Six Nuclear-Related Research Proposals Selected for Funding From UW School of Energy Resources

The University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources (SER) has selected projects for funding after considering faculty-led proposals on nuclear-related research aimed at advancing Wyoming’s full fuel cycle and building continued capacity in the nuclear energy sector.

Following a competitive review process, six innovative projects were selected to receive funding, with each project aligning with SER’s strategic goals and addressing critical areas within the nuclear energy landscape.

“We are excited to support these groundbreaking research projects that will contribute significantly to Wyoming’s nuclear energy future and continuing to build nuclear energy research capacity at UW,” says Scott Quillinan, SER’s senior director of research. “These projects build upon the strong foundation established by our Nuclear Energy Research Center and will further enhance our academic offerings, increase our competitiveness for future funding and foster collaborative research across the university.”

The funded projects span three key areas of interest, including the fuel cycle value chain and advanced materials; general research and nuclear energy capacity building; and workforce development and community engagement.

The projects are:

 -- “Public Perceptions, Public Policy: A Mixed-Methods Study of a Wyoming Nuclear Power Host-Community,” by Assistant Professor Daniel Auerbach and Assistant Lecturer Amanda Sikirica in the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology.

-- “Building and Accessing a Digital Twin for Repurposing Nuclear Fuel for Community and Industry Engagement.” Katie Li-Oakey, a professor of chemical and biomedical engineering; and Caleb Hill, an associate professor of chemistry and the J.E. Warren Professor of Energy and the Environment and Nielson Faculty Fellow, along with Assistant Professor Chao Jiang and Associate Professor and Presidential Faculty Fellow Lars Kotthoff, both of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, are the project team members.

-- “Multi-scale thermal transport modeling of UO2 in the presence of fission products,” by Laura de Sousa Oliveira, an assistant professor of chemistry.

-- “Combining Shallow Seismic Reflection, Magnetotelluric and Full Waveform Induced Polarization Geophysical Imaging of Sedimentary Uranium Deposits in Wyoming,” by Bradley Carr, a senior research scientist of geology and geophysics and the director of the UW Near-Surface Geophysics Instrument Center.

-- “Systems Analysis of Advanced Nuclear Reactors for Powering AI Data Centers,” by Haibo Zhai, the Roy and Caryl Cline Distinguished Chair in Engineering and a UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences professor.

-- “Improve Nuclear Safety and Lower Operating Cost through Multiscale Computational Modeling: Study of Combined Thermal and Irradiation Creep of Stainless-Steel Fuel Cladding,” by Xiang Zhang, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering.

The recipients will receive funding for stand-alone research, student support, postdoctoral researchers, faculty summer salaries, travel and cost-share for externally funded grant proposals.

“These projects represent a significant investment in the future of nuclear energy in Wyoming,” Quillinan adds. “By supporting these initiatives, we are not only advancing scientific knowledge, but also preparing a skilled workforce and fostering community understanding of the vital role nuclear energy plays in our state’s energy portfolio.”

SER is committed to supporting research that aligns with the priorities of federal, private industry and philanthropic sources, with a focus on topics relevant to Wyoming. The funding initiative underscores SER’s dedication to driving interdisciplinary innovation and leadership.

For more information, email Christine Reed, UW SER outreach director, at christine.reed@uwyo.edu.