Penn State Awarded $6 Million to Help Grow Nuclear Workforce

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy today announced the selection of a Pennsylvania State University led consortium to receive $6 million to support the revitalization of university nuclear facilities and equipment. The award will grow workforce training opportunities for students considering careers in nuclear materials research and related fields.

"Supporting this effort is an important investment in the nation's nuclear technologies, universities, and future workforce," said Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Crosscuts, Michelle Scott. "DOE is committed to helping supply researchers and educators with the resources and funding they need to keep driving innovative nuclear energy research and scientific breakthroughs."

Pennsylvania State University will work to establish a consortium to study nuclear materials at the micro-scale and create a dedicated micro-fabrication facility to educate the next generation of materials researchers. Conducting nuclear materials research at the micro-scale will allow samples to be safely studied in conventional laboratory settings.

Today's award advances President Trump's efforts to re-establish the United States as a global leader in nuclear energy and supports Executive Order, Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base, to increase access to research infrastructure and grow the nation's nuclear workforce.

The University Nuclear Research Infrastructure Revitalization award is funded through the Office of Nuclear Energy's Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP). Since 2009, NEUP has eclipsed more than $1 billion in funding to advance nuclear energy research and support the education and training of future nuclear energy visionaries and leaders.

To learn more about these awards, visit the Nuclear Energy University Program website.

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