Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is expanding its role in nuclear research and development through a series of grants focused on addressing gaps in nuclear science and fuel cycle research. The Department of Energy facility received multiple 2025 Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF) Rapid Turnaround Experiment (RTE) Awards, highlighting its leading position in nuclear innovation. These awarded projects will offer researchers nationwide, including ORNL’s own experts, access to specialized facilities essential for advancing spent nuclear fuel storage and other nuclear material studies, according to an announcement from ORNL.
One of the RTE projects, led by Yadu Sasikumar of ORNL's Used Fuel and Nuclear Material Disposition Group, focuses on understanding how used nuclear fuel withstands stress throughout its lifecycle—from handling to long-term storage. Using ORNL's Irradiated Fuels Examination Laboratory, which is equipped for in-depth analysis of commercial spent fuel, the team aims to solve the issue of material weakening under repeated stress. As Sasikumar told ORNL in an interview, "Only when we exactly understand how used nuclear fuel weakens under stress can we ensure its safety and establish better design parameters to transport, store and dispose of it." The six-month project aims not only to prevent degradation but also to improve future fuel designs.
The LAMDA Lab, another key facility at ORNL, will host researchers from both the nuclear industry and academia, allowing them to perform experiments that are not feasible in the limited environment of traditional hot cells. This specialized setup enables hands-on testing of low-radiation samples and offers advanced analysis tools to study material behavior in nuclear settings. ORNL researchers Christian Petrie, Dan Sweeney, Maxim Gussev, Caleb Massey, and Stephen Taller will be available to support visiting scholars working on a range of topics, including fuel cladding and accident-tolerant fuels.
The range of NSUF facilities at ORNL plays a vital role in advancing nuclear energy. Facilities such as the High Flux Isotope Reactor, the Irradiated Materials Examination and Testing facility, IFEL, and LAMDA, combined with ORNL’s extensive expertise, form a collaborative environment where neutron and gamma irradiations, detailed studies of irradiated fuels, and nuclear materials can be thoroughly examined with leading experts. As Kory Linton, ORNL’s senior Nuclear Science User Facility program manager, stated, "ORNL’s facilities, combined with our wide range of expertise, are helping researchers tackle big challenges in nuclear energy,” highlighting the lab’s central role in nuclear materials research, in a statement obtained by ORNL. Managed by UT-Battelle for the DOE’s Office of Science, the largest supporter of basic research in U.S. physical sciences, ORNL is dedicated to driving nuclear energy innovation and strengthening national security.
