Nuclear power, nuclear waste and data centers

Thomas Albrecht, University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and director of the Nuclear Science & Engineering Center

Albrecht is an expert on the next generation of nuclear reactors and an authority on nuclear waste and the reclamation of mine sites. Nuclear-related defense topics and nuclear medicine are also fair game for Albrecht, with the opportunities for turning nuclear waste into nuclear medicine of special interest. When it comes to nuclear energy, Albrecht is a fan of modular nuclear reactors, noting they don’t carry with them the melt down risk that existed with older nuclear reactor designs.

Mark Jensen, Professor of Chemistry and Jerry and Tina Grandey University Chair in Nuclear Science and Engineering

Nuclear fuel recycling in the context of advanced nuclear reactors are of special interest to Jensen, who notes that recycling the fuel from small modular reactors will be especially important as these reactors continue to gain favor. Jensen argues that switching to nuclear power sooner rather than later is important since much of our power still comes from the burning of fossil fuels, which is not good for the environment.

Nuclear site contamination and clean-up are also areas of expertise for Jensen.

Jenifer Shafer, Professor of Chemistry and Ben L. Fryrear Presidential Chair

Shafer, former Associate Director of Technology at the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), has a background in nuclear fuel recycling, advanced reactor technologies, and nuclear forensics. She has deep expertise in the enabling technologies needed to support deployment of the next wave of nuclear technologies.

In her role as Ben L. Fryrear Presidential Chair at Mines, Shafer is focusing on the intersection of energy and commercialization, working to support efforts to move new energy technologies to the market.