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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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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.
This course was held November 13, 2025, in Washington, DC. Check back for information about future offerings!
Environmental concerns have historically presented a major obstacle to expanding the use of nuclear energy worldwide. In the United States, more than ten states have implemented laws to restrict new construction of nuclear reactors until a spent nuclear fuel disposal plan is developed. At the same time, nuclear industries have been pioneering environmental and waste isolation technologies with long compliance periods, multi-barrier systems, and extensive regulations.
In this course, students will learn the foundational aspects of radioactive waste management, including storage, recycling, and disposal technologies and environmental impact assessment methodologies, as well as relevant regulations and history. This course provides a holistic perspective of the subject, considering the origins and impact of radioactive waste throughout the fuel cycle. Critical review of current technical solutions and policies is emphasized in the course.
Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar, Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Associate Dean of the College of Science and Engineering, Idaho State University
Megan Harkema, Assistant Project Manager for Collaboration-Based Siting Research, Vanderbilt University
Steven Krahn, Professor, Vanderbilt University
Christina Leggett, Director of Fuel Cycle Technologies, Oklo
Chammi Miller, R&D Manager, Sandia National Laboratories
Sylvia Saltzstein, Sandia National Laboratories, Emeritus
Scott Sanborn, Manager, Sandia National Laboratories
Haruko Wainwright, Assistant Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
