The awards will support two research projects within the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, & Nuclear Engineering, fund improvements in laboratory space, and provide scholarships in nuclear engineering.
Timothy Wei, professor and head of the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, & Nuclear Engineering, said: “This is good news for our nuclear program, and further evidence that we’re at the leading edge of nuclear research and education.
“The nuclear program has been growing both in terms of student numbers, faculty strength, and research over the last five years.”
The two research projects, with total funding of nearly $1.3m, focus on improving the nuclear fuel cycle and developing the next generation of nuclear reactors.
The DOE awarded $810,141 for a project, led by Professor Yaron Danon, to develop economical solid-state neutron detectors. Mr Wei added that neutron detectors detect radiation and may be used in a variety of applications, including detection of nuclear devices and safeguarding nuclear waste containment.
