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Secretary Chu Announces Nuclear Energy University Program Awards
Nearly $9 Million to Benefit Nuclear Science and Engineering Students
and University Research Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced
nearly $9 million in awards to support the next generation of American
nuclear energy development. Under the Nuclear Energy Universities
Program, the Department of Energy will provide $2.9 million in
scholarships and fellowships to 86 U.S. nuclear science and engineering
(NS&E) students, and will offer more than $6 million in grants to 29
U.S. universities and colleges in 23 states.
The Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) supports the country’s
nuclear energy research infrastructure at schools across the country,
while attracting high-quality undergraduate and graduate students into
nuclear science and engineering disciplines. Infrastructure investments
designed to enhance colleges’ nuclear energy research and development
(R&D) capacity will include grants for new equipment and instrumentation
for research reactors, specialized nuclear energy facilities, and
classrooms and laboratories.
“America’s leadership in nuclear energy research will be critical in
addressing the country’s long term energy independence and climate
change goals. We need to ensure that the next generation of nuclear
scientists and engineers have the training they need to research,
design, build, operate, and maintain U.S. nuclear power plants,” said
Secretary Steven Chu. “Investing in these students’ educations and the
necessary infrastructure and equipment at their universities will help
keep the United States at the research forefront for this important
zero-carbon energy source.”
According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, about half of the nuclear
industry’s workforce will be eligible to retire during the next 10
years. The scholarships and fellowships under the NEUP program will help
make sure we are training nuclear scientists and engineers to replace
these workers and maintain America’s role as a leader in the nuclear
energy research.
The NS&E infrastructure awards will support university and college
efforts to build or expand the school’s NS&E basic research or education
capabilities and enhance the university or college's capacity to perform
R&D that helps meet the Department’s long-term energy consumption goals.
The Department is awarding 70 scholarships to U.S. undergraduate
students and 16 fellowships to U.S. graduate students. Each scholarship
student will receive $5,000 to provide cost of his or her education for
the next year. Fellowship recipients will receive $50,000 a year over
three years to help pay for their graduate studies and research.
Students are expected to receive their award funds by September 30,
2009.
Four-year and two-year accredited universities or colleges including
community colleges and trade schools were eligible to apply for an
infrastructure grant. Award amounts for each project are subject to
negotiation but range between about $100,000 and $300,000. Awards are
limited to one per university or college and are expected to be
completed by September 30, 2009.
See below for a list of infrastructure award projects and the student
distribution for scholarships and fellowships.
More information about the Nuclear Energy Universities Program,
including a list of students selected for scholarships and fellowships
and a list of selected universities, is available at
http://www.nuclear.energy.gov/.
Nuclear Energy University Program
FY09 University Selection for Infrastructure Awards
|
University |
Equipment and/or purpose |
|
Arizona State University |
Electron microscopy and material handling equipment
upgrades for 3-D characterization of microstructure in
surrogate fuel materials with depleted uranium |
| Boise State University |
Ion slicer for transmission
electron microscopy sample preparation of nuclear
materials |
| City College of New York |
Enhancement of the
capability of reactor thermal-hydraulics and Safety
Research Laboratory |
| Idaho State University |
Infrastructure support for
analytical and health physics laboratory instrumentation |
| Kansas State University |
Reactor backup power
supply, neutron survey meter, replacement control rod,
and dosimetry equipment |
| Massachusetts Institute of
Technology |
Core loop H2/O2, laser
flash thermal diffusivity instrument, video camera, and
viscometer |
| Monmouth College |
Enhancement of nuclear
science education through purchase of new sources and
detectors for nuclear physics courses |
| North Carolina State
University |
Intense pulsed neutron
source and gamma monitoring system to be integrated into
the Reactor User Facility |
| Oregon State University |
Raman spectrometer,
microscope, neutron imaging system, and neutron depth
profiling system to provide improved analysis capability |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Neutron detectors,
computers
for student lab enhancements. Detectors, software, and
pneumatic sample transfer system for radionuclear
laboratory enhancements |
| Purdue University |
Laser, filters,
spectrograph, gas cell, ion source, and sputter station
|
| Rennesslaer |
Electronic equipment to
support neutron measurements, gamma spectroscopy, and
dosimetry in teaching and research laboratories |
| Rhode Island Nuclear
Science Center (RINSC) |
Equipment to support a new
counting classroom and remodeling the RINSC’s control
room |
| South Carolina State University |
High-purity germanium
detector and a multi-channel analyzer to complete
development of an advanced undergraduate radiochemistry
laboratory |
| Texas Engineering Experiment Station, Texas A&M University |
Flow visualization
laboratory to promote research in advanced reactor
designs |
| University of Alabama |
X-ray diffractometer,
glovebox, and computer equipment to provide
infrastructure for solid state, solution, and
theoretical actinide chemistry for the “Introduction
into Radiochemistry” Curriculum |
| University of California,
Berkeley |
Nuclear physics
instrumentation and radiation detection equipment for
nuclear physics and reactor safety teaching and research |
| University of California, Irvine |
Counting equipment,
centrifugal contactor, and a particle size analyzer to
develop the education and research and development
programs |
| University of Colorado, Boulder |
Differential scanning
calorimeter and thermogravimetric analyzer to perform
nuclear science materials research |
| University of Florida |
Establish a fully digital
control system for University of Florida training
reactor |
| University of Idaho |
Establish medium-to-higher temperature material
characterization capability |
| University of Maryland |
Ultraviolet-visible
spectrophotometer, gamma system, and a neutron generator
to expand and enhance nuclear laboratories |
| University of Michigan |
Alpha/beta/gamma/neutron
counting and spectroscopy equipment for use at Advanced
Test Reactor User Facility to enhance its teaching and
research capabilities |
| University of Nevada, Las
Vegas |
Physical property
measurement system and system upgrade for D8 advance
x-ray diffraction for nuclear energy fuels research |
| University of Nevada, Reno |
Establish friction stir welding/processing facility |
| University of New Mexico |
Electronics and counting
equipment for teaching laboratory |
| University of Texas, Austin |
Two gamma spectroscopy
systems to expand research and teaching capabilities |
| University of Wisconsin,
Madison |
Scanning electron
microscope and neutron imaging equipment to facilitate
research |
| Utah State University |
Transient mixed convection
tunnel, particle image velocimetry camera, and heater
plate models to support transient mixed convection
facility |
Nuclear Energy University Program
FY09
Scholarship and Fellowship Awards – by University
Scholarship Selection
($5,000 each award for 1 year)
|
University |
No. |
| Georgia Institute of Technology |
2 |
| Idaho State University |
5 |
| Kansas State University |
1 |
| North Carolina State University |
8 |
| Ohio State University |
7 |
| Oregon State University |
3 |
| Pennsylvania State University |
1 |
| Purdue University |
3 |
| Rensselaer |
1 |
| Texas A&M University |
3 |
| University of California Berkeley |
1 |
| University of Florida |
2 |
| University of Idaho |
4 |
| University of Illinois |
8 |
| University of Massachusetts Lowell |
1 |
| University of Michigan |
13 |
| University of South Carolina |
2 |
| University of Tennessee |
2 |
| University of Wisconsin |
2 |
| Virginia Technical College |
1 |
| Total |
70 |
Fellowship Selection
($150,000 each award for 3 years)
|
University |
No. |
| Colorado School of Mines |
1 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology |
1 |
| Idaho State University |
1 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
2 |
| Ohio State University |
2 |
| Pennsylvania State University |
1 |
| Purdue University |
1 |
| University of Illinois |
1 |
| University of Michigan |
2 |
| University of Pittsburg |
1 |
| University of Tennessee |
1 |
| University of Wisconsin |
2 |
|
Total |
16 |
Editorial Date June 16, 2009
By Danielle Miller
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