CJ Cruz Named 2026 Thomas H. Pigford Fellow
CJ Cruz, a graduate student in UC Berkeley’s concurrent master’s program in Nuclear Engineering and Public Policy, has been named a 2026 Thomas H. Pigford Fellow.
Cruz’s research focuses on the techno-economic evaluation of nuclear energy development and spent fuel management in Southeast Asia. Working under the guidance of Professor Rebecca Abergel, he presented and published his research at the 5th ASEAN International Conference on Energy and Environment.
He has also worked with the Nuclear Scaling Initiative and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency to help make technical and economic analyses more accessible to policymakers in countries developing new nuclear energy programs.
Cruz believes institutions such as UC Berkeley and the Department of Nuclear Engineering play an important role in connecting technological innovation with the practical implementation of nuclear energy, particularly in developing nations. With support from the Thomas H. Pigford Graduate Fellowship in Engineering, he will continue advancing research at the intersection of engineering, energy policy, and societal impact.