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Doctor of Philosophy in Nuclear Science and Engineering

Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering

Program Requirements

Note: Students in this program can choose to receive the Doctor of Philosophy or the Doctor of Science in Nuclear Science and Engineering or in another departmental field of specialization. Students receiving veterans benefits must select the degree they wish to receive prior to program certification with the Veterans Administration.

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Nuclear Engineering Program Mechanical Engineering Department

Doctorate Program (Ph.D)

Students can register in the PhD Program at either Blacksburg or Greater Washington DC Area Campus. For a quick review of the PhD Program, click here.

The target population of incoming direct PhD students is expected to be from undergraduate nuclear engineering programs as well as the general undergraduate engineering and physics pool. However, the target population for Master's to Ph.D. will be from Master's level nuclear engineering programs. Recruitment efforts will also focus on having the best M.S. nuclear engineering students at Virginia Tech continue on to obtain their Ph.D. Emphasis will be placed on recruiting a well-qualified, diverse background (gender, race, disabled, etc.) of students into the nuclear engineering program.

In the process of earning his/her degree, a Ph.D. student gains a deep knowledge of the nuclear engineering subject matter and independently carries out a comprehensive research project. Accordingly, each student's curriculum will be specifically tailored by his/her Advisory Committee within the requirements listed below.

Earning a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering requires the completion of a minimum 90-credit-hour program. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 ("A" = 4.0) is required for all coursework taken at the University. This policy is consistent with Mechanical Engineering department policy and University policy. No grade below B is allowed for any Ph.D. core course. Failure to earn a grade of B in a Ph.D. core course requires retaking the course.

The 90 credit-hours are made up of (1) 30 graded credit-hours of coursework consisting of Master's-level core courses and required Ph.D. core courses (see Sample Plan of Study), (2) 30 credit-hours of research, and (3) 30 credit-hours of enhancement courses which may consist of either research credits or graduate-level courses taken from any unit of the University.

Degree Requirements

1. master's-level and ph.d. core courses.

A minimum of 30 graded credit-hours of courses must be taken as follows:

-NSEG 5124 Nuclear Reactor Analysis (3 cr) -NSEG 5204 Nuclear Fuel Cycle (3 cr) -NSEG 5424 Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (3 cr) -NSEG 5604 Radiation Detection and Shielding (3 cr) -Mathematics course from Appendix A (3 cr)

Students with a M.S. degree in Nuclear Engineering from another institution or those with a M.S. degree in another discipline who are accepted into the Ph.D. program will undergo an evaluation of their graded course work from their Master's degree to determine whether the courses which have been taken satisfy the above requirements. If not satisfied, the missing courses must be taken in their Ph.D. program at Virginia Tech.

Not more than 15 credit-hours of graded coursework may be transferred from another institution. These transfer credits may be applied to the Master's core course requirement above, the Ph.D. core course requirement below, or the enhancement requirement as approved by the student's Advisory Committee. All transferred course credits must have the grade of "B" or higher and have been earned while enrolled as a graduate student. All transfer credits must be accompanied by transcripts which verify the grades earned. Course syllabi might also be required.

In addition, all doctoral students will complete the following five Ph.D. core courses (15 credit hours): -MSE 5384G Advanced Nuclear Materials (3 cr) -NSEG 5134 Monte Carlo Methods for Particle Transport (3 cr) -NSEG 6124 Advanced Nuclear Reactor Analysis (3 cr) -NSEG 6334 Nuclear Reactor Safety Analysis (3 cr) -Mathematics course from Appendix A (3 cr)*

*The "Mathematics course from Appendix A (3 cr)" represents 3 graded credit hours of mathematics or statistics courses beyond the Master's level coursework math requirement listed above. Appropriate input is provided by the Advisor to determine which mathematics/statistics course(s) is/are to be taken by the student in support of their dissertation.

2. Research Requirement

A minimum of 30 credit-hours of research (NSEG 7994 Research and Dissertation (variable; up to 12 credits per semester)).

3. Enhancement Requirement

A minimum of 30 additional credit-hours consisting of a combination of either graduate coursework (5000-level or higher) from any unit of the University and/or research and dissertation credits (NSEG 7994), as approved by the student's Advisory Committee. These credits are tailored for the specific research topic and background of the student. Additional in-depth courses related to the student's research area, if applicable, would be included under this requirement. Moreover, students who plan to enter academia after completion of their PhD are encouraged to take electives such as GRAD 5104 Preparing the Future Professoriate and ENGE 5014 Foundations of Engineering Education. Those planning to enter industry are encouraged to take electives such as GRAD 5314 Future Industrial Professional in Science and Engineering. These electives satisfy part of the 30 credit-hours enhancement requirement.

4. Seminar Program

All Ph.D. graduate students must participate in the nuclear engineering program seminar series. No course credit-hours will be given for this requirement. The seminars will consist of periodic presentations by on- and off-campus speakers to address technical issues, policy issues and professional growth issues. Policy issues should address public concerns and controversies of nuclear energy and science, nuclear weapons proliferation, national energy policy, nuclear security, public education on radiation, cybersecurity, etc. One purpose of the seminars is to broaden student interest in the policy arena and encourage them to take elective policy courses outside the nuclear engineering discipline such as in international policy, nuclear security, science and technology in society, political science, etc. In addition, seminars/workshops will be conducted on technical communication skills involving both oral and written communications. All Ph.D. students must present one technical seminar before graduating.

5. Residency Experience

The nuclear engineering degree follows the Ph.D. residency requirement as set forth by the University. The purpose of the residency requirement is to ensure immersion in scholarship, research, and professional development. This will be satisfied through full-time enrollment for two consecutive semesters.

The residency requirement applies to students and not to specific campuses. The students located in Northern Virginia will meet the residency requirement by enrolling full-time for two consecutive semesters at the Virginia Tech Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church, VA.

6. Formation of Advisory Committee

Before registration for the second semester of study, each graduate student must confer with the members of the faculty and obtain the agreement of one to serve as the student's advisor. Students are expected to take the initiative in selecting their advisor. Advisors are not assigned to students; rather, they are determined by mutual agreement between individual students and professors. A student's advisor provides guidance in many areas including defining a plan of study and monitoring the student's progress toward his or her degree.

The Ph.D. student and his or her advisor, jointly select the other members of the Advisory Committee. The student is responsible for obtaining, from those selected, their agreement to serve on the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee for a Ph.D. candidate consists of a minimum of five faculty members, neither more than four nor less than three of who are in the Mechanical Engineering Department. The advisor or a co-Advisor must be a faculty member in the Nuclear Engineering Program. Exception to these norms may be considered in cases where outside people of comparable credentials are involved in the research. The Ph.D. student and his or her advisor are responsible for arranging meetings of the Advisory Committee at appropriate times. It is strongly recommended that the Advisory Committee meets when the student is starting his or her research to discuss the undertaking. As a minimum, each student should arrange a meeting with his or her Advisory Committee at least once per semester. Each student is expected to meet with the advisor regularly, usually weekly to biweekly, to discuss the status of the research progress towards degree.

7. Admission for Candidacy for Ph.D. Degree

Before admission to candidacy for the Ph.D., all doctoral students must satisfactorily complete the following:

Qualifying Examination - used to evaluate the student's mastery of the subject, to determine deficiencies, and to formulate judgments on whether the student should be encouraged to pursue Ph.D. studies. The Qualifying Examination is designed and administered by a Committee consisting of at least three nuclear engineering faculty members. The examination will be offered at least once per year, and may be offered more frequently if student demand warrants. The examination will consist of two 3-hour written tests given on the same day. The morning exam will involve solving problems in mathematics and physics. The afternoon exam will cover core nuclear engineering courses. The examination will ensure the student is properly prepared to conduct Ph.D. level research. Ph.D. students must take the qualifying examination within their first three semesters of study if they have an M.S. in nuclear engineering, or four semesters otherwise, and are given two opportunities for success.

• Preliminary Doctoral Examination - an oral presentation given before the student's Advisory Committee. The student prepares a written description of his or her proposed dissertation research in the form of a prospectus and distributes it to the members of the committee one week in advance of the examination. The purpose is to determine if the student is prepared to undertake the proposed research. This examination is held after the student has passed the Qualifying Examination and has completed all of the required coursework and before the student has made significant progress on the dissertation research. The Preliminary Examination must be passed at least 6 months before the Final Examination. Students are given two opportunities for success.

8. Copies of the previous PhD Qualifying Exams

2016 Fall Semester 2017 Spring Semester 2017 Fall Semester 2018 Spring Semester 2018 Fall Semester 2019 Fall Semester 2020 Fall Semester

9. Final Examination

The final examination comprises a written dissertation and an oral defense centered on the dissertation. This exam is advertised in advance, and all professorial rank faculty members are invited to attend. All members of a student's Advisory Committee are required to participate in that student's final examination. If suitable communication resources are available, committee members may participate from a remote location. In accordance with University policy, all graduate examinations are open to the faculty and faculty members are encouraged to attend and participate in such meetings. The examination is oral in nature, during which the candidate gives a brief review of his or her work, and answers questions on that work. To pass the final examination, a student is allowed at most one Unsatisfactory vote from a program committee member. If a student fails an examination, one full semester (a minimum of 15 weeks) must elapse before the second examination is scheduled. Not more than two opportunities to pass the final examination are allowed. A student failing the final examination two times will be dismissed from the program.

Admission Requirements

1. program requirements.

In general, the Nuclear Engineering Program requires that applicants:

-Have a minimum TARGET grade point average of 3.2/4.0, or better for either the B.S. degree program or in the last 60 hours of course work -Have GRE TARGET scores of 150 verbal, 155 quantitative, and 4.5 analytical -Students whose native language is not English, must also take the internet-based TOEFL, IELTS, or have COMPLETED a degree from an English speaking institution. Minimum TARGET scores 105 total, 26 reading and speaking areas.

Final admissions decisions are made based on a holistic evaluation of a candidate's application materials; research experience and the three letters of recommendation are a significant part of the evaluation of the application.

The Nuclear Engineering Program and the Department of Mechanical Engineering process applications on a rolling basis. However, to be given full consideration for admission and assistantships/fellowships, complete application materials must be received by:

-January 15th, for the Fall Term -October 1st, for the Spring Term

All application materials should be received by the deadlines for admission. Please be aware that the Graduate School has different application deadlines. Refer to their website for those deadlines and submit your application to meet the earlier of the deadlines. The online application and additional information about requirements and how to apply may be found on the Graduate School website and on the Mechanical Engineering website .

Applicants are encouraged to contact faculty members whose research areas most interests them by sending a resume and a cover letter via e-mail.

Depending on desired degree path, there may be different requirements. See below for additional information:

Direct Ph.D

For those students possessing a Bachelor's degree (but not an advanced degree), graduation from an accredited college or university or its equivalent, with an undergraduate overall grade point average (GPA) exceeding 3.5 ("A" = 4.0) is required. It is expected that exceptional undergraduate students would have a higher success rate in completing the Ph.D. program. If an undergraduate student has a GPA lower than 3.5, that student should apply instead to the Master's degree program. This 3.5 GPA requirement exceeds the Mechanical Engineering department requirement of a 3.2 GPA and the University requirement of a 3.0 GPA. In addition, the most competitive applicants will have an undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering, or have an emphasis or minor in nuclear engineering. However, other relevant science and engineering disciplines will also be considered.

Master' to Ph.D

For those students already possessing a Master's degree, a graduate-level grade point average of at least 3.2 is required. This is consistent with the Mechanical Engineering department policy, but exceeds the University requirement of a 3.0 GPA. In addition, the most competitive applicants will have a Master's degree in nuclear engineering, or have a graduate certificate or significant course work in nuclear engineering. However, other relevant science and engineering disciplines will be considered for top applicants with the understanding that it may take an extra year to complete the Ph.D. degree requirements to make up for the missing core background.

2. Application Package Requirements

If all materials submitted with the online application are clearly legible, the Nuclear Engineering Protram does not require hard copy materials. It is highly recommended that you keep hard copies of all materials that you have submitted, since applications and supplemental information cannot be retrieved or altered once they are submitted.

Complete departmental applications consist of:

• Undergraduate Transcripts - Front and back scans of official transcripts are required. Once the application is complete, a final official transcript should be mailed directly to the Graduate School in a sealed envelope. - Graduate Transcripts - If applicable, front and back scans of official transcripts are required. Once the application is complete, a final official graduate transcript should be mailed directly to the Mechanical Engineering Department in a sealed envelope. - Letters of Reference - Three letters of reference are required. On-line references are preferred; however, if the online reference form is not used, references should be mailed in sealed envelopes directly to the Mechanical Engineering Department. - GRE/TOEFL Scores - Self reported scores can be used for the evaluation process until official scores arrive to the Graduate School from the Educational Testing Service. GRE scores should be less than two years old. Please see the Graduate School website for information on how to report scores to Virginia Tech.

After filling out the online application, hard copy references should be sent in one large envelope to:

Nuclear Engineering Program Department of Mechanical Engineering, MC 0238 Graduate Coordinator 100A Randolph Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061

Online Supplemental Materials

- Resume - 1 page preferred - Statement of Purpose - 2 pages, maximum - Publications - if applicable

Additional Application Notes

Please do not send e-mails requesting advice on your chances of acceptance, as we do not have the staff to review these requests. Out of professional courtesy to other universities, we do not accept mid-program transfers without a letter of release from the current advisor and or department head. You will be able to view the status of your application on the Banner website. For your protection, information on application status cannot be release by telephone or to third parties. The ME Department and the NEP can only recommend admission. Official notification from the Graduate School will be sent by postal mail. Estimated date for decisions to be posted for applicants in the US is March 15th for complete applications received by January 15th. Estimated date for decisions to be posted for applicants outside the US is May 15th for complete applications received by January 15th. Please be aware that the online status only indicates if the application is complete at the VT Graduate School, not necessarily with the Department or Program.

This list of frequently asked questions may prove useful.

Basic particle transport concepts. Random processes, random number generation techniques, fundamental formulation of Monte Carlo, sampling procedures, and fundamentals of probability and statistics. Monte Carlo algorithms for particle transport, non-analog Monte Carlo method

Nuclear Reactor Analysis

Nuclear reactions and fission process. The fission chain reaction. Neutron diffusion and moderation. One-speed diffusion model of a nuclear reactor. Neutron slowing and multigroup diffusion theory. Nuclear reactor kinetics. Introduction to reactor core physics design.

Monte Carlo Methods for Particle Transport

fall, summer *

Basic particle transport concepts. Random processes, random number generation techniques, fundamental formulation of Monte Carlo, sampling procedures, and fundamentals of probability and statistics. Monte Carlo algorithms for particle transport, non-analog Monte Carlo method, formulations for different variance reduction techniques, and tallying procedures. Methodologies for parallelization and vectorization of the Monte Carlo methods, and examples of the Monte Carlo method for simulation of various real-life applications.

Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Uranium nuclear fuel cycle: mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel manufacturing, in-core fuel management and refueling, spent fuel storage, reprocessing/recycling and final disposition as waste in a geologic repository. Introduction to nuclear safeguards and nonproliferation as applied to each step of the cycle.

Advanced Nuclear Materials

Materials for nuclear applications with emphasis on fission reactors. Fundamental radiation effects on materials; material properties relevant to structural, moderator, reflector, blanket, coolant, control related structural systems. Pre-requisite: Graduate Standing required

Reactor Thermal Hydraulics

Fundamental processes of hear generation and transport in nuclear reactors. Heat generation by fission and radiation interactions; spatial distribution of heat generation; heat transport by conduction and convection. Effects of boiling and critical heat flux. Fundamentals of reactor thermal and hydraulic design.

Radiation Detection & Shielding

Radioactive decay, interaction of charged particles and photons with matter, methods of radiation detection and radiation dosimetry, counting statistics, external radiation protection using time, distance and shielding.

Particle Transport Theory Methods and Application

spring, summer *

Neutron transport theory. Neutron slowing down and resonance absorption. Neutron thermalization. Perturbation and variational methods. Homogenization theory. Space-time neutron kinetics.

Nuclear Reactor Safety

Hazards of nuclear reactors; analysis of hypothetical design basis accidents; engineered safeguards and safety design principles; nuclear criticality safety; reactor containment; reactor safety codes; and probabilistic risk assessment.

Nuclear Engineering Fundamentals

A foundation course in nuclear engineering. Neutron physics, reactor theory and kinetics, basic reactor design and operation, and overall power plant operation. Pre-requisite: Graduate Standing required.

Nuclear Plant Systems & Ops

Pressurized and boiling water reactors, detailed system functions and operation, reactor plant startup and shutdown procedures, reactor trip and casualty procedures, reactor transient response analysis, reactor plant licensing, ethics and integrity in the nuclear industry.

Nuclear Nonproliferation, Safeguards, and Security

Technical essentials, policy analysis, theoretical perspectives of nuclear energy and nuclear nonproliferation. Fundamentals of the nuclear fuel cycle, management of international safeguards, threat of nuclear terrorism, and challenges for global nuclear industry.

Radiation Effects on Metals and Alloys

Radiation effects on metals and alloys. Interaction between particles and atoms, radiation damage, displacement of atoms, diffusion of point defects, radiation-induced segregation, phase instability, transmutation products, irradiated material mechanical properties.

Advanced Reactor Physics

This course discusses different advanced concepts including neutron spectra, multigroup cross-sections and resonance treatment and related issues, fuel depletion, theory of SCALE6 code system and its limitations, fuel-cell homogenization and issues, method of characteristics and fuel cell homogenization, application of perturbation theory and variational methods, finite-difference and nodal diffusion methods, advanced methods and parallel computing.

*check with the instructor for availability

More Information

Contact: Ms. Allison Jones (Program Coordinator) [email protected] , or Prof. Alireza Haghighat (Program Director) [email protected]

Do you want to apply? Fill-out the on-line application.

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Course Requirements and Residency

There are no formal course requirements for the doctoral degree. Course requirements are established solely by the doctoral committee. Typically, 45-55 credits of 400- and 500-level courses (including your master of science program) plus NucE 600 credits are needed. About half of the course credits should be in nuclear engineering courses and the other half in another engineering discipline or in another field, such as math or physics.

A student entering the doctoral program without a master of science in nuclear engineering must meet the course requirements for an M.S. in NucE. Courses are: NucE 301, NucE 302, NucE 450, NucE 403, and six credits from NucE 500-level courses, excluding NucE 596 courses.

You must spend at least two consecutive semesters in a twelve-month period as a full-time registered student, during which time you must be engaged in full-time academic work at the Penn State University Park campus, before taking your comprehensive exam.

Ph.D. Candidacy

To become a doctoral candidate, you must first be approved for candidacy by the graduate faculty. This approval is based partly on the results of a qualifying examination given to assess your potential to excel in doctoral studies and conduct high-level research.

The Graduate School requirements for the qualifying examination are:

• The examination must be taken within three semesters of entry into the doctoral program, not including summer sessions.
• You must be registered as a full-time or part-time degree student for the semester in which the examination is taken.
• You are required to demonstrate a high level of competence in the use of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking.

Students may select one of eight areas when taking the qualifying examination:

• Nuclear Science
• Reactor Physics and Analysis
• Thermal-Hydraulics
• Nuclear Materials and Fuel Performance
• Reactor Design, Dynamics, and Systems
• Nuclear Security
• Plasma Science and Engineering
• Radiochemistry

We strongly encourage you to take your qualifying exams as early as possible. The exam will be administered each fall and spring semester. Dates will be announced by the Graduate Programs Office by email to all graduate students.

The qualifying exam may include questions on all areas of basic engineering including radiation protection, nuclear science, reactor physics, heat transfer, radiation detection, reactor kinetics, nuclear systems, radiochemistry, and computational methods. The oral exam will be scheduled no sooner than one week following the written exam but as soon as practical thereafter. The topic is to be related to your field of interest but different from the thesis topic.

Comprehensive Exam

The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to demonstrate that you are qualified to successfully complete the research phase of the program. This requires that you:

• Have substantially completed the program of courses approved by your committee with a minimum grade point average of 3.00
• Have satisfied the English proficiency requirement
• Have spent at least two consecutive semesters in a twelve-month period as a full-time registered student during which time you were engaged in full-time academic work at the Penn State University Park campus (see Graduate Bulletin).

The type of examination is determined by the doctoral committee but usually consists of a literature review and thesis proposal. Additional questions can cover the major and related areas of study.

Dissertation Defense

The purpose of this examination is for students to defend their doctoral dissertation. It is the responsibility of the doctoral candidate to provide a copy of the thesis to each member of the doctoral committee at least one week before the date of the scheduled examination. Other requirements are as follows:

• The final oral examination may not be scheduled until at least three months have elapsed after the comprehensive exam was passed.
• Two weeks’ notice must be given to the Graduate School for scheduling.
• You must see the Graduate Programs Office Staff Assistant to schedule this exam and complete the required paperwork.
• The deadline for holding the exam is ten weeks before commencement. This date is listed in a calendar produced by the Graduate Programs Office, which you can get from a staff assistant.
• You must be registered full- or part-time during the semester in which you take the final oral exam.

The final examination is an oral examination administered and evaluated by the entire doctoral committee. It consists of an oral presentation of the thesis by the candidate and a period of questions and responses. The examination is related largely to the thesis, but it may cover the candidate’s whole field of study without regard to courses that have been taken either at Penn State or elsewhere. The defense of the thesis should be well-prepared including any appropriate visual aids. The portion of the exam in which the thesis is presented is open to the public.

Contact Information

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The Ken and Mary Alice Lindquist Department of Nuclear Engineering at Penn State is one of the top ranked nuclear engineering programs in the United States. The department distinguishes itself with a strong focus on experimental research. The actively growing department leads four educational programs for students pursuing a bachelor of science, a master of science, a master of engineering, or a doctoral degree. The Radiation Science and Engineering Center (RSEC) facilities, including the Breazeale Reactor, are available to nuclear engineering faculty and students at Penn State for research and instruction. RSEC houses the Breazeale Nuclear Reactor, the country’s first and longest operating licensed nuclear research reactor. Having access to an operating research reactor is a key strength for the department and enables Penn State to harness research and educational opportunities that are unique in the United States. See how we’re inspiring change and impacting tomorrow at nuce.psu.edu.

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Doctoral (Ph.D.) Program

In order to receive the Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering, all students must successfully complete the following three milestones:

• Required coursework: major and minor requirements
• Departmental Exams: first year screening exams and the oral qualifying exam

Dissertation

Major Field Requirement

The major field is always defined as “Nuclear Engineering”, not the student’s specific research area.  All six courses required for this field must be NE courses in the department.  Occasionally students may petition to include courses taught by NE faculty in other departments.

Minor Requirements (two minors required)

In addition to a major field, each student must select two minor fields that serve to broaden the base of the studies and lend support to the major field. Each minor program field should have an orientation different from the major program.  Typically, at least one minor field consists of regular courses taken outside the department (i.e., no 298 or 299 independent studies or non-graded courses).  Each field must contain at least 6 units of course credit.

Department Exams

Screening Exam

During the first year in graduate study, students must pass the screening exams, consisting of four written exams in four different subject areas. Choose four subjects from the following eight subject areas: (1) radiation detection, (2) heat transfer and fluid mechanics, (3) nuclear physics,(4) neutronics, (5) fusion theory, (6) nuclear materials, (7) radioactive waste management, and (8) Radio Biophysics. All graduate students, whether MS or PhD students, must pass four screening exams during the first year of study if they wish to be admitted to, or continue into the PhD program.

Qualifying Exam (QE)

After completing the required coursework for the PhD the student takes the oral Qualifying Exam (QE).  Students must apply to the Graduate Division to take the QE no later than three weeks before the exam date, and they they are required to list at least three subject areas to be covered during the examination, as well as the members of their QE exam committee.

Advancement to PhD candidacy 

After passing the QE, the student submits an application for advancement to PhD candidacy to the Graduate Division.  The application should be submitted no later than the end of the semester following the one in which the student passed the QE.

Non-resident students who have been advanced to PhD candidacy are eligible for a waiver of the non-resident tuition fee for a maximum calendar period of three years.

Candidacy for the doctorate is only valid for a limited time.  The Graduate Division informs the student of the number of semesters they are eligible to be a PhD candidate. Students who do not complete the dissertation within that time, plus a two-year grace period, will have their candidacy lapsed.

In order to receive a degree in any given term, all work for the degree must be completed by the last day of the term.  Students must meet the Graduate Division eligibility requirements to file a dissertation .

A dissertation on a subject chosen by the candidate, bearing on the principal subject of the student's major study and demonstrating the candidate's ability to carry out independent investigation, must be completed and receive the approval of the dissertation committee and the dean of the Graduate Division.   Students should consult " Dissertation Writing and Filing " on the Graduate Division's website.

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DEGREE Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, PhD

Doctoral degree in nuclear engineering

As a PhD student in nuclear engineering and engineering physics, you’ll gain deeper experience studying the interaction of radiation with matter. With a strong emphasis on engineering and applied science, you’ll be able to focus on any of several areas, including researching, designing, developing and deploying fission reactors; fusion engineering; plasma physics; radiation damage to materials; applied superconductivity and cryogenics; and large-scale computing in engineering science.

At a glance

Nuclear engineering and engineering physics department, learn more about what information you need to apply., how to apply.

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online .

GRE scores are optional. Applicants may submit GRE scores, but are not required to do so. Applications without scores are not placed at a disadvantage.  However, received scores will be considered as part of our holistic evaluation of applications.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS and PROCESS

Degree: For admission to graduate study in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, an applicant must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, or physical science, and an undergraduate record that indicates an ability to successfully pursue graduate study. International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree. All applicants must satisfy requirements that are set forth by the  Graduate School . 

It is highly recommended that students take courses that cover the same material as these UW-Madison courses before entering the program:

Course and Semester Credits                                                       Typical Courses

Differential equations, 3 cr                                                           MATH 319 or  MATH 320  

Advanced mathematics, 3 cr                                                       MATH 321

Nuclear physics, 3 cr                                                                     N E 305

Materials science, metallurgy, or solid-state physics, 3 cr        M S & E 350 or M S & E 351

Heat transfer or fluid mechanics, 3 cr                                        CBE 320

Mechanics, 3 cr                                                                            PHYSICS 311 or E M A 202

Descriptions of course content can be accessed through The Guide . Students may enter without having taken these courses. However, in such cases the students must inform their advisors, who will help them plan courses of study that will provide adequate background for our department’s graduate curriculum. Provisions for admission on probation, or as an applicant for more than one master’s degree (e.g., simultaneous MS degrees in two departments) are given in the Graduate School website . 

GPA: The Graduate School requires a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 basis on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours from the most recent bachelor’s degree. In special cases, students with grade point averages lower than 3.0 who meet all the general requirements of the Graduate School may be considered for admission on probation.

GRE: GRE scores are optional. Applicants may submit GRE scores, but are not required to do so. Applications without scores are not placed at a disadvantage.  However, received scores will be considered as part of our holistic evaluation of applications.

PhD advisor selection process: PhD applicants are encouraged to identify potential faculty advisors and seek a confirmation. Please review the department  Research and People websites and contact those whose research interests align with yours. Only faculty members listed with the titles of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor, can serve as graduate advisors. Do not contact Emeritus faculty, Lecturers, Research Scientists, or Faculty Associates. You are also encouraged to inquire about possible funding opportunities. If a faculty member agrees to be your advisor, ask the person to email an acknowledgment to [email protected] .

Each application must include the following:

• Graduate School Application
• Academic transcripts
• Statement of purpose
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE Scores (optional – see below for additional information)
• English Proficiency Score (if required)
• Application Fee

To apply to the NEEP program, complete  applications , including supportive materials, must be submitted as described below and received by the following deadline dates:

• Fall Semester—December 15 
• Spring Semester—September 1 
• Summer Session—December 15 

ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPT

Within the online application, upload the undergraduate transcript(s) and, if applicable, the previous graduate transcript. Unofficial copies of transcripts will be accepted for review, but official copies are required for admitted students. Please do not send transcripts or any other application materials to the Graduate School or the Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics department unless requested. Please review the requirements set by the  Graduate School  for additional information about degrees/transcripts.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

In this document, applicants should explain why they want to pursue further education in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics and discuss which UW faculty members they would be interested in doing research with during their graduate study (see the Graduate School for  more advice on how to structure a personal statement ).

Upload your resume in your application.

THREE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

These letters are required from people who can accurately judge the applicant’s academic and/or research performance. It is highly recommended these letters be from faculty familiar with the applicant. Letters of recommendation are submitted electronically to graduate programs through the online application. See the  Graduate School for FAQs  regarding letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation are due by the deadline listed above. 

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY SCORE 

Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English proficiency test score. The UW-Madison Graduate School accepts TOEFL or IETLS scores. Your score will not be accepted if it is more than two years old from the start of your admission term. Country of citizenship does not exempt applicants from this requirement. Language of instruction at the college or university level and how recent the language instruction was taken are the determining factors in meeting this requirement.

For more information regarding minimum score requirements and exemption policy, please see the Graduate School Requirements for Admission .

APPLICATION FEE

Application submission must be accompanied by the one-time application fee. It is non-refundable and can be paid by credit card (MasterCard or Visa) or debit/ATM. Additional information about the application fee may be found here (scroll to the ‘Frequently asked questions).

Fee grants are available through the conditions  outlined here by the Graduate School .

If you have questions, please contact  [email protected] .

RE-ENTRY ADMISSIONS

If you were previously enrolled as a graduate student in the Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics program, have not earned your degree, but have had a break in enrollment for a minimum of a fall or spring term, you will need to re-apply to resume your studies. Please review the Graduate School requirements for previously enrolled students . Your previous faculty advisor (or another NEEP faculty advisor) must be willing to supply advising support and should e-mail the NEEP Graduate Student Services Coordinator regarding next steps in the process.

If you were previously enrolled in a UW-Madison graduate degree, completed that degree, have had a break in enrollment since earning the degree and would now like to apply for another UW-Madison program; you are required to submit a new student application through the UW-Madison Graduate School online application. For NEEP graduate programs, you must follow the entire application process as described above.

CURRENTLY ENROLLED GRADUATE STUDENT ADMISSIONS

Students currently enrolled as a graduate student at UW-Madison, whether in NEEP or a non-NEEP graduate program, wishing to apply to this degree program should contact the NEEP Graduate Admissions Team to inquire about the process and deadlines several months in advance of the anticipated enrollment term. Current students may apply to change or add programs for any term (fall, spring, or summer).

Tuition and funding

Tuition and segregated fee rates are always listed per semester (not for Fall and Spring combined).

View tuition rates

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid.  Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Offers of financial support from the Department, College, and University are in the form of research assistantships (RAs), teaching assistantships (TAs), project assistantships (PAs), and partial or full fellowships. Prospective PhD students that receive such offers will have a minimum five-year guarantee of support. The funding for RAs comes from faculty research grants. Each professor decides on his or her own RA offers. International applicants must secure an RA, TA, PA, fellowship, or independent funding before admission is final. Funded students are expected to maintain full-time enrollment.  See the program website for additional information.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES FUNDING AND SCHOLARSHIPS

For information on International Student Funding and Scholarships visit the ISS  website .

In the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, we strive to design and deploy unique world-class experimental and computational capabilities to translate novel discoveries into transformative technologies. Having a broad range of laboratory facilities and collaborative centers at the right scale for energy and mechanics research is a hallmark of the department. The technologies we develop can solve challenges in energy, health, space, security and many other areas.

View our research

Curricular Requirements

Minimum graduate school requirements.

Review the Graduate School minimum  academic progress and degree requirements , in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Required Courses

Students must fulfill the coursework requirements for the nuclear engineering and engineering physics M.S. degree whether receiving the M.S. degree or going directly to the PhD. They must complete an additional 9 credits of technical coursework at the graduate level, beyond the coursework requirement for the MS. Candidates must take three courses numbered 700 or above; must satisfy the Ph.D. technical minor requirement; and must satisfy the PhD non-technical minor requirement.

The candidate is also required to complete, as a graduate student, one course numbered 400 or above in each of the following Areas: fission reactors; plasma physics and fusion; materials; engineering mathematics and computation (see Area Coursework Examples below).

M.S. Coursework Requirements

The following courses, or courses with similar material content, must be taken prior to or during the course of study: N E 427 Nuclear Instrumentation Laboratory ; N E 428 Nuclear Reactor Laboratory or N E 526 Laboratory Course in Plasmas ; N E 408 Ionizing Radiation or N E/​MED PHYS  569 Health Physics and Biological Effects .

Thesis pathway 1 : maximum of 12 credits for thesis; at least 8 credits of N E courses numbered 400 or above; remaining credits (also numbered 400 or above) must be in appropriate technical areas 2 ; at least 9 credits must be numbered 500 and above; up to 3 credits can be seminar credits.

Non-Thesis pathway 1 : at least 15 credits of N E courses numbered 400 or above; remaining 15 credits (also numbered 400 or above) must be in appropriate technical areas 2 ; at least 12 credits must be at numbered 500 or above; up to 3 credits can be seminar credits.

For both the thesis and non-thesis options, only one course (maximum of 3 credits) of independent study ( N E 699 Advanced Independent Study , N E 999 Advanced Independent Study ) is allowed.

These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.

Appropriate technical areas are: Engineering departments (except Engineering and Professional Development), Physics, Math, Statistics, Computer Science, Medical Physics, and Chemistry. Other courses may be deemed appropriate by a student’s faculty advisor.

Area Coursework Examples

These courses are examples that would meet the requirement and are not meant to be a restricted list of possible courses. The candidate is required to complete one course in each of the following areas:

Non-Technical Minor Requirements

Ph.D. candidates must complete one of the following four study options prior to receiving dissertator status. As this is a formal Department requirement, the student should select a Non-Technical Minor early in the program, and must complete it to achieve dissertator status (see below). The Non-Technical Minor must be planned with the help of the candidate’s advisor and must be approved by the Department NonTechnical Minor Advisor except for Study Option IV which must be approved by the Department faculty. A Non-Technical Minor Approval Form is available from the Graduate Student Coordinator, and must be filed prior to submission of the doctoral plan form. Courses numbered below 400 may be used as a part of the Non-Technical Minor.

Study Option I : Technology-Society Interaction Coursework. This option is intended to increase the student’s awareness of the possible effects of technology on society and of the professional responsibilities of engineers and scientists in understanding such side effects. These effects could, for example, involve the influence of engineering on advancement of human welfare, on the distribution of wealth in society, or on environmental and ecological systems.

Suggested courses for fulfilling Option I include:

Study Option II :  Humanistic Society Studies Coursework. The basic objectives of this option are to help prepare the student to bridge the gap between C.P. Snow’s "Two Cultures." Snow’s 1959 lecture thesis was that the breakdown of communication between the "two cultures" of modern society – the sciences and the humanities – was a major hindrance to solving the world’s problems. Study might be designed to give a greater appreciation of the arts such as the classics, music, or painting, or it might be designed, for example, as preparation for translating technical information to the non-technical public.

Suggested areas of study to fulfill Option II include Anthropology, Area Studies, Art, Art History, Classics, Comparative Literature, Contemporary Trends, English (literature), Foreign Languages (literature), Social Work, Sociology, and Speech. Under either Option I or II, the student must take 6 credits of coursework. The courses must be approved by the student’s advisor and the non-technical minor advisor, and the 6 credits should be concentrated in one topical area. Grades in these courses need not meet the Departmental Grade Policy. However, note that all grades in courses numbered 300 or above courses (including grades for Non-Technical Minor courses) are calculated in the Graduate School minimum 3.0 graduation requirement.

Study Option III : Foreign Culture Coursework. This option is intended for the student who desires to live and work in a foreign nation or work with people of a foreign culture. Examples include studies of the history of a foreign nation, of the political stability of a region of the world, of the culture of a particular group within a nation, or of the spoken language of a foreign nation. For Option III the student must take six credits of courses under all of the same conditions and requirements as for Option I and II unless choosing language study. For the latter case, the student must attain a grade of C or better in all courses. If the student has previous knowledge of a language, it is required that either courses beyond the introductory level will be elected or that another language will be elected.

Study Option IV : Technology-Society Interactions Experience. There are many possible technology-society interactions that might be more educational and meaningful for the student as an actual experience than coursework. For example, the student might run for and be elected to a position of alderperson in the city government. Consequently, this option allows the student to pursue a particular aspect of the interaction using his own time and resources.

Study Option IV activity must be planned with the student’s advisor and be approved by the faculty. The effort required should be equivalent to 6 credits of coursework. Upon completion of this program, the student will prepare a written or oral report.

Note: Students from countries in which English is not the native language have inherently fulfilled these non-technical study goals and are exempt from these formal requirements.

Graduate Student Services [email protected] 3182 Mechanical Engineering 1513 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706

Carl Sovinec, Director of Graduate Studies [email protected]

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Doctor of Philosophy with a Major in Nuclear Engineering

The Nuclear and Radiological Engineering and Medical Physics Program within the Woodruff School offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree.  There is both a Nuclear Engineering option and a Medical Physics option for this degree.  Students may also complete the Nuclear Enterprise Management specialization.  The field of nuclear engineering focuses on topics related to radiation interactions with matter.  Applications range from nuclear reactor design to fusion power to nuclear medicine. 

All PhD programs must incorporate a standard set of Requirements for the Doctoral Degree .

The doctoral degree in Nuclear Engineering (NE) requires 42 semester hours of course work (on a letter-grade basis) beyond the bachelor's degree or its equivalent. The doctoral degree in NE also allows for a specialization in Nuclear Enterprise Management. Course grades must be C or higher to satisfy PhD degree requirements. Candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy degree must earn and maintain a graduate grade-point average of at least 3.3.

Requirements

Program of study.

A Ph.D. Program of Study form must be submitted for approval by your faculty advisor and the Woodruff School Graduate Committee before the end of your first semester of doctoral study.

Upon preliminary approval, the Ph.D. Program of Study will be forwarded to the Woodruff School Graduate Committee for final approval.  In preparing your program of study, students should be aware that graduate courses are usually offered only once a year and, in some cases, even less frequently. 

Must be in a coherent subject area appropriate to NE/RE. If completed a master's thesis in this area, it may count for nine semester hours toward this requirement.

Must be distinctly different from the major area. The minor is intended to provide depth in an area not directly needed for Ph.D. research or related to the principal area of expertise.

No restrictions.

Nuclear Engineering/Medical Physics

The doctoral degree requires 52 semester hours of course work (on a letter-grade basis) beyond the bachelor's degree or its equivalent. A total of 46 semester hours must be at the 6000 level or above. Up to six semester hours may be at the 4000 level. Any courses required for the B.S.M.E. or the B.S.N.R.E  do not  meet these respective course requirements.

Must be in a coherent subject area appropriate to NE/RE. If you completed a master's thesis in this area, it may count for nine semester hours toward this requirement.

May be different than the major or minor, or could be applied to the major or minor area.

Qualifying Exam

Grade Point Average Requirement

Must be registered for the semester in which you take the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination and have full graduate standing. A minimum GPA of 3.3 is required to take the qualifying examination.

Examination Schedule

If a student already has a master's degree and matriculate as a Ph.D. student, the student must take the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination within the first year of your initial enrollment date in the Woodruff School graduate program.  Those who matriculate with a bachelor's degree must take the qualifying examination within the two-year period of your initial enrollment date in the Woodruff School graduate program.

For example, if enrollment were Fall 2019, a student with master’s degree and matriculated as a Ph.D. student should have taken the qualifying exams by Spring 2020. If enrollment were Spring 2020, exam would be taken by Fall 2020.

For example, if enrollment were Fall 2019, a student with bachelor’s degree and matriculated as a Ph.D. student should have taken the qualifying exams Spring 2021. If enrollment were Spring 2020, exam would be taken by Fall 2021.

Examination Format:

The grading of the examinations will conform to existing Woodruff School guidelines.  The results of the three examinations (two written examinations and the oral examination) will be reviewed by the NRE/MP faculty and reported to the Woodruff School Office of Student Services and the Woodruff School academic faculty.

Students will be notified of the results of the exam (pass/fail in each area as well as an overall pass/fail grade) by letter from the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies.  The Associate Chair will counsel each student who does not pass the exam.  Students not passing the exam are encouraged to discuss their performance with their faculty advisors as well as the chairs of the appropriate area exam committees.

RCR Training

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) (1 course, 1 hour, pass/fail).  Georgia Tech requires that all PhD students complete an RCR requirement that consists of an online component and in-person training. The online component is completed during the student’s first semester enrolled at Georgia Tech.  The in-person training is satisfied by taking PHIL 6000 or their associated academic program’s in-house RCR course.

Seminar Requirement

All Ph.D. students must register for Seminar  8014  (2 credit hours- no letter grade- attend at least 22 seminars).

The course is offered on a pass/fail basis and therefore is  not  included in the 42 semester-hours degree requirement.  Attendance at a minimum of 22 seminars per credit hour is necessary to pass, with the attendance record being cumulative from semester to semester. Registration for these credits occurs after you attend the requisite number of seminars.

Teaching Practicum Requirement

All Woodruff School Ph.D. students are required to complete three semester hours of Teaching Practicum (ME/NRE 7757) during the course of their doctoral studies.

Students enrolled in the teaching practicum will work closely with a Woodruff School faculty member in all aspects of teaching a course, including the preparation and delivery of a limited number of lectures (usually in the presence of the course professor) tutorials, evaluation of homework, laboratories, and examinations.  The faculty member of record will maintain full responsibility for the course.  You must do the teaching component and the classwork in the same term.

In addition to the mentored teaching component, students enrolled in the practicum must attend weekly lecture discussions focused on engineering pedagogy, ethics, professional development and leadership.  Students may  not  register for this course during the semester in which you expect to receive the Ph.D. ME/NRE 7757 is offered on a pass/fail basis and  cannot  be used to satisfy the 42 semester-hours course work requirement.  Students are not allowed to perform GTA responsibilities in the course for which they are participating in the Teaching Practicum.

Proposal Presentation

The objective of the Ph.D. Proposal is to allow an early assessment of your chosen topic of research for the satisfactory completion of the doctoral degree.  The proposal should delineate your specific area of research by stating the purpose, scope, methodology, overall organization, and limitations of the proposed study area. The proposal should include a review of the relevant literature and indicate the expected contribution of the research. An oral presentation of the proposal must be undertaken open to public. 

Dissertation Presentation

The defense must be at least six (6) months after your proposal presentation.

After adequate preparation, you must complete an original and authoritative investigation in your chosen field that culminates in a written dissertation describing that investigation.  An oral defense of the dissertation must be undertaken open to public. 

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Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

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Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science PhD in Nuclear Engineering

Earn a phd in nuclear engineering.

Develop as a professional in your field by building your subject matter knowledge and furthering your communication skills.  

Have you considered getting your doctoral degree after graduation, or maybe you are already in the nuclear engineering field and want to further your education to open doors for promotion or leadership roles? S&T’s nuclear engineering graduate program is here to help you achieve your goals! Engage in productive analysis and criticism of your own and others’ research during your graduate studies.

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Get info on our program, scholarships, how to visit campus, admissions and more. Take the next step in solving for tomorrow!

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Degree Information

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program is open to students who have successfully completed their MS program or have enrolled in a direct Ph.D. program.

Research in Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

This is an exciting time to pursue research opportunities in nuclear engineering. You will work with faculty in research areas such as neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, nuclear materials, and medical application of nuclear sciences.

Explore Research Fields

• Nuclear materials
• Nuclear reactor thermal hydraulics
• Nano radioisotopes research
• Medical imaging
• Computational reactor physics

See the Graduate Student Experience

Information for future students, explore other programs, financial aid, campus living, costs and fees.

Follow Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

UC Davis Graduate Studies

Nuclear science, about the program, learn more about the program.

The designated emphasis in Nuclear Sciences derives its faculty membership from six departments, and provides access to the Crocker Nuclear Lab, McClellan Nuclear Research Center, and a host of other laboratories involved in nuclear science. This interdisciplinary program serves as a hub for research and education in nuclear science and engineering at UC Davis.

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Nuclear Physics PhD

Awards: PhD

Study modes: Full-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Nuclear Physics

Upcoming Introduction to Postgraduate Study and Research events

Join us online on the 19th June or 26th June to learn more about studying and researching at Edinburgh.

Choose your event and register

Research profile

We have established an enviable reputation for producing impactful work and sought-after graduates. Our group boasts the greatest breadth of expertise in the UK, which creates a research environment that allows for diversity, collaboration and a high level of understanding of the field as a whole.

Our experimental research includes studies to identify both the baryonic and non-baryonic constituents of the universe, the influence of nuclear reactions on stellar explosions, and the quark substructures of hadrons.

The main areas of our research include:

• photonuclear research
• exotic nuclei
• nuclear astrophysics
• silicon detector devices
• dark matter research

Training and support

Our students undertake experimental research, often in small collaborations. You will be encouraged to become involved in all aspects of the experiments, including design, construction, implementation, data analysis and presentation of results.

We have an in-house development programme of advanced particle and photon detection systems and state-of-the-art simulation software and analysis techniques. Much of this has been made possible by our work with commercial company Micron Semiconductor.

Another recent collaboration, with Imperial College and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, aims to establish the first direct evidence of non-baryonic dark matter.

Most of our projects are undertaken in international collaborations. Should your research warrant it, you will have the opportunity to develop your work at one of a number of high-profile research facilities and worldwide institutions, such as TRIUMF in Canada, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory in the US, CERN in Switzerland and Mainz University in Germany. These partnerships will not only help you develop your research to an international standard, but will also give you the chance to establish valuable contacts in the world of nuclear physics.

Career opportunities

Research degrees in nuclear physics from the University of Edinburgh have taken many of our graduates into international appointments. Recent alumni have taken research positions at international universities and labs including UCLA, Boston University, TRIUMF, and the universities of Michigan and Munich.

The quality of the degree is very well recognised, and a significant asset to any academic or commercial employer.

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in physics or a related discipline.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE : ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

• Academic Technology Approval Scheme

If you are not an EU , EEA or Swiss national, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate in order to study this programme.

Fees and costs

Tuition fees, scholarships and funding, featured funding.

• Research Council Studentships
• Research scholarships for international students
• University/School funded studentships

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK's governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Graduate School Administrator
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 5812
• Contact: [email protected]
• School of Physics & Astronomy
• James Clerk Maxwell Building
• Peter Guthrie Tait Road
• The King's Buildings Campus
• Programme: Nuclear Physics
• School: Physics & Astronomy
• College: Science & Engineering

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

PhD Physics - 3 Years (Full-time)

Application deadlines.

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

• How to apply

You must submit two references with your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

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The Nuclear Engineering program is offered under the department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science (NERS).  The primary mission of the NE program is to provide an outstanding and comprehensive education to tomorrow's leaders in nuclear science and technology.  The NE program provides well-educated professionals and leaders to Missouri and the nation, in the commercial nuclear industry, national laboratories, medical schools, and the nation's defense and federal agencies.  Nuclear Engineering is a strong and growing engineering program administered by highly motivated and active nuclear engineering faculty; first accredited in 1960, it is one of the earliest ABET accredited undergraduate programs in the nation and is the only B.S. Nuclear Engineering degree program accredited in the state of Missouri.

The educational objectives for graduate degrees in Nuclear Engineering are:

• Graduates will apply subject matter knowledge within their field of study.
• Graduates will communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Graduates will engage in productive analysis and criticism of their own and others' research.
• Graduates will demonstrate the ability to further develop as a professional in their field.

There are a number of research laboratories and facilities available for graduate students:

The Missouri S&T Reactor (MSTR) is located on the Missouri University of Science and Technology campus in Rolla, Missouri.  MSTR provides facilities for experimental research, undergraduate training, and learning about reactor physics and other aspects of nuclear engineering.  It is a 200 kW pool-type reactor, and is integral to the education of Nuclear Engineering students through hands-on laboratory activities.  The reactor was initially licensed in 1961, and was converted from high-enriched uranium (HEU) to low-enriched uranium (LEU) in 1992.  Recently MSTR has gone through a number of changes.  A new active cooling system capable of removing up to 400 kW of heat was installed using funding from the Department of Energy in 2013.  In 2014 new digital control room systems were installed, replacing the original systems from 1961 and allowing MSTR to serve as a testbed for a new digital reactor control technologies.  A distance education system, also installed in 2014, allows our faculty and staff to provide online training through distance education for students around the world.  Additional modifications are planned over the next several years, including the installation of new digital recording systems to replace paper records.  Research facilities, experimental capabilities and services available at the reactor include:

• A neutron beam port for neutron radiography, tomography and ex-core neutron irradiations
• Thermal column for experiments involving thermal neutrons
• Pneumatic transfer tubes for in-core irradiation experiments and Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA)
• Isotope production elements and void tubes for in-core irradiations
• Internet accessible hot cell facility for high-activity sample irradiation and counting
• Subcritical assembly for teaching the fundamentals for reactor physics
• Gamma spectroscopy systems equipped with Sodium-Iodide (NaI) and High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detectors
• Liquid scintillation counter for alpha and beta spectroscopy
• State-of-the-art distance education system for broadcasting reactor labs to outside universities and organizations

Radiation imaging has been the most successful and useful method of early cancer detection as well as highly helpful nondestructive testing method for various industrial applications.  In the Advanced Radiography and Tomograph Laboratory (ARTLAB), we are developing innovative radiation imaging systems for medical and industrial purposes.  We develop and utilize a wide range of new tools, from x-ray sources for radiation imaging to sophisticated algorithms for image processing and computed tomography (CT) reconstruction.  One such example is the ongoing project of developing a stationary CT, a new type of x-ray tubes for fast imaging is under development.  Also, we develop machine learning algorithms for radiation image analysis and automatic radiosotope detection for homeland security and defense applications.  The lab is equipped with a homemade benchtop 3D CT, a clean room for x-ray tube experiments and a high-performance computer server with COMSOL software for simulation studies.

The D-D generator laboratory uses Deuterium gas and a microwave to generate plasma as an ion source to induce nuclear fusion.  This results in a relatively high-flux source of fast and epithermal neutrons useful for prompt gamma neutron activation analysis, neutron activation analysis, and radiography.  Using Deuterium rather than radioactive Tritium, as well as an “open-vacuum” construction, allows the system to be easily reconfigured for experiments.

The Thermal Hydraulic Experiment, Modeling, and Engineering Simulation (THEMES) Laboratory is designed as a modular, multipurpose facility capable of supporting a wide variety of multiphase flow experiments, simulations, and modeling efforts.  The central feature of the THEMES Laboratory is a modular test facility designed to support up to six concurrent experiments by effectively utilizing existing infrastructure.  This allows for rapid deployment of experiments, lets projects to progress rapidly to the construction and testing phases, and reduces the cost to the sponsor. A 30 hp pump provides up to 1000 gpm of water flow at 90 ft of head, while a 50 hp compressor provides up to 270 acfm of compressed air at a pressure of 200 psi.  Flow is measured using pressure transducers, rotameters, a laminar flow element, a vortex flow meter, a magnetic flow meter, and other state-of-the-art instruments.  Robust four-sensor electrical conductivity probes for multiphase flow measurements are constructed and characterized in-house, with unique software for enhancing data processing performance.

The Vacuum Technology and X-Ray Generation Laboratory is located in Fulton 213 and has facilities to produce and work with vacuum technology up to 10 -9 Torr. The equipment includes roughing mechanical pumps, ion pumps, turbo pumps, glass vacuum chambers, steel vacuum chambers with programmable ramp-heating capabilities, Residual Gas Analyzer-RGA200, and a variety of pressure gauges, ion guns, and radiation detectors and other measurement equipment. Total area is 561 sq ft.

The Radiochemistry and Nanotechnology Laboratory is located in Fulton 218 and houses a fume hood with wet chemistry capabilities, a two seat glove box, chemical waste disposal, safes for radioactive materials, UV-Vis Spectrophotometer, analytical balance, centrifuges, vacuum filtration and drying system, furnace, stereo microscope, ultrasonicators, with a total area of 466 sq. ft.

The Nuclear Materials Laboratory is home to two lab facilities with specialized equipment for characterizing the effects of radiation on solids at the atomic and microscopic scales. Equipment available includes a Confocal Raman Microscope, a Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectrometer, a Modulated Photothermal Radiometer, a Three-Omega system configured for thermal diffusivity measurements and a Four-Terminal Resistivity Station. The facilities of the campus Materials Research Center are also available for nuclear materials related research. These facilities include state-of-the-art Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopes, X-ray Diffractometers, a Nanoindenter, Atomic Force Microscope and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectrometer among other tools. Ample opportunities exist for Nuclear Engineering students to collaborate with students and researchers in the campus Materials Science and Engineering Department.

The Radiation Measurements and Spectroscopy Laboratory is a teaching lab mainly for education and training of undergraduate nuclear engineering students. Three identical workstations for alpha particle, beta particle, and gamma-ray spectroscopy can provide “hands-on” training in radiation detection and measurement for 18 students at a time. The five internet-accessible digital signal analyzers allow 50 remote users to participate in nuclear spectroscopy and measurement and collection of spectra data via an internet connection at any given time. When the RMSL is not in use for education or training, it is open for faculty and graduate students to conduct research. The lab was significantly renovated with support from DOE and is equipped with state-of-the-art radiation detectors and signal processing systems.

The nuclear engineering graduate program offers the master of science, the doctor of engineering, and the doctor of philosophy degrees. B.S. in a field of engineering or suitable physical science is a prerequisite for admission into the nuclear engineering graduate program. The master’s degree program is designed to provide training and expertise in the design of nuclear energy systems, us of nuclear technology for medical as well as industrial applications. Both thesis and without thesis options are available for M.S. degree program with a minimum of 30 credit hours required for successful completion. Research areas of specialization include:

• Reactor design and safety
• Thermal hydraulics
• Radiation effects
• Radiation dosimetry, protection and health physics
• Radiation transport and shielding
• Space nuclear power
• Materials for nuclear applications
• Nuclear fuel cycle
• Radioactive waste management
• Radiation imaging and its applications in medicine and industry
• Radiation measurements and spectroscopy

For the Ph.D. program, a research project with a written dissertation of high caliber demonstrating candidate’s capacity to conduct independent and original research, to critically analyze results and to infer sound conclusions is necessary. The dissertation must produce original research results acceptable for publication in a refereed journal. To facilitate high quality research, the nuclear engineering program has the following laboratory facilities:

• Nuclear Reactor

The Missouri University of Science and Technology Nuclear Reactor (MSTR) is a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensed 200 kW pool-type reactor that is used to support the engineering and science activities on campus. Using the facility, the reactor staff provides hands-on laboratory, research and development and project opportunities. The reactor itself uses uranium fuel and is cooled by natural convection in a pool containing approximately 30,000 gallons of water.

The open pool design allows access to the reactor core where experiments and samples to be irradiated can be positioned. The facility is equipped with a pneumatics sample irradiation system, a neutron beam port that provides a collimated neutron beam, and a thermal column.

• Internet-Accessible Hot Cell Facility

A dual-chambered internet-accessible heavily shielded facility with pneumatic access to the Missouri S&T 200 kW Research Nuclear Reactor (MSTR) allows authorized distance users to remotely manipulate and analyze neutron irradiated samples. The system consists of two shielded compartments, one for multiple sample storage, and the other dedicated exclusively for radiation measurements and spectroscopy. The second chamber has multiple detector ports, with graded shielding, and has the capability to support gamma spectroscopy using radiation detectors such as an HPGe detector. Both these chambers are connected through a rapid pneumatic system with access to the MSTR nuclear reactor core. The total transportation time between the core and the hot cell is less than 3.0 seconds.

• Radiation Measurement and Spectroscopy Laboratory (RMSL)

The Radiation Measurement and Spectroscopy Laboratory is equipped for measurement of alpha, beta and gamma particles with the help of various detectors such as Geiger-Mueller counters, NaI (Tl) scintillation detectors, HPGe Semiconductor detectors, Ortec Ultra charged particle detectors, and Ortec partially depleted silicon surface barrier detectors. Detection systems including pre-amplifiers, amplifiers, single channel analyzers, counters, timers, multi-channel analyzers are also included in the laboratory. RMSL contains neutron and X-ray measurement modules using He-3 isotropic detectors and ion chambers respectively. All of the detectors in RMSL are compatible with state-of-the-art software and Lynx digital data analysis systems which allows remote web-based experimental capability. All of these things allows the RMSL tremendous potential for collaborative experiments and discoveries with local researchers and researchers around the world.

• Nuclear Materials Laboratory

The facilities of the Materials Research Center, metallurgical engineering, and nuclear engineering programs are also available for nuclear materials-related research. These facilities include state of the art SEM/EDX, TEM, STEM, FIB/FESEM, and XRD.

• Computer Laboratory

Students have the opportunity to use large computer codes commonly used in the nuclear industry for reactor core design, radiation transport, and thermal hydraulics analysis. The nuclear engineering program maintains an excellent laboratory with personal computers with access to a campus cluster of numerically intensive computing (NIC) systems.

• Two-phase Flow and Thermal-Hydraulics Laboratory (TFTL)

The nuclear engineering TFTL is designed to perform both fundamental and advanced two-phase flow experiments simulating prototypic nuclear reactor conditions. The TFTL is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation such as a micro multi-sensor conductivity probe, a high-speed digital motion-corder, various flow measurement devices, and a data acquisition system and software. Topics of research studied in the TFTL include advanced two-phase flow modeling, two-phase flow characterization in various flow channel geometries, air-water two-phase bubble jet experiment, secondary flow analysis in liquid film flow, and development of two-phase flow instrumentation.

• Advanced Radiography and Tomography Lab

The laboratory is designed to perform radiation imaging for medical or industrial purpose. Students have opportunities of running Monte Carlo simulation codes for radiation imaging systems and experimenting with digital x-ray radiography, x-ray computed tomography, neutron imaging, etc. The technologies developed in the lab can be applied to either medical imaging or non-destructive inspection of various materials or objects.

• Neutron Generator Laboratory

The neutron generator laboratory has a D-D neutron generator that produces approximately 10 9 neutrons/sec. The neutron generator is available for both graduate and undergraduate research and education at Missouri S&T. Examples of research using the neutron generator are reactor kinetics research, the study of two-phase flow, research in nuclear forensics and radiochemistry, particle tracking in complex flows, and the photon-neutron tomography for mechanical testing of structural materials.

For more information about the doctoral program see the masters tab or contact the Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science department at [email protected] or 573-341-4720.  You may also visit the departmental website at https://nuclear.mst.edu/ .

• Nuclear Nonproliferation

The nuclear engineering program offers a graduate certificate program to professionals and students who desire to undergo formal instruction in nuclear nonproliferation.  The topics in comprising the certificate program are selected from courses available to graduate students in the nuclear engineering program at Missouri University of Science and Technology.  All courses are available both in traditional on-campus delivery and online format.  The certificate program deployment strategy allows all enrollees to pace their study in manner consistent with the individual’s plans.

The Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Nonproliferation is open to all persons holding a B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. degree in Engineering, Science, and/or Mathematics as well as related B.A. or M.A. degrees, or are currently accepted into a graduate degree program at Missouri S&T. 

The certificate program requires 4 courses equivalent to 12 credit hours.  There are 8 course available to the certificate program, 1 of which is required for the completion of the graduate certificate in nuclear nonproliferation.  Program enrollees may select any 3 of the remaining 7 courses towards the completion of the graduate certificate.  Enrollees may take 1 or 2 classes each semester so that the certificate program may be completed within 1 to 2 years.

NUC ENG 5000 Special Problems (IND 0.0-6.0)

Problems or readings on specific subjects or projects in he department. Consent of instructor required.

NUC ENG 5001 Special Topics (IND 0.0-6.0)

This course is designed to give the department an opportunity to test a new course. Variable title.

NUC ENG 5010 Seminar (RSD 0.0-6.0)

Discussion of current topics.

NUC ENG 5203 Reactor Physics I (LEC 3.0)

Study of neutron interactions, fission, chain reactions, neutron diffusion and neutron slowing down; criticality of a bare thermal homogeneous reactor. Prerequisite: Nuc Eng 3205.

NUC ENG 5207 Nuclear Fuel Cycle (LEC 3.0)

Nuclear fuel reserves and resources; milling, conversion, and enrichment; fuel fabrication; in-and-out-of core fuel management; transportation, storage, and disposal of nuclear fuel; low level and high level waste management; economics of the nuclear fuel cycle. Prerequisite: Nuc Eng 3205.

NUC ENG 5241 Nuclear Materials I (LEC 3.0)

Fundamentals of materials selection for components in nuclear applications; design and fabrication of UO2 fuel; reactor fuel element performance; mechanical properties of UO2; radiation damage and effects, including computer modeling; corrosion of materials in nuclear reactor systems. Prerequisites: Civ Eng 2210; Nuc Eng 3205: Nuc Eng 3223; Met Eng 2110. (Co-listed with Met Eng 5170).

NUC ENG 5251 Reactor Kinetics (LEC 3.0)

Derivation and solutions to elementary kinetics models. Application of the point kinetics model in fast and thermal reactor dynamics, internal and external feedback mechanisms, rigorous derivation and solutions of the space dependent kinetics model fission product and fuel isotope changes during reactor operation. Prerequisite: Nuc Eng 3205.

NUC ENG 5257 Introduction to Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics (LEC 3.0)

An introductory course in the application of thermal-hydraulic principles to energy systems, with emphasis on nuclear energy issues. Will include the development of constitutive models and applications to power systems, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer problems (including multiphase flows). Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

NUC ENG 5281 Introduction to Probabilistic Risk Assessment (LEC 3.0)

An introduction to advanced techniques for assessing reliability, safety and risk in complex systems. Classification of initiating events, fault tree analysis, consequences, figures of merit, and use of probabilistic risk analysis in regulation are discussed using examples and applied through a simple case study. (Co-listed with Sys Eng 5281).

NUC ENG 5312 Nuclear Radiation Measurements and Spectroscopy (LAB 1.0 and LEC 2.0)

Contemporary radiation detection theory and experiments with high resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy, solid state detectors, neutron detection and conventional gas filled detectors. Neutron activation analysis of unknown material, statistical aspects of nuclear measurements. Prerequisite: Nuc Eng 3205.

NUC ENG 5347 Radiological Engineering (LEC 3.0)

Radiation exposure pathways analysis. Modeling of radionuclides transport through atmosphere, surface and ground water. Human health impact. Transportation of nuclear waste. Nuclear Waste characterization. Regulatory structure and requirements. Scenario case studies and computer simulation of transport. Prerequisite: Nuc Eng 3205.

NUC ENG 5350 Advanced Nuclear Medical Science (LEC 3.0)

Advanced level of technologies involved in medical modalities, such as digital radiography, digital mammography, modern computed tomography, gamma camera, SPECT and PET will be covered. Prerequisites: Nuc Eng 4312 or equivalent.

NUC ENG 5363 Applied Health Physics (LEC 3.0)

Radiation sources; external and internal dosimetry; biological effects of radiation; radiation protection principles; regulatory guides; radioactive and nuclear materials management. Prerequisite: Nuc Eng 3103 or Physics 2305.

NUC ENG 5365 Radiation Protection Engineering (LEC 3.0)

Radiation fields and sources including nuclear reactors, radioactive wastes, x-ray machines, and accelerators. Stopping of radiation (Charges particles, photons, and neutrons) by matter. Radiation transport methods. Radiation shielding design. Dose rate calculations. Biological effects of radiation. Regulatory guides (10CFR20). Prerequisite: Nuc Eng 3205.

NUC ENG 5367 Radioactive Waste Management And Remediation (LEC 3.0)

Sources and classes of radioactive waste, long-term decay, spent fuel storage, transport, disposal options, regulatory control, materials issues, site selection and geologic characterization, containment, design and monitoring requirements, domestic and foreign waste disposal programs, economic and environmental issues, history of disposal actions, and conduct of remedial actions and clean up. Prerequisite: Math 3304. (Co-listed with Geology 4421).

NUC ENG 5370 Plasma Physics I (LEC 3.0)

Single particle orbits in electric and magnetic fields, moments of Boltzmann equation and introduction to fluid theory. Diffusion of plasma in electric and magnetic fields. Analysis of laboratory plasmas and magnetic confinement devices. Introduction to plasma kinetic theory. Prerequisite: Aero Eng 3131 or Mech Eng 3131 or Physics 3211 or Nuc Eng 3221 or Elec Eng 3600. (Co-listed with Aero Eng 5570, Mech Eng 5570, Physics 4543).

NUC ENG 5428 Advanced Reactor Laboratory I (LAB 1.0 and LEC 2.0)

Acquaints the student with neutron flux measurement, reactor operation, control rod calibration, reactor power measurement and neutron activation experiments. Experiments with the thermal column and neutron beam port are also demonstrated. Prerequisites: Nuc Eng 4312, Nuc Eng 3205.

NUC ENG 5438 Advanced Reactor Laboratory II (LAB 1.0 and LEC 1.0)

A continuation of Nuclear Engineering 4428 with experiments of a more advanced nature. Prerequisite: Nuc Eng 4428 or Nuc Eng 5428.

NUC ENG 5456 Reactor Operation II (LAB 1.0)

The operation of the training reactor. The program is similar to that required for the NRC Reactor Operator's license. Students from other disciplines will also benefit from the course. Prerequisite: Nuc Eng 2105, 2406.

NUC ENG 5507 Nuclear Policy (LEC 3.0)

This course introduces nuclear security and safeguards policy. It explores the following topics: history of domestic and international nuclear policy, evolution of U.S. nuclear weapons policy, factors influencing policy, the IAEA, nuclear deterrence policy, nuclear safeguards policy, policy in non-proliferation issues, and various international agreements. Prerequisites: Graduate Standing or enrolled in the Nuclear Nonproliferation certificate program.

NUC ENG 5509 Nuclear Nonproliferation (LEC 3.0)

This course will introduce IAEA mission specific to nonproliferation. The class will provide discussion of essential elements of a nuclear weapon, followed by a brief historical over of nonproliferation treaties in place to deter proliferation. Methods of fissile material production will be discussed followed by a survey of tool and techniques available an Prerequisites: Graduate Standing or enrolled in the Nuclear Nonproliferation certificate program.

NUC ENG 5577 Advanced Nuclear Forensics and Radiochemistry (LEC 3.0)

Fundamentals of radiochemistry, including nuclear science, cosmochemistry, spent fuel reprocessing, with details on solvent extraction. We will review case studies in Nuclear Forensics. This advanced section also includes experiments on radiochemistry and demonstrate experimental nuclear forensics techniques. Dual listed with Nuc Eng 4577.

NUC ENG 6000 Special Problems (IND 0.0-6.0)

Problems or readings on specific subjects or projects in the department. Consent of instructor required.

NUC ENG 6001 Special Topics (LEC 0.0-6.0)

NUC ENG 6010 Seminar (RSD 0.0-6.0)

NUC ENG 6040 Oral Examination (IND 0.0)

After completion of all other program requirements, oral examinations for on-campus M.S./Ph.D. students may be processed during intersession. Off-campus M.S. students must be enrolled in oral examination and must have paid an oral examination fee at the time of the defense/comprehensive examination (oral/ written). All other students must enroll for credit commensurate with uses made of facilities and/or faculties. In no case shall this be for less than three (3) semester hours for resident students.

NUC ENG 6050 Continuous Registration (IND 1.0)

Doctoral candidates who have completed all requirements for the degree except the dissertation, and are away from the campus must continue to enroll for at least one hour of credit each registration period until the degree is completed. Failure to do so may invalidate the candidacy. Billing will be automatic as will registration upon payment.

NUC ENG 6085 Internship (IND 0.0-15)

Students working toward a doctor of engineering degree will select with the advice of their committees, appropriate problems for preparation of a dissertation. The problem selected and internship plan must conform to the purpose of providing a high level engineering experience consistent with the intent of the doctor of engineering degree.

NUC ENG 6099 Research (IND 0.0-15)

Investigations of an advanced nature leading to the preparation of a thesis or dissertation. Consent of instructor required.

NUC ENG 6203 Advanced Reactor Physics (LEC 3.0)

Transport and diffusion theory; multigroup approximation; criticality calculations; cross-section processing; buildup and depletion calculations; delayed neutrons and reactor kinetics; lattice physics calculations; full core calculations; analysis and measurement of reactivity coefficients. Prerequisite: Math 5325.

NUC ENG 6205 Linear Transport Theory (LEC 3.0)

Monoenergetic Boltzmann equation for neutral particles by the method of singular eigen-functions and polynomial expansions. Prerequisites: Nuc Eng 4203, Math 5358.

NUC ENG 6223 Nuclear Reactor Safety (LEC 3.0)

Study of safety criteria; reactor characteristics pertinent to safety; reactor transient behavior; loss of coolant accident analysis; emergency core cooling; fuel behavior during accident conditions; reactor risk analysis; current reactor safety issues. Prerequisites: Nuc Eng 4203 and 3229.

NUC ENG 6241 Effects Of Radiation On Solids (LEC 3.0)

The theories of the interaction of nuclear radiation with matter. Experimental approaches to radiation studies, including the sources and dosimetry. Nature and properties of crystal imperfections. The influence of radiation on physical, mechanical and surface properties of metals and alloys. Radiation effects on materials other than those incorporated in nuclear reactors. The annealing of defects. Prerequisite: Met Eng 5170.

NUC ENG 6257 Advanced Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics (LEC 3.0)

Treatment of advanced topics in nuclear reactor thermal-hydraulics including analysis of fuel elements and fuel melting, multiphase flow dynamics and two-fluid models, interfacial transfer of mass, momentum, and energy, multiphase flow scaling, and numerical applications. Prerequisite: Math 5325.

NUC ENG 6325 Plasma Physics (LEC 3.0)

Fundamentals of kinetic, theory, fluid equations, MHD equations, and applications: wave propagation, shielding effect, diffusion, stability, and charged particle trajectories. Prerequisite: Nuc Eng 4361 for Nuc Eng; Physics 4211 for Physics.

NUC ENG 6331 Radiation Shielding (LEC 3.0)

Radiation sources; interactions of radiation with matter; dosimetry and radiation protection guidelines. The particle transport equation and methods of solving it; the Monte Carlo Method; special computational methods for neutron and gamma attentuation. Computer codes used in shielding. Shielding materials, shield design. Prerequisite: Nuc Eng 4203.

Graduate Faculty members are listed under the specific discipline most closely allied with their graduate faculty status which may not necessarily reflect the department in which current appointment is held.

Muthanna Hikmat Al Dahhan , Curators' Distinguished Professor DSc Washington University Multiphase reaction and reactor engineering flow systems; transport-kinetic integration; advanced measurement and computational techniques; application to green technology and sustainable development in energy, products, and environment.

Ayodeji Babatunde Alajo , Associtate Professor PHD Texas A&M University High fidelity nuclear systems design and modeling, criticality safety advanced fuel cycles, radioactive waste management, and nuclear systems safety.

Syed Bahauddin Alam , Assistant Professor PHD University of Cambridge Multiscale and Multiple modeling, digital twin, explainable and trustworthy AI, uncertainty quantification, robust optimization.

Carlos Henry Castano Giraldo , Associate Professor PHD University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Energy, nuclear materials, plasma material interactions, hydrogen in materials, radio electromechanical effects and nanotechnology.

Joseph Graham , Associate Professor PHD University of Texas at Austin Radiation effects in ceramics, radiation solid interactions, nuclear fuel properties and nuclear waste forms.

Joseph W Newkirk , Professor and Department Chair of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science PHD University of Virginia Additive manufacturing, powder metallurgy, wear and corrosion resistant alloys, high temperature materials, aerospace materials, nuclear materials, and heat treating.

Joshua P Schlegel , Associate Professor PHD Purdue University Two-phase flow experiments and modeling, nuclear reactor thermal hydraulics, heat transfer and fluid mechanics.

Joseph D Smith , Professor and Laufer Endowed Chair in Energy PHD Brigham Young University Hybrid energy systems, fuels combustion and gasification, industrial gas flare design, operation and regulation, process modeling, monitoring control and operation.

Shoaib Usman , Associate Professor PHD University of Cincinnati Radiation transport, radiation protection, radioactive waste management.

Haiming Wen , Assistant Professor PHD University of California-Davis

Superscripts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in the faculty listing refer to the following common footnotes: 1 Registered Professional Engineer 2 Registered Geologist 3 Certified Health Physicist 4 Registered Architect 5 Board Certified, American Academy of Environmental Engineers 6 LEED AP Certified

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Six RPI Students Receive Prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

Facility for Rare Isotope Beams

At michigan state university, frib researchers lead team to merge nuclear physics experiments and astronomical observations to advance equation-of-state research, world-class particle-accelerator facilities and recent advances in neutron-star observation give physicists a new toolkit for describing nuclear interactions at a wide range of densities..

For most stars, neutron stars and black holes are their final resting places. When a supergiant star runs out of fuel, it expands and then rapidly collapses on itself. This act creates a neutron star—an object denser than our sun crammed into a space 13 to  18 miles wide. In such a heavily condensed stellar environment, most electrons combine with protons to make neutrons, resulting in a dense ball of matter consisting mainly of neutrons. Researchers try to understand the forces that control this process by creating dense matter in the laboratory through colliding neutron-rich nuclei and taking detailed measurements.

A research team—led by William Lynch and Betty Tsang at FRIB—is focused on learning about neutrons in dense environments. Lynch, Tsang, and their collaborators used 20 years of experimental data from accelerator facilities and neutron-star observations to understand how particles interact in nuclear matter under a wide range of densities and pressures. The team wanted to determine how the ratio of neutrons to protons influences nuclear forces in a system. The team recently published its findings in Nature Astronomy .

“In nuclear physics, we are often confined to studying small systems, but we know exactly what particles are in our nuclear systems. Stars provide us an unbelievable opportunity, because they are large systems where nuclear physics plays a vital role, but we do not know for sure what particles are in their interiors,” said Lynch, professor of nuclear physics at FRIB and in the Michigan State University (MSU) Department of Physics and Astronomy. “They are interesting because the density varies greatly within such large systems.  Nuclear forces play a dominant role within them, yet we know comparatively little about that role.” 

When a star with a mass that is 20-30 times that of the sun exhausts its fuel, it cools, collapses, and explodes in a supernova. After this explosion, only the matter in the deepest part of the star’s interior coalesces to form a neutron star. This neutron star has no fuel to burn and over time, it radiates its remaining heat into the surrounding space. Scientists expect that matter in the outer core of a cold neutron star is roughly similar to the matter in atomic nuclei but with three differences: neutron stars are much larger, they are denser in their interiors, and a larger fraction of their nucleons are neutrons. Deep within the inner core of a neutron star, the composition of neutron star matter remains a mystery. 

  “If experiments could provide more guidance about the forces that act in their interiors, we could make better predictions of their interior composition and of phase transitions within them. Neutron stars present a great research opportunity to combine these disciplines,” said Lynch.

Accelerator facilities like FRIB help physicists study how subatomic particles interact under exotic conditions that are more common in neutron stars. When researchers compare these experiments to neutron-star observations, they can calculate the equation of state (EOS) of particles interacting in low-temperature, dense environments. The EOS describes matter in specific conditions, and how its properties change with density. Solving EOS for a wide range of settings helps researchers understand the strong nuclear force’s effects within dense objects, like neutron stars, in the cosmos. It also helps us learn more about neutron stars as they cool.

“This is the first time that we pulled together such a wealth of experimental data to explain the equation of state under these conditions, and this is important,” said Tsang, professor of nuclear science at FRIB. “Previous efforts have used theory to explain the low-density and low-energy end of nuclear matter. We wanted to use all the data we had available to us from our previous experiences with accelerators to obtain a comprehensive equation of state.”   

Researchers seeking the EOS often calculate it at higher temperatures or lower densities. They then draw conclusions for the system across a wider range of conditions. However, physicists have come to understand in recent years that an EOS obtained from an experiment is only relevant for a specific range of densities. As a result, the team needed to pull together data from a variety of accelerator experiments that used different measurements of colliding nuclei to replace those assumptions with data. “In this work, we asked two questions,” said Lynch. “For a given measurement, what density does that measurement probe? After that, we asked what that measurement tells us about the equation of state at that density.”   

In its recent paper, the team combined its own experiments from accelerator facilities in the United States and Japan. It pulled together data from 12 different experimental constraints and three neutron-star observations. The researchers focused on determining the EOS for nuclear matter ranging from half to three times a nuclei’s saturation density—the density found at the core of all stable nuclei. By producing this comprehensive EOS, the team provided new benchmarks for the larger nuclear physics and astrophysics communities to more accurately model interactions of nuclear matter.

The team improved its measurements at intermediate densities that neutron star observations do not provide through experiments at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Germany, the RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science in Japan, and the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (FRIB’s predecessor). To enable key measurements discussed in this article, their experiments helped fund technical advances in data acquisition for active targets and time projection chambers that are being employed in many other experiments world-wide.   

In running these experiments at FRIB, Tsang and Lynch can continue to interact with MSU students who help advance the research with their own input and innovation. MSU operates FRIB as a scientific user facility for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC), supporting the mission of the DOE-SC Office of Nuclear Physics. FRIB is the only accelerator-based user facility on a university campus as one of 28 DOE-SC user facilities .  Chun Yen Tsang, the first author on the Nature Astronomy  paper, was a graduate student under Betty Tsang during this research and is now a researcher working jointly at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Kent State University. 

“Projects like this one are essential for attracting the brightest students, which ultimately makes these discoveries possible, and provides a steady pipeline to the U.S. workforce in nuclear science,” Tsang said.

The proposed FRIB energy upgrade ( FRIB400 ), supported by the scientific user community in the 2023 Nuclear Science Advisory Committee Long Range Plan , will allow the team to probe at even higher densities in the years to come. FRIB400 will double the reach of FRIB along the neutron dripline into a region relevant for neutron-star crusts and to allow study of extreme, neutron-rich nuclei such as calcium-68. 

Eric Gedenk is a freelance science writer.

Michigan State University operates the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) as a user facility for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC), supporting the mission of the DOE-SC Office of Nuclear Physics. Hosting what is designed to be the most powerful heavy-ion accelerator, FRIB enables scientists to make discoveries about the properties of rare isotopes in order to better understand the physics of nuclei, nuclear astrophysics, fundamental interactions, and applications for society, including in medicine, homeland security, and industry.

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of today’s most pressing challenges. For more information, visit energy.gov/science.

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PhD students earn top National Science Foundation fellowships

The national awards recognize and support outstanding grad students from across the country in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees.

PhD students Caleb Song and Jennifer Wu are each receiving the honor for 2024. Find out more about their research below.

Awardees receive a $37,000 annual stipend and cost of education allowance for the next three years as well as professional development opportunities.

Two mechanical engineering PhD students, Alex Hedrick and Carly Rowe, also received honorable mentions from the National Science Foundation program.

2024 GRFP Honorees

2nd Year PhD Student

Advisor: John Pellegrino Lab:  Membrane Science & Technology

I did my undergrad in Electrical Engineering at Georgia Tech before coming to Boulder for my PhD in Mechanical Engineering. For the past two years, I've been working on the characterization, tuning, and scale-up of graphene-based membrane electrodes (grMEs). The funding from the GRFP will allow me to pursue low technology readiness level (TRL) electrochemical device development using these grMEs. In particular, I plan on exploring hybrid electrophoretic/size exclusion-based separations for biopharmaceutical development and processing.

Jennifer Wu

Fall 2024 Incoming PhD Student

Advisor: Daven Henze Lab: Henze Group

My research will involve using computer simulations and environmental observations to investigate the impact of atmospheric constituents on air quality and climate change. By coupling satellite observations with state-of-the-art air pollution models, I aim to provide more accurate estimates of emissions to better inform climate and public health policy. Previously at Caltech, I worked closely with scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in analyzing methane and carbon monoxide measurements in the Los Angeles Basin.

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• 2024 Physics & Astronomy Graduate Program Awards Announced

2024 Physics & Astronomy Graduate Program Awards Announced

Published: April 26, 2024

Author: Shelly Goethals

The Department of Physics and Astronomy has announced graduate student award recipients for the 2023-24 academic year.

Scott Carmichael is a recipient of the Distinguished Research Award . Carmichael was recognized for extraordinary efforts in commissioning a high-precision magnetic spectrometer at the Nuclear Science Laboratory and its subsequent use to elucidate radioisotope production in supernovae.

Ka Wa (Andy) Ho also received a Distinguished Research Award . Ho was cited for outstanding contributions to the study of the Higgs Boson decays and the development of electronics for the upgraded CMS detector.

Grace Longbons is the recipient of this year's Graduate Leadership and Service Award . Longbons was recognized for the creation of the Graduate Physics and Astronomy Student's Gender Inclusivity Committee and outstanding service on the departmental Diversity Committee and GPAS.

The recipient of the Graduate Research and Dissertation Award is Sushrut Ghonge . He was recognized for his prolific work on a wide range of topics in theoretical condensed matter physics, quantum optics, quantum statistics and network theory. His dissertation was titled "Optical Cooling and Superradiance in Flourescent Solids", and he was advised by Profs.   Boldizsar Janko & Masaru Kuno.