NC State Engineering Leads the Nation in DOE Nuclear Energy Awards

NC State’s College of Engineering has once again demonstrated its national leadership in nuclear innovation, earning more awards than any other institution in the latest funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy.

On March 3, 2026, the DOE announced the selection of 46 projects nationwide to receive a total of $52.8 million in funding to advance cutting-edge nuclear technologies and support early career faculty. NC State secured the largest share at more than $5 million in awards — reinforcing its position as a powerhouse in nuclear research, workforce development and innovation.

“This recognition reflects the extraordinary leadership of our faculty and the strength of our nuclear engineering program,” said Jim Pfaendtner, Louis Martin-Vega Dean of Engineering. “Leading the nation in these awards underscores the College of Engineering’s commitment to advancing innovative nuclear technologies, strengthening partnerships with national laboratories and industry, and preparing the next generation of engineers. From advanced reactor modeling to next-generation fuels and materials, our faculty are driving research that enhances safety, performance and sustainability. We are helping to power America’s nuclear future.”

Forty-three projects nationwide were funded through the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) and the Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF) program. Of those, five projects are led by NC State researchers and two include NC State researchers as team participants.

These projects will help make next-generation nuclear reactors safer, more efficient, and more economically viable. They aim to improve the accuracy of computer codes used to model and design advanced nuclear reactors, develop advanced sensors to monitor nuclear reactor health during operation, and advance our knowledge of materials that improve the performance and the resilience of reactor components, nuclear fuel and the transport of nuclear materials.  

Earlier this year, the Department of Nuclear Engineering received a DOE grant to expand its K-12 outreach efforts using its on-campus PULSTAR reactor. This effort will be led by Lisa Marshall, assistant extension professor and director of outreach, extension and engagement, and Jason Hou, associate professor and interim nuclear reactor program director.

“The breadth of awards spanning four engineering departments at NC State speaks to the strength of our institution in nuclear science and engineering research and education,” said Steven Shannon, interim NE department head. “This combination of faculty who lead their respective fields, unique experimental and computational facilities, and the college’s collaborative multidisciplinary philosophy demonstrates that NC State is a global leader in tackling the challenges that will make nuclear one of the safest and most economically viable and reliable energy sources in the 21st century.”

Below are the College of Engineering’s projects funded through the DOE’s NEUP and NSUF:

1. “A Comprehensive Uncertainty Quantification Methodology for High Fidelity Multi-Physics Simulation of Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors”
   • $1 million
   • Lead: Xu Wu, Associate Professor, Department of Nuclear Engineering (NE)
   • NC State collaborator: Maria Avramova, Professor, NE
2. “Remotely Bonded Optical Fiber Sensors and Actuators for Ultrasonic Structural Health Monitoring of Reactor Components in Harsh Environments”
   • $1 million
   • Lead: Kara Peters, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Postdoctoral Affairs in the College of Engineering and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)
     NC State collaborator: Ge Yang, Professor, NE
3. “Multiscale Study of Creep Ductility Prediction of Additively Manufactured 316H Stainless Steel”
   • $1.1 million
   • Lead: Wen Jiang, Assistant Professor with Joint Faculty Appointment with the Idaho National Laboratory, Department of Nuclear Engineering
     NC State collaborators: Liming Xiong, Associate Professor, MAE; Lingfeng He, Associate Professor; NE; Korukonda Murty, Progress Energy Distinguished Professor of Nuclear Engineering
4. “Compatibility Studies of Uranium Nitride Fuel with Advanced Cladding Materials Using Multimodal Diffusion Experiments”
   • $1.1 million
   • Lead: Lingfeng He, Associate Professor with Joint Faculty Appointment with the Idaho National Laboratory, Department of Nuclear Engineering
5. “Novel Lightweight Material for Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation”
   • $1.1 million
   • Lead: Afsaneh Rabiei, Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
     NC State collaborator: Gregory Lucier, Research Professor, Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
6. College of Engineering faculty are partnering with other lead institutions on additional NSUF awards.
   • Wen Jiang is collaborating with the Purdue University team on the project “Understanding neutron irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking mechanisms of 316L stainless steel made by laser additive manufacturing.”
   • Lingfeng He is collaborating with Ohio State University on “Advanced post-irradiation examination of accelerated burnup Cr-doped UO2.”

This post was originally published in College of Engineering News.