Mines’ Nuclear Science program is gaining a national reputation for cutting-edge, comprehensive research since the appointment of Mark Jensen as the Grandey University Chair in Nuclear Science and Engineering.

Mines is in a unique geographic position to leverage the facilities and expertise on the nuclear fuel cell cycle to partner with national Department of Energy labs who do extensive nuclear science work, as well as the Air Force.

No other program in the country has as strong of an emphasis on the chemistry of radioactive elements as Mines does. In most nuclear engineering programs, the activities focus on nuclear reactors themselves. At Mines, researchers consider the entire nuclear fuel cell cycle -- everything from mining the uranium at the beginning of the cycle through making the fuel for a nuclear reactor, to the reactors themselves and then also what happens after the fuel is used.

“We are working on new ways of separating nuclear waste to make it easier to dispose of using proteins that are common in our bodies," said Jensen. “I love this because it’s fun science that also makes a difference in the world.”

 

The Grandey Chair is is one of the ten new named chair and faculty positions created during the campaign. See the others here.