Nuclear Energy and Technology

Nuclear engineers at S&T are performing cutting-edge research in application of nuclear technology to medicine and imaging, energy resilience with small modular reactors, synthesis of radioactive nanoparticles, and new materials for increased performance in next generation reactors.

Meet the Experts

Ayodeji Alajo

Associate Professor
Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

Research Interests

Small modular reactors; molten salt reactors; advanced fuels utilization; radiation detection; nuclear safeguards and nonproliferation

Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan

Curators' Distinguished Professor
Wayne and Gayle Laufer Endowed Chair in Energy
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Research Interests

Multiphase reactor engineering; transport-kinetic integration; advanced measurement and computational techniques

Carlos Castano Giraldo

Associate Professor
Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

Research Interests

Nuclear fatigue; new shielding materials; production of nanomaterials with radiation; radioactive nanoparticles for cancer treatment

Joseph Graham

Associate Professor, Director of Nuclear Reactor
Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

Research Interests

Advanced nuclear ceramics; neutron doping; defect characterization; optical/electronic/scattering techniques

Joseph W. Newkirk

Professor and Department Chair
Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

Research Interests

Additive Manufacturing; aerospace materials, powder metallurgy, heat treating, chemical corrosion, wear resistance, friction stir processing, nuclear materials and applications of intermetallic alloys

Joshua Schlegel

Associate Professor
Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

Research Interests

Phase change materials; heat transfer in small modular reactors; graphene nanoplatelets; modeling of interfacial area for transport in nuclear reactors

Taghi Sherizadeh

Assistant Professor
Mining and Explosives Engineering

Research Interests

Numerical modeling of geotechnical stress; risk assessment of surface and underground stability; long-term performance assessment of nuclear waste disposal sites

Joseph Smith

Professor
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Research Interests

Hybrid energy systems; fuels combustion and gasification, industrial gas flare design, operation, and regulation; process modeling, monitoring, control, and operation

Shoaib Usman

Associate Professor
Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

Research Interests

Spent nuclear fuel interrogation and reactor safety; gamma spectroscopy; radiation detection; mixed oxide fuel; reactor passive safety; natural convection

Haiming Wen

Assistant Professor
Materials Science and Engineering

Research Interests

Development and fabrication of advanced materials such as bulk nanostructured alloys, high entropy alloys and bulk metallic glasses; Microstructure characterization of materials using transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography; Mechanical behavior and deformation mechanisms of materials; Nuclear fuels and structural materials designed for current and next generation nuclear reactors

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