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2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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The human factor in licensing and operating the next generation of nuclear plants
As human factors specialists working at the intersection of human performance and nuclear operations, we are witnessing one of the nuclear sector’s most significant transitions in decades. The emergence of small modular reactors, microreactors, and other advanced designs is reshaping the industry’s landscape. Digital instrumentation and controls, passive safety systems, and increased automation are creating opportunities for greater safety margins and more flexible operation. These same features also fundamentally redefine what it means to “operate” a nuclear plant. Interactions among human roles, automation, and passive systems shape how people maintain awareness, exercise judgment, and intervene when necessary. These developments affect both operational realities and the regulatory foundations on which nuclear safety is built.
NPIC&HMIT 2021 PLENARY SPEAKER
Ms. Suibel Schuppner is the Director of the Office of Nuclear Energy Technologies. She leads crosscutting research programs to improve and advance technologies in support of the U.S. nuclear industry and competitive university and research opportunities for the nuclear community. The crosscutting programs include modeling and simulation; advanced materials and manufacturing; advanced sensors and instrumentation; and access to unique national laboratory and university facilities and expertise. The university and competitive research programs execute various Office of Nuclear Energy’s competitive funding opportunities open to industry, universities, and laboratories, and manage the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) initiative. Ms. Schuppner also serves as an U.S. member for the Generation IV International Forum Policy Group, which is a cooperative international endeavor that conducts collaborative research and development (R&D) on the next generation of nuclear energy systems.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Schuppner managed various R&D programs, such as the Advanced Sensors and Instrumentation (ASI), the International Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (I‑NERI), the Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP), and the Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI). She also worked on international programs that supported bilateral and multilateral collaboration to advance nuclear energy. She was an U.S. Patent Examiner in the area of multiplex communications and worked as an Electrical Engineer for the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Facilities Engineering Division.
Ms. Schuppner holds a Master of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from Boston University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts degree in German Language and Literature from the University of Maryland. As part of this Dual Degree program, she completed an internship at Pepperl+Fuchs in Germany, helping to develop proximity sensors for the automobile industry.
Last modified June 1, 2021, 8:51am EDT
