengyuan Xiu awarded Honorable Mention
The award was given at the Michigan Engineering Advanced Graduate Research Symposium.
NERS Senior Kaitlyn Barr awarded first-ever X-energy summer internship
Kaitlyn will use state of the art tools to perform analysis work on X-energy’s Xe-100 small modular reactor.
NERS Alum Dr. Valentin T. Jordanov named IEEE Fellow for contributions to radiation measurements
Jordanov has made fundamental contributions to real-time digital and analog pulse processing in radiation measurements.