Microreactors: Nuclear Power in a Small, Modular Package

Piyush Sabharwall, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Staff Nuclear Research Scientist at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). He has more than 18 years of research and development experience in nuclear and thermal engineering. He is highly regarded throughout the nuclear industry for his expertise in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, thermal design, thermodynamics, energy systems, and nuclear safety analyses. He manages the Irradiation Experiment Thermal Hydraulics Analysis Department under Nuclear Science and Technology Directorate at INL and was recognized as an Asian American Engineer of the Year for 2022. He also serves as the Technical Area Lead on DOE Office of Nuclear Energy’s Microreactor R&D Program. Dr. Sabharwall has helped cement INL’s leadership in areas including verification and validation, development of experimental programs and test beds, small modular reactors, molten salt reactor technology, and integrated energy systems. He has authored two books, contributed chapters to technical books, and published over 320 peer-reviewed publications. His leadership has allowed him to serve in several key positions and guide U.S. DOE programs, as well as industrial organizations, helping capital and technical projects navigate complex regulatory landscapes. He has been responsible for building and strengthening strategic partnerships with universities and collaborating with area technical leads from other national laboratories to advance science and technology strategies for INL and the U.S. Department of Energy. He holds an Adjunct Associate Professor appointment in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Michigan in the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering; master’s degrees in renewable energy and sustainability systems, engineering management, and nuclear engineering; and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

Eric Loewen is the Chief Engineer and Manager of the Chief Engineer’s Office at GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, where he is responsible for leading the office in supporting new product and technology development, managing technical and enterprise risk, and mentoring and developing technical talent.

Eric graduated from Western State College with a B.A. in chemistry and mathematics, earned a commission in the U.S. Navy, and subsequently attended Navy Nuclear Power School and the Nuclear Prototype. After his active Navy service, he earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Eric worked in private industry prior to joining Idaho National Laboratory (INL) as a systems integration manager and interim department manager. Currently, he is chief consulting engineer at GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) in Wilmington, N.C., where he leads GEH activities to deploy the sodium-cooled advanced reactor PRISM that can recycle used nuclear fuel from the current fleet of water-cooled reactors, as well as fission and eliminate weapons-grade material.

His U.S. Navy leadership roles included: Naval Prototype Nuclear Reactor School Instructor; B-2 Division Officer, Nuclear Quality Officer, Engineering Officer of the Watch, Surface Warfare Officer of the Deck aboard the USS LONG BEACH (CGN-9); and Commanding Officer of two Naval Reserve maintenance support units.

During his career, Eric received many honors and awards including Molten Metal, Inc. Technology Star Award (1995); ANS Public Communication Award (2003); DOE Outstanding Mentor Award (2003); GEH CEO Award (2012).