Nuclear engineering

hohlraum converting laser energy into X-rays

Berkeley Engineering alumni help achieve decades-long quest for nuclear fusion

12/22/22 — Andrea Kritcher (M.S.’07, Ph.D.’09 NE) and Brian Spears (Ph.D.’04 ME) share their thoughts on the future of fusion research and how their time at Berkeley shaped their careers

Aiding Chernobyl

11/07/22 — Berkeley engineers have been testing and refurbishing critical equipment to send to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

Nuclear engineering grad student Michael Bondin testing and refurbishing radiation detectors to send to scientists at Chernobyl.

Nuclear engineers send equipment, expertise to ransacked Chernobyl

08/05/22 — Russia's invasion of Ukraine left scientists at site of 1986 nuclear disaster without tools to contain the lingering radiation

simulation of axion formation in the early universe

Search for axions gets new target, new tools

02/25/22 — Nuclear engineering professor Karl van Bibber's research with plasmonic haloscopes could bolster physicists' new calculations of the mass of axions, a prime dark matter candidate

Masayoshi Tomizuka named to National Academy of Engineering

02/09/22 — Mechanical engineering professor among 76 academy members at Berkeley Engineering

Daniel Kammen named senior adviser to USAID

10/21/21 — Kammen, who holds joint appointments in energy and resources, public policy and nuclear engineering, will serve as senior adviser for energy, climate and innovation for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

UC Berkeley, Georgia Tech and USC launch new National AI Research Institute

07/29/21 — NSF awards $20M for researchers to deploy AI to tackle massive optimization challenges

Are heavy metals toxic? Scientists find surprising new clues in yeast

06/07/21 Berkeley Lab — Joint study led by nuclear engineering's Rebecca Abergel maps potential toxicity of lanthanide metals used in medicine, electronics

Berkeley Lab scientists Leticia Arnedo-Sanchez (from left), Katherine Shield, Korey Carter, and Jennifer Wacker wearing protective masks, in front of graphics of the atomic structure of cerium and einsteinium

It’s elemental

04/26/21 — New research could lead to advanced cancer treatments as well as a better understanding of a little-known element.

Periodic Table symbols for berkelium and californium

Do you know the way to Berkelium, Californium?

03/24/21 Berkeley Lab — Heavy elements and a really powerful microscope help scientists map uncharted paths toward new materials and cancer therapies

maps showing declining radiation dose rates in the Fukushima evacuation zone over time

10 years after Fukushima, Berkeley monitoring still in use

03/11/21 Berkeley Lab — Response to earthquake, nuclear plant disaster led Kai Vetter and colleagues to new programs and technologies

NSSC Executive Director Bethany Goldblum and NSSC Fellow Adriana Sweet writing on a glass board.

Berkeley-led consortium awarded $25M to advance nuclear security

02/16/21 — This is the consortium's third five-year, $25 million grant, allowing it to continue its mission of educating nuclear scientists and advancing nuclear technologies.

Berkeley Lab scientists Leticia Arnedo-Sanchez (from left), Katherine Shield, Korey Carter, and Jennifer Wacker wearing protective masks

First-ever measurements of einsteinium

02/03/21 LBL — Experiments by Berkeley Lab scientists, co-led by nuclear engineering assistant professor Rebecca Abergel, reveal some unexpected properties of this highly radioactive element

Rachel Slaybaugh to lead Cyclotron Road

01/07/21 — Nuclear engineering associate professor takes the helm at Berkeley Lab’s division for entrepreneurial scientists

Heavy metals listed in the periodic table

Scientists recruit new atomic heavyweights in targeted fight against cancer

12/14/20 Berkeley Lab — Methods from team led by nuclear engineering assistant professor Rebecca Abergel could lead to systems for both diagnosing and treating cancer in real time

Exploded view of N95 mask, and assembled prototype modeled by undergrad researcher Jason Duckering

Anti-COVID mask breaks the mold

12/10/20 LBL — Scientists from Berkeley Engineering and Berkeley Lab have designed a rechargeable N95 mask with a custom fit

Researchers lead federal efforts to improve COVID-19 testing

04/24/20 — Rebecca Abergel, Paul Adams, and Adam Arkin are overseeing projects designed to boost coronavirus diagnostic technology

Dan Kammen elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

04/23/20 — Professor of energy and resources, public policy and nuclear engineering is one of 9 new Berkeley faculty members

Rebecca Abergel in her lab holding a pill

Double duty

04/14/20 — A pill developed to treat radiation poisoning may also be effective in protecting MRI patients from the potentially toxic effects of gadolinium.

Peterson honored as top engineer

04/14/20 — Nuclear engineering professor Per Peterson has joined the ranks of National Academy of Engineering members.