“Bringing research development support for The Texas A&M University System members
to support the research enterprise across the System.”
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Integrated Energy Systems
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Multiscale Materials Modeling
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Neutronics & Reactor Physics
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Thermal-Hydraulics & Fluid Dynamics
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| Securing the Future: Nuclear Energy Leadership at Texas A&M |
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This special edition spotlights nuclear science, technology, and innovation across The Texas A&M University System (TAMUS). Across TAMUS, researchers are advancing high-impact work in reactor systems, materials, security, policy, and workforce development to help meet growing energy and national needs.
Inside, you will find a curated overview of the institutes, centers, laboratories, and faculty driving this work, along with selected headlines and upcoming events that showcase the breadth of nuclear research across the System.
TAMUS’s strength lies in its connected ecosystem of expertise, infrastructure, and collaboration - translating research excellence into real-world impact.
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The Texas A&M University System NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH |
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Researchers across TAMUS are advancing nuclear energy science and engineering in ways that matter - from next-generation energy systems and national security to medical applications and fundamental discovery. Spanning areas such as reactor technology, fuel cycles, radiation science, materials, and policy, their work is helping address some of the most complex challenges in energy, security, and society.
Featured below are selected faculty and research leaders whose expertise reflects the depth and breadth of nuclear energy innovation across TAMUS.
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Dr. Hardik Gohel, Associate Professor and Director of Research in the College of Natural & Applied Science at Texas A&M University–Victoria, has extensive research experience in artificial intelligence. His research expertise includes cyber test automation, cyberspace security, and predictive maintenance for nuclear reactor infrastructure.
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Dr. Yang Liu, Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, is the Director of the Scientific Machine Learning for Advanced Reactor Technologies (SMART) Lab. Dr. Liu’s research group is pioneering advancements in nuclear engineering through the use of physics-informed machine learning (PI-ML), AI-enhanced Digital Twins, and generative AI to enhance accuracy and computational efficiency in the design, analysis, and operation of nuclear reactor systems.
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Dr. Hussein Sharadga, Assistant Professor of Engineering at Texas A&M International University, investigates the use of Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, and Large-Scale Optimization for sustainable energy and computer vision. His research lab, OptxAI, is well-equipped with high-performance hardware and software to support this research.
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Dr. Pavel V. Tsvetkov is Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. His expertise includes the use of AI in nuclear reactors and system optimization, direct nuclear energy conversion systems, and nuclear waste minimization. Dr. Tsvetkov is the Founding Director for the Advanced Energy Systems Laboratory.
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Integrated Energy Systems |
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Dr. M.M. Faruque Hasan, Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, is the Lead PI of the Systems Optimization and Multiscale Analysis group for energy and environmental sustainability. Dr. Hasan’s research is making fundamental advancements in multiscale process systems engineering, with applications to energy economics, security, and environmental impact, including multiscale energy systems. Dr. Hasan was awarded the AIChE CAST Outstanding Young Researcher Award in 2021 and the Distinguished Faculty Service Award from Texas.
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Dr. Faisal Khan, Professor and Department Chair of Chemical Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, is Director of both the Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center and the Ocean Energy Safety Institute. His research is at the forefront of advancing safe ocean energy production and energy system design. Dr. Kahn is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Engineering Institute of Canada, and the Canadian Society of Chemical Engineering.
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Dr. Stratos Pistikopoulos |
Dr. Stratos Pistikopoulos, University Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering, is the Dow Chemical Chair and Director of the Texas A&M Energy Institute. His research program includes multi-parametric optimization and control-driven modeling, energy and process systems engineering, and process intensification. Dr. Pistikopoulos is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and recipient of the Computing in Chemical Engineering Award from the Computing and Systems Technology (CAST) Division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).
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Multiscale Materials Modeling |
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Dr. Raymundo Arróyave is the Chevron Professor and Associate Department Head of Materials Science & Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. Dr. Arróyave and his research group utilize computational materials science tools to investigate material properties at various length and time scales. This work encompasses the development of new nuclear fuels for Gen-IV reactors and the study of phase stability in nuclear materials. Dr. Arroyave is a Presidential Impact Fellow, Chancellor EDGES Fellow, Engineering Dean’s Research Fellow, and recipient of the TMS 2019 Brimacombe Medal.
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Dr. Tahir Cagin is Professor of Materials Science & Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. His research includes computational materials science and nanotechnology; fundamental studies on transport phenomena at the nanoscale; materials for thermal management, power generation, and energy harvesting; and multiscale simulation methods. Dr. Cagin is a William Keeler Faculty Fellow and recipient of the Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology.
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Dr. Rudy Geelen is Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. His research expertise includes computational mechanics, multiscale modeling and simulation, and the development of new materials that enhance the performance of aerospace applications in harsh environments.
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Dr. Xiaofeng Qian, Professor of Materials Science & Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, focuses on the development and application of materials theory and AI for Science to accelerate the understanding, discovery, and design of materials for quantum, electronic, optical, and magnetic applications. He has received many honors, including the Materials Today Rising Star Award in Quantum Materials in 2020, as well as the Dean of Engineering Excellence Award, the Engineering Genesis Award for Multidisciplinary Research, and the Young Faculty Fellow Award from Texas A&M.
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Neutronics & Reactor Physics |
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Dr. Carlo Fiorina, Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, explores the modeling and simulation of both fission and fusion energy systems. This research includes micro-reactor modeling, nuclear thermal propulsion, and inertial fusion energy. Since 2020, Dr. Fiorina has chaired several International Atomic Energy Agency meetings for the Development and Application of Open-source Modeling and Simulation for Nuclear Reactors. He was awarded the ANS Early Career Reactor Physicist Award in 2023.
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Dr. Ayman Hawari is Professor and Department Chair of Nuclear Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. His research on nuclear reactors harnesses methods for material modeling and high-fidelity thermal-scattering evaluations to analyze nuclear thermal-scattering data. Dr. Hawari is a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
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Dr. Xue Yang is an Associate Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Texas A&M–Kingsville. His areas of expertise include reactor physics, nuclear materials, and scientific computing. His research has been supported by the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Power Institute, the Office of Naval Research, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
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Materials — Characterization, Irradiation & Corrosion |
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Dr. Matthew Alexander is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University–Kingsville. His research focuses on industrial wastewater treatment, renewable biofuel, and hazardous waste remediation. He served as Lead PI for the 2023–2024 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality project on Uranium mining in Texas and has received multiple honors—including the Outstanding Faculty Member and the Technology Innovator of the Year from TAMUK and the ASSE Gulf Southwest Section’s Outstanding Teacher Award.
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Dr. Homero Castañeda, Professor of Materials Science & Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, currently serves as Director of the National Corrosion and Materials Reliability Lab (NCMRL). His research expertise encompasses corrosion science and engineering, coatings degradation and reliability, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Dr. Castañeda is a Faculty Fellow of TEES, AZZ, and NACE. He was awarded the Innovation Award by the AMPP and the Texas A&M University Dean of Engineering Excellence Award.
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Dr. Alejandro Castillo, Associate Professor of Animal Science at Texas A&M AgriLife Research, is an expert on the use of electron beam irradiation for eliminating pathogens in fresh food products. Dr. Castillo was awarded the Dean's Outstanding Achievement Award by the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence, and the Mexico National Federation’s State Award to the Professional Merit.
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Dr. Michael J. Demkowicz is Professor of Materials Science & Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. He is the Principal Investigator of the NNSA-funded Center for Research Excellence on Dynamically Deformed Solids, where he researches the effects of extreme and harsh conditions upon the metals and alloys critical to stockpile safety. Dr. Demkowicz is a Presidential Impact Fellow and Chancellor EDGES Fellow, and a recipient of the TMS Brimacombe Medal and Early Career Faculty Fellow Awards.
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Dr. Daniel Marble is Regents Professor and the Department Head of Chemistry, Geoscience, and Physics at Tarleton State University. He currently serves as Chair of the Texas Physics Consortium and Director of the Accelerator Laboratory at Tarleton State University. His research focuses on ion–atom collisions and nuclear techniques for materials analysis (NRA and PIXE). Dr. Marble is the recipient of several professional honors for his scholarship, service, and teaching from Tarleton University, the American Association of Physics Teachers, and the U.S. Army.
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Dr. Dan G. Zollinger, Professor of Civil Engineering, is a Research Engineer at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and one of the world’s leading experts on continuously reinforced concrete pavements (CRCP). His major areas of research include concrete pavement performance, rehabilitation, behavior, and fracture mechanics.
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Dr. Michael Nastasi, Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, specializes in materials for extreme nuclear environments, irradiation-induced phase transformations, and high-strength nanolayered composites. He is a Fellow of AAAS, MRS, APS, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. Dr. Nastasi is the recipient of numerous honors, including the DOE Energy Frontier Research Center Award and the Navy Alan Berman Research Publication Award.
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Dr. Miladin Radovic, Professor and Associate Department Head of Materials Science & Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, currently serves as Director for the Materials Characterization Facility. He is an expert in high-temperature materials for energy applications, the mechanical properties of ceramic and metallic materials, and Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy. Dr. Radovic was a NASA Glenn Research Center Fellow in 2017.
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Dr. Patrick Shamberger is Professor of Materials Science & Engineering and AZZ Inc. Fellow at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. He draws on his background in functional inorganic materials and as a materials research engineer for the ARFL to a range of problems, including phase transformations, nucleation phenomena, and transient thermal systems. Dr. Shamberger is the recipient of multiple honors, including the ASEE New Materials Educator Award and the Texas A&M College of Engineering Excellence Faculty Award.
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Dr. Lin Shao, Regents Professor of Nuclear Engineering, is the Associate Dean for Research and the Associate Agency Director, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. His research includes materials science, nanotechnology, and the effects of radiation in nuclear and electronic materials. Dr. Shao is a Senior Faculty Fellow at Texas A&M.
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Nuclear Energy Security & Non-Proliferation |
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Dr. Marvin Adams is Senior Advisor to the Nuclear Security Office of The Texas A&M University System and a Fellow of the Joint Center for Resilient National Security. With 40 years of experience, he is widely regarded as the nation’s foremost academic expert on safeguarding our nuclear stockpile. A former weapons physicist at national laboratories and Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M, he was the only academic to have served on the Stockpile Assessment Team of the U.S. Strategic Command, briefing senior leaders across the Departments of Energy and Defense, Congress, the National Security Council, and the White House. In 2022, Dr. Adams became Deputy Administrator for NNSA’s Office of Defense Programs, where he oversaw the design, production, certification, maintenance, and dismantlement of U.S. nuclear weapons, as well as advising on nuclear deterrence policy and force structure.
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Dr. Warren (Pete) Miller, Professor of Practice in Nuclear Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, served as the Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy under President Barack Obama. During his tenure as Assistant Secretary, he worked to create the Small Modular Reactor program, establish the Nuclear Energy University Program, and redirect the country's research, development, and demonstration plan for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste. Dr. Miller is a Vietnam veteran, Bronze Star recipient, American Nuclear Society fellow, and an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering.
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Dr. Matthew Fuhrmann is the Cullen-McFadden Professor of Political Science at the Texas A&M Bush School of Government & Public Service. His research focuses on international security, nuclear weapons, and non-proliferation. He previously held positions at Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation and the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University. He was an Andrew Carnegie Fellow, a Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and is a Presidential Impact Fellow at Texas A&M.
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Dr. Farheen Naqvi, Research Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering, is currently a Faculty Fellow with the Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. Her research in nuclear security includes the advancement of nuclear detection technologies with applications in nuclear safeguards & non-proliferation, as well as the development of techniques for measuring nuclear reactions. Dr. Naqvi has had multiple postdoctoral experiences at Yale University, Michigan State University, and the University of Notre Dame.
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Dr. Siegfried Hecker, Professor of the Practice and Distinguished Faculty Fellow at the the Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives, is an expert across the spectrum of nuclear technology—from plutonium science to nuclear weapons and energy. For over 30 years, he has fostered international cooperation on nuclear energy, security, nonproliferation, and countering terrorism. Dr. Hecker is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials Society, the American Society for Metals, the American Academy of Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy InitiativesArts and Sciences, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
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Dr. Craig Marianno, Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering, is the Deputy Director for the Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. His expertise includes nuclear security and counter terrorism, radiation detection and consequence management, and environmental health physics. Dr. Marianno served on many of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s emergency response teams and was responsible for generating dose assessments and geographic data sets for every Nuclear Power plant exercise in which the DOE participated from 2004 to 2007. He is a Certified Health Physicist, a member of the Health Physics Society, and a member of the Society’s Homeland Security Committee.
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Dr. Man-Sung (Mansung) Yim |
Dr. Man-Sung (Mansung) Yim, Professor of Nuclear Engineering, is the Director of the Texas A&M Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives. He is currently a member of the Scientific Program Committee of Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), Council of Advisors on Nuclear Education, Science, Technology and Policy of OECD/NEA, Science and Technology Diplomacy Advisory Committee of ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, and the Korean National Academy of Engineering. He is Associate Editor (Asia) of Nuclear Technology for the American Nuclear Society, a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Progress in Nuclear Energy and International Journal of Nuclear Security, and an editor at the Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament.
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Dr. Elkassabgi Yousri, Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Texas A&M University–Kingsville, is an expert in the development of cooling systems for several newly designed nuclear reactors—including the ANSR and the PB-AHTR reactor. Dr. Yousri has also worked on the development of Absorption Refrigeration Cycles using Lithium-Bromide solutions as a refrigerant. Recent sponsors of his research include the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
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Dr. Karen Kirkland is a Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. Her research has made significant contributions to condensation heat transfer and safety in nuclear reactors, thus improving reactor performance, safety, and accident management. Dr. Kirkland is a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society.
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Dr. Man-Sung (Mansung) Yim |
Dr. Man-Sung (Mansung) Yim, Professor of Nuclear Engineering, is the Director of the Texas A&M Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives. His work seeks to promote the safe and responsible use of nuclear technology with research activities covering nuclear nonproliferation/security, nuclear waste management, nuclear safety, and nuclear energy policy. Dr. Yim is a Senior Member of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management and belongs to several professional and scientific organizations.
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Student Training & Workforce Pipeline |
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Jon Buchanan is the Director for the Renewable Clean Energies and Nuclear Technologies (ReCENT) Workforce Development Program, which builds partnerships and creates programs to support and sustain Texas’s clean-energy and nuclear-technology workforce. ReCENT equips educators with strategies to engage students in these fields and promotes understanding and exploration of career opportunities.
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Dr. Charles (Cody) M. Folden |
Dr. Charles (Cody) M. Folden III, Professor of Chemistry at Texas A&M University, College Station, researches the chemical properties of radioactive elements—including transactinide elements and their homologs, nuclear forensics and irradiation, and nuclear reactions in the production of superheavy elements. Dr. Folden trains graduate students in nuclear forensics, the safe handling of radioactive materials, and the use of radioanalytical techniques.
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Dr. Cindy Lawley, Regents Fellow, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic and Outreach Programs, currently serves as Assistant Dean for Engineering Academies and Associate Agency Director for Workforce Development and Regional Divisions at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. Under the leadership of Dr. Lawley, Texas A&M is building momentum as an innovator in education and workforce development by providing students—and current workers—with the skills they need to become a force for good in the workplace.
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Evelyn Mullen is currently the Associate Vice Chancellor for Nuclear Security Initiatives for The Texas A&M University System. She serves as the point of contact for those at TAMUS with DOE Nuclear Security Enterprise and National Laboratories through The Nuclear Security Office (NSO)—coordinating with laboratories, plants, and universities to develop training programs and workforce development opportunities. Ms. Mullen is a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society and recipient of several accolades, including the National Nuclear Security Agency Administrator Medal of Excellence and the DOE Secretary’s Honor Award.
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Thermal-Hydraulics & Fluid Dynamics |
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Dr. Nagamangala (N.K.) Anand |
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Dr. Sanjoy Bhattacharia, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at West Texas A&M University, researches energetic materials and the thermodynamic properties of materials. Dr. Bhattacharia is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineering (AIChE) and the North American Thermal Analysis Society (NATAS).
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Dr. Debjyoti Banerjee, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, Director of the Multi-Phase Flows & Heat Transfer Lab (MPFHTL). He is leading multi-million-dollar research projects in collaboration with academia and industry to advance heat transfer fluids, thermal energy storage, and nuclear power production. Dr. Banerjee has received many accolades for his research and is a Fellow of the American Society for Mechanical Engineers.
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Dr. Mark Kimber, Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, currently serves as Director of the Thermal Hydraulics Verification and Validation Laboratory. From 2009 to 2011, Dr. Kimber served as a Faculty Fellow for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Presently, his research focuses on the establishment of modeling accuracies and uncertainties through verification and validation studies for thermal hydraulics requisite for current and next-generation nuclear reactors—including both experimental and computational efforts.
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Nuclear Energy Related Headlines |
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Deployable Energy announces research agreement with Texas A&M to advance scalable microreactor technology
The multi-year collaboration will accelerate experimental validation, modeling and workforce development for next-generation microreactor deployment.
WT and Pantex partner to open Palo Duro Research Facility
Officials say the facility stands as a milestone in a decades-long relationship between Pantex and the university. It represents a strategic move to bolster the region’s workforce, strengthen U.S. national security capabilities, and broaden educational opportunities for students.
Texas A&M Launches SMR ‘Energy Proving Ground’ with Four Nuclear Firms
Texas A&M University System has unveiled four nuclear developers with which it plans to explore building and operating small modular reactor plants (SMRs) at its Texas A&M-RELLIS campus near College Station.
A&M–Central Texas Hosts Central Texas Energy Summit
In October, Texas A&M University–Central Texas hosted local business, development, and government leaders at the Central Texas Energy Summit.
Texas is leading the nuclear renaissance. And we're just getting started
Texas faces a looming energy crisis. Due to the demands of electricity-hungry data centers and the state's rapidly growing population, ERCOT projects that peak energy demand in Texas will double by 2030.
An Overview of MUI-QC: How TAMU and LANL are Coming Together to Drive Innovation
The MUI-QC program, initially funded by the TAMU Nuclear Security Office, is dedicated to advancing nuclear technology maturation by supporting both faculty and students. This program encourages students to develop projects that enhance nuclear science, working closely with TAMU faculty and their counterparts at LANL.
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Nuclear Energy Related Events |
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| Date: April 16–18, 2026
Location: College Station, TX
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Date: August 24–27, 2026
Location: Hilton Anatole, Dallas, TX
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| Date: September 21-23, 2026
Location: The Post Oak Hotel, Houston, TX
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| Date: October 15th, 2026
Location: Zoom
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Chief Research Officers in The Texas A&M University System |
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Dr. Costas N. Georghiades
Texas A&M University
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Dr. Pete van Hengstum
Texas A&M University at Galveston
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Dr. Magesh Rajan
Prairie View A&M University
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Dr. Rupa Iyer
Tarleton State University
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Dr. Ruby A. Ynalvez
Texas A&M International University
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Dr. Ahmed Mahdy
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
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Dr. Jose F. Espiritu
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
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Dr. Angela Spaulding
West Texas A&M University
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Dr. Brent Donham
East Texas A&M University
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Dr. Sushil Sharma
Texas A&M University–Texarkana
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Dr. Mohamed Abdelrahman
Texas A&M University–San Antonio
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Dr. Jeff Kirk
Texas A&M University–Central Texas
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Dr. Amir Ibrahim
Texas A&M AgriLife Research
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Dr. Rodney Bowersox
Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station
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Dr. Dan Hale
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
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Dr. Aaron Stottlemyer
Texas A&M Forest Service
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Gordon Lohmeyer, CFPS / PI
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
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Dr. Joe Zietsman
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
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Dr. Kiril M. Dimitrov
Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
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Dr. Michael W. Hull
Texas Division of Emergency Management
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| researchdevelopment@tamus.edu
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