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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Latest News
Aalo Atomics achieves criticality on July 4
Executive Order 14301 set an ambitious goal for at least three test reactors to achieve criticality by July 4. Two private companies participating in the Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program—Antares and Valar Atomics—reached this stage earlier in June, and Deployable Energy—participating in the DOE's Nuclear Energy Launch Pad—became the third last week.
In the last few weeks, reports indicated that Aalo would be next, reaching criticality at Idaho National Laboratory with a low-enriched uranium–fueled, sodium-cooled reactor on or near the target date set forth by President Trump’s EO 14301. In the early hours of July 4, Aalo’s critical test reactor—a full-scale zero-power version of its planned 10-MWe Aalo-X—did just that, becoming the fourth DOE-authorized reactor to hit the milestone.
Submit Your Resume
The Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Department is the largest within Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) College of Engineering — offering an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Nuclear Engineering. The department further offers a Master of Science (M.S.) degree and a first of its kind hybrid doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering.
All core courses are taught by highly skilled and talented individuals dedicated to each and every student. Their breadth of research expertise includes, but is not limited to: plasma physics for space exploration, nano-radioisotope for medical applications, neutron transports, thermal fluid science and molten salt chemistry for advanced reactor and nuclear fuel cycle, and nuclear safeguards for protecting our future safe and clean energy.
Students within the department have access to the latest, world-class tools and technologies via our academic and research laboratories. Research opportunities are readily available to both graduate and undergraduate students.
The VCU-Nuclear Engineering graduate program is now ranked 18th by the U.S. News & World Report for 2020-2021. We encourage you to visit our booth for more information about all our Nuclear Engineering program has to offer.
THURSDAY, APRIL 8
Visit Booth11:00 – 6:00 PM EDT: Live Q&APassword: GoRAMS2021
FRIDAY, APRIL 9
Visit Booth11:00 - 6:00 PM EDT: Live Q&APassword: GoRAMS2021
SATURDAY, 10 APRIL
Friday, April 9, 2021|3:30–4:30PM (4:30–5:30PM EDT)
