July 27, 2022
By: Kim Dougherty

CANYON, TX – Matthew Krecicki, a Ph.D. student in Nuclear Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, has been awarded a First Place prize in the Innovations in Nuclear Technology R&D Awards sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Fuel and Supply Chain. Krecicki's award is in the Open Competition in the category of Advanced Reactor Systems. His award-winning research paper, “Thermal Hydraulic Modeling of Solid Fueled Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Reactors Part I: Development and Verification,” was published in the Annals of Nuclear Energy in April 2022.

In order to be successful and retain its leadership role in nuclear technologies, the United States must foster creativity and breakthrough achievements to develop tomorrow’s nuclear solutions. The Department of Energy has long recognized that university students are an important source of cutting-edge advancements, and a key component in meeting its long-term goals. The Innovations in Nuclear Technology R&D Awards program was developed for this purpose.

The Innovations in Nuclear Technology R&D Awards program is designed to: 1) award graduate and undergraduate students for innovative nuclear-technology-relevant research publications, 2) demonstrate the Department of Energy’s commitment to higher education in nuclear-technology-relevant disciplines, and 3) support communications among university students and Department of Energy representatives.

The program awarded 22 prizes in 2022 for student publications relevant to nuclear technology. In addition to cash awards, award-winning students will have a variety of other opportunities.

For more information on the Innovations in Nuclear Technology R&D Awards program, visit www.nucleartechinnovations.org.