September 2023

September 29, 2023

Karl van Bibber Group Awarded 5-Year U.S. Department of Energy Grant

September 29, 2023

The group of professor Karl van Bibber has been awarded a $1.1M grant for five years from the Department of Energy, for the proposal "Innovative metamaterials and quantum amplifiers for very high mass dark matter axion searches". This work supports research and development of novel microwave resonators of metallic or dielectric microstructures whose plasma frequency can be engineered and tuned. The development of such devices would open up the possibility of experiments searching for the dark matter of the universe in the form of a very light hypothetical particle, the axion which can resonantly convert to a weak radio signal in a strong magnetic field. Berkeley's partners in the proposal, a group at the University of Colorado led by Konrad Lehnert will also receive $1.1M for R&D on innovative quantum amplifiers and quantum acceleration schemes at very high frequencies.

September 29, 2023

The not so secret guide to being a Berkeley Engineer

September 19th, 2023

On this week's episode of The (Not So) Secret Guide to Being a Berkeley Engineer our own NE Professor Bethany L. Goldblum gives advice alongside other amazing Berkeley Engineering professors to students.

If you want to learn how to gain the most out of your first semester at Berkeley and the best resources on campus, listen to the podcast episode.

To learn more click the link: https://engineering.berkeley.edu/podcast/ess-716-tips-from-berkeley-engineering-faculty/

September 25, 2023October 27, 2023

2023 Nuclear Engineering Student Delegation

September 20th, 2023

The Nuclear Engineering Student Delegation (NESD) is an opportunity for politically and socially active students interested in the intersection between nuclear technology and policy to solve problems facing the industry. NESD focuses on active legislation pertinent to the nuclear energy field and educate and advocate to our Congressional representatives to make informed decisions that will help the field, varying from workforce education to spent fuel repositories. The meetings throughout the week help us understand the nuances of the bills, politics, and industry needs as well as being able to express our independent opinion and exchange ideas with those we’re meeting with. These exchanges are incredibly helpful both as professional development for us students, as well as to make a positive impact on the nuclear industry at a high level.

To learn more about NESD and their impact click on this link: http://www.nesd.org/

September 25, 2023January 18, 2024

Kaleidos: Making Nuclear Power Portable at Radiant Nuclear

SPEAKER:

Dr. Benjamin R. Betzler

Head of Nuclear Engineering at Radiant

DATE/TIME:

MON, 09/25/2023 - 3:00PM TO 4:00PM

LOCATION:

3105 ETCHEVERRY HALL

Abstract

Increased industry development of nuclear microreactors over the last several years is largely due to their portability and operational flexibility, making them a feasible carbon-free technology for a variety of electrical grid sizes and remote locations. Reliability and operational flexibility, with years of operation without refueling, are some of the unique microreactor characteristics. These are designed characteristics of Radiant Nuclear’s Kaleidos, a 3.5 MWt portable nuclear microreactor intended to replace diesel generators and to provide power in remote or emergency deployment scenarios. Radiant is pursuing a fueled demonstration of this microreactor at the National Reactor Innovation Center Experimental Breeder Reactor (EBR)-II Test Bed [3] at Idaho National Laboratory in 2026.

Bio

Dr. Benjamin R. Betzler heads a team of nuclear engineers to design and analyze a portable nuclear microreactor. He joined Radiant after over 8 years as a research staff member at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which followed the completion of his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering and radiological sciences at the University of Michigan. His expertise is in advanced reactor design and Monte Carlo radiation transport methods.

September 18, 2023December 12, 2023

Radioactive Mice! How We Use the Mouse Model to Study Radiotherapeutics and Decontamination at LBNL

SPEAKER:

Alexia Cosby, Ph.D.

DATE/TIME:

MON, 09/18/2023 - 3:00PM TO 4:00PM

LOCATION:

3105 ETCHEVERRY HALL

Abstract

The mouse model is an essential component for validating preclinical research. Here at LBNL, we use the mouse model to investigate two distinct challenges: 1) designing and evaluating radiotheranostics, and 2) understanding radiocontamination in the event of a nuclear disaster.Radiotheranostics for cancer diagnosis is a dynamic approach to dually diagnose and treat malignancies with a pair of tandem radioisotopes. An alternative approach to a targeting system is herein explored through the development of siderocalin-Trastuzumab fusion proteins, where the Scn protein is fused with HER2+ targeting antibody trastuzumab. We demonstrate the efficacy of the tetravalent theranostic metal pair 227 Th (therapy, α, t 1/2 =10 d) and 89 Zr (imaging, β +, t 1/2 = 78 hr). In addition to radiotheranostics, we investigate the decontamination of radiometals after inhalation. The hydroxypyridinone chelator HOPO demonstrates prophylactic efficacy in mice contaminated with Am-241.

Bio

Alexia Cosby graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry in 2017 from the University of Oregon after conducting research under Darren Johnson and Jim Hutchison. She then pursued a Chemistry Ph.D. at Stony Brook University under Eszter Boros. Her dissertation focused on utilizing luminescent lanthanides toward designing bimodal cancer imaging agents, using the phenomenon of Cherenkov radiation. Following graduation in November 2021, Cosby started her postdoctoral research in actinide chemistry with Rebecca Abergel at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. Her postdoc research has focused on working with actinides in the context of in vivo decorporation and developing theranostic models with 89 Zr and 227 Th. Cosby intends to find a faculty position to continue studying the imaging and treatment of cancers using fundamental coordination chemistry.

September 14, 2023October 6, 2023

Kai Vetter Featured in NYT, CBS Articles on Fukushima Water Release

September 14, 2023

Professor Kai Vetter was featured alongside other nuclear science experts in the August 29th, 2023 article of the New York Times, "China’s Disinformation Fuels Anger Over Fukushima Water Release" to comment on the Fukushima waste water release plan. Additionally, he was featured in the September 14th, 2023 CBS News article, "Radioactive discharge from Fukushima nuclear plant raising concerns on California coast".

Read the full NYT article and CBS News article.

September 11, 2023October 10, 2023

In-situ Deformation of Metals under Hydrogen and High Pressure

SPEAKER:

Wendy Gu

Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University

DATE/TIME:

MON, 09/11/2023 - 3:00PM TO 4:00PM

LOCATION:

3105 ETCHEVERRY HALL

Abstract

Understanding hydrogen degradation of metals is critical to the green hydrogen economy. Here, I will describe the synchrotron transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM) to image iron thin films that simultaneously undergo electrochemical hydrogen charging. This enables the observation of void-mediated crack growth, the coalescence of the primary crack with secondary cracks, and cracks and additional plasticity occur at grain boundaries during transgranular failure. These observations are discussed in the context of the prevailing hydrogen embrittlement mechanisms. Next, I will describe the use of diamond anvil cells (DAC) to compress lightweight alloys and nanoparticles under quasi-hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic stress. X-ray diffraction is used to monitor structural changes in-situ, and post-compression TEM is used to directly image these changes. We find that non-hydrostatic pressure leads to a significant increase in defect density, elevated strength and the nucleation and growth of precipitates in precipitate hardened Al7075.

Bio

Wendy Gu has been an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University since 2017. Before this, Wendy received her MS/PhD from Caltech in 2014, and was a postdoc at UC Berkeley from 2015-2017. Her research focuses on lightweight architected materials, nanostructured metals and structural alloys, design and mechanics of energy materials (batteries, hydrogen economy, soft magnetic composites), and materials for extreme environments (e.g. high pressure). Major techniques within the group include nano-mechanical testing and in-situ imaging using transmission and scanning electron microscopy, synchrotron X-ray diffraction and imaging nano-synthesis and self-assembly, and 3D printing. Wendy is the recipient of the DOE Early Career Award, the ARO Young Investigator Award, the ACS Petroleum Research Fund Doctoral New Investigator Award, and the Hellman Scholar Award.