Department of Nuclear Engineering and Nuclear Reactor Program (NRP) Fact Sheet 2015 – 2019

SUMMARY FACT SHEET 2015 – 2019

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY

In the period of 2015-2019, the Nuclear Engineering Department has been on a trajectory of growth and diversification:

  • Expenditures (2015-2019) = $ 83 M
  • Tenure/Tenure-Track faculty increase – 37%
  • PhD enrollment increase – 52 %
  • Improved rankings, credibility and recognition
  • New 10-year vision and 5-year strategic plan
  • Transitioning from a premier to a leading Nuclear Engineering Department

FACULTY AND STAFF

  • 8 new tenure-track faculty hires
  • 4 fixed-term faculty and 3 staff hires
  • 2 female faculty hires since 2015
  • 2 tenure, 2 re-appointment, 4 promotion, 1 retention, and 6 post-tenured cases
  • 17 faculty and 8 staff awards

 

RESOURCES AND SPACE

Increased expenditures and departmental funds | Development and renovation of undergraduate teaching labs, research labs and High Bay area, graduate student offices, faculty and staff offices, and departmental common areas | Development of unique experimental capabilities consolidated in experimental clusters by focus area | Enhancement of the departmental HPC facilities | Burlington to be a premier NE building

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Successful ABET visit and review of the Undergraduate Program | Introduction of new classes and minors in the Undergraduate Program |Improved senior design projects in cooperation with industry and national labs | Successful review of the Graduate Program | Growth, improved quality, and increased diversity of the PhD Program | Extended Distance Education Program| Introduction of new graduate classes, concentrations and certificates | 15 students received National Fellowships| 18 students were recognized for Best Paper or Poster at various Nuclear Engineering National & International Meetings | 3 students awarded Innovations in Nuclear Technology R&D
Award | NE students named COE MS and PhD Students of the Year in 2019 |NC State’s Nuclear Engineering Graduate Program ranked #3 |NC State’s Online Master of Nuclear Engineering ranked #1

RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND COOPERATION ACTIVITIES

4 major focus thrust areas and 5 crosscutting/application areas | Leadership and participation in 10 centers, consortia and users’ groups | 11 research labs and groups | Improved and extended cooperation with national labs including 5 JFAs | Improved cooperation with industry through CASL, CTF Users’ Group and CNP | Leading in the development of an interface/synergy between Advanced Modeling and Simulation, Innovative Experimentation and Measurements, and Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence technology | Extensive international cooperation activities

OUTREACH AND VISIBILITY

Updated, extended and diversified Advisory Board (NEDAC) | Extended undergraduate recruitment and retention | Improved graduate recruitment and retention | Introduced Nuclear Engineering Homecoming & Hall of Fame Induction | Introduced Departmental Recognition Dinner | Improved and extended nuclear alumni relationships | Focused individual and corporate development activities | Pro-active electronic communication and marketing | Biannual e-Newsletter | Improved national and international visibility and recognition


Nuclear Reactor Program (NRP)

2015 – 2019

 

Engagement and utilization of the nuclear reactor program has been effective in terms of supporting Nuclear Engineering classes and labs 8 NE instructors used NRP annually for teaching in 2015-2019.

151 lab sessions taught in 2015-2019. Classes include E101, NE202, NE235, NE301, NE400/500. NE401/501, NE402, NE403, NE406/408

Engagement and utilization of the nuclear reactor program has been effective in terms of supporting graduate research 20 graduate students (on average) use the NRP annually in support of research and MS/PhD theses and dissertations.
Engagement and utilization of the nuclear reactor program has been effective in terms of students training as reactor operators 117 NE students were trained by the NRP in the reactor operator program with 14 licensed by the NRC.
Engagement and utilization of the nuclear reactor program has been effective in terms of nuclear engineering faculty projects related to the use of reactor and facilities 14 different NE faculty engaged NRP for projects and proposals.
Engagement and utilization of the nuclear reactor program has been effective in terms of other NC State faculty projects 30 different NCSU faculty engaged NRP for projects and proposals.
The nuclear reactor program provides fair and equal access to all NC State faculty and graduate students for their research NRP is available to everyone. Aid is provided in proposal development/writing, and feasibility analysis is offered including cost free testing.
The nuclear reactor program is well integrated into the Department Based on the above, NRP is integral to the NE Department. It supports all activities including education, research, recruiting, and outreach.
  • NRP is an internationally recognized and one-of-a-kind multidisciplinary university nuclear research and education center in the US.
  • Future plans include an expansion of research and teaching capabilities enabled by the 2-MW power upgrade and 2nd generation infrastructure and instruments.
  • User Hours (2015–2019) = 38,900                  Expenditures (2015–2019) = $17,500,000

https://www.ne.ncsu.edu/nrp/