Speaker
Summary
Introduction
The US Department of Energy (DOE) recognized the need to train more scientists1,2 at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels with the broad knowledge and skill set to perform isotope R&D and production work. To address this need, in October 2023, DOE allocated $5 million USD spread over 5 years to train students in all aspects of isotope science, including radiation modeling, radiochemistry, and materials assay.
Description of the Work or Project
To meet this demand, a consortium of three universities in the Richmond, Virginia, area in the USA was formed in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The goal of this consortium is to educate and train 70 students, establish a new radiochemistry laboratory, and strengthen cooperation between these organizations. This initiative includes an 8-week isotope science summer course, a 2-week workshop at ORNL, and year-round individual research projects for every student. At the approximate midpoint of this grant, 29 students spanning multiple STEM majors have joined and produced 18 conference papers. Two summer courses and workshops have been offered, and a radiochemistry laboratory has been created. Additionally, multiple students received best paper awards and national scholarships, highlighting the quality of this educational program.
Conclusions
DOE is correct in identifying the need for more scientists who can do isotope R&D and production work; they have made a significant financial investment. The consortium has made considerable progress and is on track to meet its goals. This approach of training students year-round in all aspects of isotopes, using a combined classroom and research method, is a model that appears successful and can be adopted by others.
Acknowledgements
This material is based upon work supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Isotope R&D and Production, Reaching A New Energy Sciences Workforce (RENEW) under Award Number DE-SC0024338.
References
1. National Research Council (2012). “Assuring a Future U.S.-Based Nuclear and Radiochemistry Expertise.” National Academies Press, pp. 127–130.
2. S. Al Azzawi, J. Rojas, B. Goddard (2025). “Radiochemistry Education and Demand.” Nuclear Science and Technology Open Research, https://doi.org/10.12688/nuclscitechnolopenres.17618.1.
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