January 19, 2023
By Ashley Ritchie

Patience Lamb, a nuclear and radiological engineering (NRE) graduate student in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, has been selected for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP) for 2023.

The MSCFP aims to help increase the number of women in the nuclear field, supporting an inclusive workforce of both men and women who contribute to and drive global scientific and technological innovation. As part of the MSCFP, Lamb and other selected students will receive a scholarship and have an opportunity to pursue an internship facilitated by the IAEA.

“It is wonderful that the IAEA recognizes the importance of women being involved in mission-critical research such as nuclear cybersecurity," said Lamb. “I am both honored and excited to be selected for this prestigious program.”

The MSCFP will allow Lamb to further her research in nuclear cybersecurity, specifically with regard to the implementation and security of machine learning in the nuclear industry. In addition, over the next 12 months, she will have a chance to connect with nuclear cybersecurity experts internationally.

“IAEA promotes the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear technologies, and I am glad that we can continuously contribute to that through various opportunities such as the MSCFP. I am very excited for Patience, and cannot wait to see the opportunities she will have in the future,” said Assistant Professor Fan Zhang, who serves as the director of the Intelligence for Advanced Nuclear (iFAN) Lab at Georgia Tech.

As a graduate research assistant in the iFAN Lab, Lamb works with Zhang on the cybersecurity of digital twins for nuclear reactors, in collaboration with Idaho National Laboratory. Over the years, Zhang has supported IAEA nuclear cybersecurity missions through Coordinated Research Project (CRP) J02008, agency missions, and NucSecCyber webinars.

Outside of the classroom and lab, Lamb participates in the Women in Nuclear (WiN) Club, connecting Georgia Tech students with professionals in the field to help with professional development and workforce preparation. Lamb started the club last semester and Zhang serves as the faculty advisor.