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Research

Research opportunities abound for both undergraduate
and graduate students.

Fission Systems & Radiation Transport
Materials & Radiation Effects
Plasmas & Nuclear Fusion
Policy & Climate
Radiation Measurements & Imaging
Labs and Research Groups

Our faculty work at the leading edge of their nuclear science and engineering disciplines with active collaborations worldwide. 

Our department’s research expenditures reached $26.5 million in 2020, and research opportunities abound for both undergraduate and graduate students. Many of our students (some as early as the sophomore year) work closely with faculty on innovative research projects and some have co-authored papers published in scientific journals.

Research Areas

Fission Systems & Radiation Transport


Understanding the way that atomic nuclei split and how radiation moves through materials is crucial to nuclear power and nuclear nonproliferation.

Materials & Radiation Effects


Radioactive materials and the response of materials to radiation are important to nuclear power, space technology, and fundamental science.

Plasmas & Nuclear Fusion


Plasmas have the potential to purify water, propel spacecraft across the solar system and beyond, heal wounds, ignite nuclear fusion, and more.

Radiation Measurements & Imaging


Radiation measurements are important for medical imaging, archaeology, astrophysics, and preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.

We boast over 20 labs, and several of our major facilities are on par with those you might find at a national laboratory.  Here are just a few:

a large laboratory with lots of machinery

Michigan Ion Beam Laboratory

Advancing our understanding of ion-solid interactions by providing up-to-date equipment with unique and extensive facilities to support research at the cutting edge of science. Learn more.

brick building exterior with trees and a fountain

Nuclear Engineering Laboratory

The NEL hosts several labs, including: the Detection for Nuclear Nonproliferation Laboratory, the Glenn F. Knoll Nuclear Measurements Laboratory, and the High Resolution TH Imaging Laboratory.

students in the lab working together

Plasma, Pulsed Power, and Microwave Laboratory

Investigating the fundamental physics and technology of interactions between beams of electrons, ions, plasma, microwaves, laser light and radio frequency radiation with plasmas, materials, structures, and biological cells. Learn more.

Thermal Hydraulics Lab

Separate-effect and integral-effects tests in reactor thermal hydraulics to support the improvement of light water reactors (LWRs) and development of advanced non-LWR reactors, including molten salt reactors and high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. Learn more.

glowing green lab

HIGH FIELD SCIENCE LABORATORY 

NERS researchers use three state-of-the-art high power laser systems: HERCULES, Ti:Sapphire, and T-cubed. The facility is current building ZEUS, which will be the most powerful laser in the country. Learn more.

Plasma Science & Technology Lab

Understanding and applying plasma science to real world problems such as achieving sustainability and the reuse of our planet’s resources. Learn more.

See all NERS Laboratories and Research Groups

Research Priorities

Sustainable Energy

Access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy improves human lives. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), nuclear power is the largest source of clean energy in the United States, providing 53% of the emission-free energy in 2020. Nuclear energy has emerging national and international market opportunities in addition to gigawatt scale electricity. Twenty-first-century nuclear energy will include zero-carbon direct forms such as heat and energy carriers like electricity and hydrogen. Partnerships with industrial users to provide electricity, heat, plasmas, and advanced materials will improve economic competitiveness. 

Environment and Health

Advances in nuclear and radiological science can improve the efficacy of medical diagnosis and treatment, aid in the environmental cleanup of chemical and biological contaminants, and decrease the environmental effects associated with deploying nuclear technology, importantly in the storage and disposal of used nuclear fuel.

Nuclear Security and Defense

The deployment of nuclear technology comes with the responsibility to control and account for radiological materials. This is true in many applications including homeland security, medical imaging, and nuclear fuel cycle monitoring to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Advances are needed in methodologies for the safeguards of nuclear and radiological materials, tools for science-based stockpile stewardship, and the understanding of materials under extreme conditions.

Scientific Discovery

Technological revolution springs from new fundamental discoveries. Discovery comes through using world-class experimental facilities, including particle beams and radiation sources, to interrogate systems under extreme conditions, improving our ability to detect radiation signals and apply advanced computing to understand physical interactions.

GET INVOLVED

We believe that engaging in research as an undergraduate student is a very important part of the NERS experience, and many of our third- and fourth-year undergraduate students are actively involved and have co-authored papers in scientific journals.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Learn About our Graduate Program

woman in the lab

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