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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
October 2026
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September 2026
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August 2026
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Center for Used Fuel Research: Building confidence in storage and transport
Used nuclear fuel storage and transportation have reached a critical juncture.
Dozens of utilities need reliable data on how used nuclear fuel performs in dry storage casks and canisters to extend regulatory licenses at sites across the United States. Likewise, the Department of Energy expects to take ownership of the used nuclear fuel—termed “spent nuclear fuel” in the laws and regulations governing its stewardship—and transfer it to one or more federal staging facilities for management and disposition.
Meanwhile, dozens of reactor companies are testing prototypes of advanced reactors and advanced reactor fuels. Eventually, regulators and industry must also verify the safety and security of storage methods for these advanced fuel types.
To help address these challenges, the DOE established the Center for Used Fuel Research (CUFR) in January 2026 for work related to the long-term storage and transport of used nuclear fuel.
2025 ANS Winter Conference & Expo
Dr. Rita Baranwal is the Chief Nuclear Officer at Radiant, the company pioneering the world’s first mass-produced portable nuclear microreactor. Dr. Baranwal is a former Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy and brings decades of leadership experience across the public and private sectors of the nuclear energy industry, with a distinguished track record of advancing innovation in nuclear technology.
Prior to joining Radiant, Dr. Baranwal served as Senior Vice President of the AP300 Small Modular Reactor program at Westinghouse Electric Company, leading development and licensing of one of the industry’s most promising next-generation nuclear designs. She was previously Chief Technology Officer at Westinghouse, overseeing global research and development, engineering, and advanced reactor technologies.
From 2019 to 2021, Dr. Baranwal served as Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. In that role, she directed the department’s efforts to promote nuclear power as a key part of America’s energy future, managing a broad portfolio of research programs and public-private partnerships.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Baranwal was the inaugural director the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) initiative at Idaho National Laboratory and held key technical leadership positions at Bechtel Bettis, Inc., supporting the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master’s and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Baranwal is a widely respected voice in the global nuclear community and a passionate advocate for deploying advanced nuclear technologies to meet the world’s growing demand for reliable energy.
Last modified September 25, 2025, 9:06am EDT
