The University of Wyoming (UW) continues to make an impact in the world of nuclear energy as the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently announced a substantial grant during the Research Explorations for Nuclear Energy in Wyoming (RENEW) event on April 14. Commissioner Annie Caputo and Raymond Furstenau, director of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, confirmed that UW would be receiving a $600,000 nuclear research grant.
“We are pleased to welcome the University of Wyoming as a NRC University Nuclear Leadership Program grant recipient,” Furstenau said. “The university’s proposal is exactly the type of activity we were aiming for with this grant program.”
The Faculty Development Advancement Award, part of the NRC’s University Nuclear Leadership Program, aims to support new faculty in nuclear engineering, health physics, and radiochemistry. The award also bolsters the NRC’s efforts to fund university-led projects that align with current and future research needs.
In addition to the NRC’s generous grant, UW’s School of Energy Resources (SER) will contribute an extra $100,000.
“This award from the NRC will be critical to the continued growth of nuclear-focused programs on campus, the funds will be used to hire new faculty with nuclear expertise and support current UW faculty in the pursuit of external funding from relevant federal agencies.” said Caleb Hill, UW’s J.E. Warren Chair, Nielson Faculty Fellow and associate professor of chemistry and co-director of the Nuclear Energy Research Center (NERC).
The funds from the grant will be used by NERC’s Faculty Scholars Program, which aims to attract pre-tenure faculty focused on nuclear research and teaching interests to UW. The program will be managed by Hill and NERC Co-Director Tara Righetti.
“This award is yet another example of the exceptional leadership of Dr. Hill and Professor Righetti,” says SER Executive Director Holly Krutka.
“Not only do they have their individual robust scholarship activities in nuclear-related research, but they also are actively working to support other UW faculty entering this field and bringing new resources to UW. This is exactly the type of activity that was intended to be undertaken by the capacity-building funding provided by the Wyoming Legislature. I commend this multidisciplinary team for their efforts.”
