From left, Rich Zaharek, SRNS senior vice president; Leonel Lagos, ARC director of research; and Sean Alford, SRNS chief administrative officer during the MOU signing. (Photo: DOE)
Department of Energy contractor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions and Florida International University’s Applied Research Center have agreed to expand workforce opportunities for students at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina.
The collaboration was formalized with the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding, the goal of which is to increase the number of SRNS internships as well as the number of interns transitioning into full-service positions for SRNS. The agreement also looks to advance the DOE’s research in environmental remediation and nuclear operations and to strengthen technical capabilities.
“One of our primary goals is to build strong talent pipelines,” said Bryan Ortner, senior vice president of SRNS Workforce Services and Talent Management. “Partners like this allow us to solve complex technical problems that support both the National Nuclear Security Administration and DOE’s environmental management missions. By investing in students today, we’re building the workforce of tomorrow.”
The tour: During a visit to SRS, university representatives toured facilities including the H Canyon, the only operating, production-scale, radiologically shielded chemical separations facility in the United States.
H Canyon was originally built to recover uranium and neptunium from fuel tubes used in nuclear reactors for weapons production. Its mission shifted after the Cold War to focus on nonproliferation and environmental cleanup.
“We want to create a clear pipeline for FIU to join SRNS—not just in engineering but in multiple disciplines,” said Leonel Lagos, FIU associate professor and director of research at ARC. “We’re working with SRNS to identify research topics and develop technologies that can directly support site operations. For example, robotics systems designed by FIU staff and students could one day inspect and repair facilities such as H Canyon.”
Collaboration history: Since 1995, ARC has provided support to the DOE’s Office of Environmental Management by focusing on environmental remediation and workforce development. In 2007, the DOE and the university created the Science & Technology Workforce Development Initiative, with an aim of developing future talent by fostering collaboration between academic, government, and DOE contractor organizations. The partnership trains and mentors the next generation of scientists and engineers while helping develop technologies that address the DOE’s environmental cleanup challenges.
“This partnership allows SRNS to tap into a proven source of talent,” said Sean Alford, SRNS senior vice president and chief administrative officer. “Beyond engineering, we see potential for students to support supply chain, construction management, and other critical areas.”
