The VCU College of Engineering, an innovation front-runner in academics and research, brings real-world education to Central Virginia. Our collaborative and multidisciplinary partnerships prepare undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students for leadership. Part of a premier research university, the VCU College of Engineering enhances regional and global prosperity through cutting-edge developments in tissue engineering, drug delivery, bioinformatics, cybersecurity, mechanical systems and particle science. We make it real by turning great ideas into breakthrough technologies. Our facilities are hubs of discovery, powered by an expanding student body and faculty committed to excellence.

VCU College of Engineering

New Row

Read expert insights from VCU College of Engineering on a wide range of topics and connect with leading experts in their fields.

Expert Spotlights from VCU College of Engineering

Posts

Open Sans

YouTube

Instagram

The world’s problems aren’t waiting for you to graduate. They are waiting to be solved. 

Unabashedly bold, we challenge the norm in everything we do. As a premier, public research university, we are intertwined with our vibrant urban community. Driven by creativity and propelled by unparalleled entrepreneurial grit, we’re on the ground using our expertise, talents and discoveries to make a difference. 

We are VCU, and that’s our real. 

See more stories at makeitreal.vcu.edu.
 
Our thanks to:
Umar Hasni, Ph.D. student and co-founder of Tiny Tech
Margaret Karles, Brandcenter student and co-founder of Tiny Tech

VCU Make it real:  Umar

Biomedical Engineering students Anisa Kannan, Sindora Baddam and Veronica Peterkin share experiences from their time abroad through the Engineering World Health (EWH) Summer Institute. 

The EWH Institute aims to improve health care in developing countries and provide real-world experience with industrial design, social entrepreneurship, business planning and global ethics.

Learn more about EWH at http://biomedical.egr.vcu.edu/student-organizations/engineering-world-health/

Engineering World Health

VCU Women in Engineering

Under the direction of Woon-Hong Yeo, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering, researchers are developing amazing new skin-like, wearable electronic devices that can be worn on the skin or planted in the body to measure health conditions. Ph.D. candidates Connor Howe and Saswat Mishra are working with Yeo on ultra low-profile sensors for human-machine interfaces.

Bio-Interfaced Nano Engineering Lab

Researchers in the Orthopaedic Research Laboratory are analyzing the musculoskeletal system in normal, injured, and repaired states and devising creative ways to restore normal function through interdisciplinary approaches. Under the direction of Jennifer Wayne, Ph.D., professor of biomedical engineering, graduate students Ruchi Chande, M.S., Nathan Veilleux, and Brandon Marine are using computational modeling to improve joint function and surgical outcomes.

Orthopaedic Research Lab

At the intersection of biology and computer science, researchers in the Biological Networks Lab are forging insights that have applications in drug discovery and medicinal therapies.

Biological Networks Lab

Daniel Conway, Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical engineering, and researchers in his lab are developing tools to enhance the study of cell biology. By inserting biosensors into specific proteins, they are able to measure a cell’s response to various chemical and mechanical stimuli. “There is a very tight connection between the forces that cells experience and how they behave,” says biomedical engineering Ph.D. candidate Paul Arsenovic.

Conway Lab

Researchers in VCU’s Modern Heuristics Lab are developing intelligent algorithms that can be used for a world of purposes - from making busses more energy efficient to driving robots with thought.

Modern Heuristics Research Group

Ning Zhang, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical engineering, is developing new ways to promote tissue regeneration through biomaterials and stem cell biology. Her student Jessica Forrester is investigating how microbeads can foster attachment of stem cells.

Biomaterials & Stem Cell Engineering Lab

We all know engineers love their tech tools, so get ready to nerd out. Hear Hasnain Ahmad, an electrical and computer engineering Ph.D. candidate, take us on a tour of our Nanomaterials Core Characterization Facility. With its state-of-the-art tools, Ahmad is getting the assistance he needs to design his own experiments in which he’s testing ways to improve current memory and logic devices

Nanomaterials Core Characterization Facility

Ayan Kumar Biswas, an electrical and computer engineering Ph.D. candidate, enjoys the freedom to invent and explore in his lab work. He takes his passion for physics and engineering to test ideas and theories that he hopes will become the foundation for exciting future technologies.

Quantum Device Laboratory

Take a step into our Microelectronic Materials and Devices lab with Morteza Monavarian, a Ph.D. candidate within our Electrical and Computer Engineering department—there’s a lot for you makers and tinkerers to see. Are you thirsty to enhance the energy efficiency and materials used in some of are favorite technologies like tablets and televisions and solar and imaging devices?

Microelectronic Materials & Device Lab

Do you have a knack for math and physics? Maybe a deep love for problem solving? If so, you’ve got a lot in common with Seonyeong Park, an Electrical & Computer Engineering Ph.D. student. Listen to how she’s applying all her passions in a rapidly growing field to enhance medical imaging for radiation therapy.

Motai Lab

american-nuclear-society-names-lane-carasik-phd-as-one-of-its-40-under-40

American Nuclear Society names Lane Carasik, Ph.D., as one of its “40 Under 40”

The recognition highlights leaders shaping the future of nuclear science and technology

Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering

Recognized as an emerging leader in the nuclear science and engineering field, Lane Carasik, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, was recently acknowledged by the American Nuclear Society as one of its top “40 Under 40.”

“It is a huge honor to receive this acknowledgement from my professional community,” said Carasik. “I feel it is a reflection of the amazing nuclear engineering activities I’ve gotten the opportunity to pursue before and during my time at the VCU College of Engineering.”

The list, featured in the most recent issue of Nuclear News magazine, celebrates young professionals who are driving innovation and shaping the future of nuclear science and technology. Created to spotlight a new generation of nuclear professionals, the “40 Under 40” program highlights those who are advancing technical fields, from advanced reactor deployment to AI applications and national security, while actively engaging the public, mentoring peers and advocating for nuclear’s role to achieve energy independence and security.

“Dr. Carasik’s research efforts, together with his support for students and their own research goals, exemplifies the best qualities of the VCU College of Engineering,” said Arvind Agarwal, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, “integrating research and teaching at the core of everything he does, from classroom and lab work to community outreach.”

Carasik was selected for the “40 Under 40” from hundreds of candidates across the United States. Mentoring his first three Ph.D. graduates, Arturo Cabral, Connor Donlan and James Vulcanoff, is one of Carasik’s proudest achievements. He was also honored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) as a rising star in mechanical engineering in 2024  This builds off Carasik receiving the highly competitive and  prestigious Department of Energy (DOE) Early Career Research Award ($875k split over five years) in 2023 to support his work on molten salt based fusion energy systems similar to Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ ARC technology. Carasik’s Fluids in Advanced Systems and Technology (FAST) research group, is a computational and experimental thermal hydraulics group focused on enabling the development of advanced energy systems and critical isotope production methods.

Legendary physicist Enrico Fermi was an early inspiration to Carasik during his undergraduate studies. Fermi’s expertise mirrored Carasik’s interests, and the physicist’s impact on the field of nuclear engineering was motivating. As an established nuclear engineering faculty member, Carasik seeks to make a lasting impact on the field and the people in it. His ’s long-term goal is earning membership in the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.


national-science-foundation-funds-research-into-quantum-materialbased-computing-architecture-at-the-vcu-college-of-engineering

National Science Foundation funds research into quantum material-based computing architecture at the VCU College of Engineering

Commonwealth Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Supporting the development of advanced computing hardware, the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Supriyo Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D., Commonwealth Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) College of Engineering with more than $300,000 to develop processor-in-memory architecture using quantum materials.

“This is one of the first mainstream applications of quantum materials that have unusual and unique quantum mechanical properties,” Bandyopadhyay said. “Quantum materials have been researched for more than a decade and yet there is not a single mainstream product in the market that utilizes them. We want to change that.”

The four-year project, titled “Collaborative Research, Foundations of Emerging Technologies: PRocessor In Memory Architecture based on Topological Electronics (PRIMATE),” aims to advance computing hardware and artificial intelligence by integrating topological insulators and magnetic materials. 

Topological insulators are a special material with an electrically conductive surface and an insulated interior. They have special quantum mechanical properties like “spin-momentum locking,” which ensures the quantum mechanical spin of an electron-conducting current on the surface of the material is always perpendicular to the direction of motion.This marks the first time such quantum materials will be used in a processor-in-memory system.

“We place a magnet on top of a topological insulator,” Bandyopadhyay said. “We then change the magnetization of the magnet by applying mechanical strain on it. That changes the electrical properties of the topological insulator via a quantum mechanical interaction known as exchange interaction. This change in the electrical properties can be exploited to perform the functions of a processor-in-memory computer architecture. The advantage is that this process is fast and extremely energy-efficient.”

If successful, this approach could reduce energy use and dramatically speed up computing by moving data processing into the memory itself. It addresses the longstanding “memory bottleneck,” the slowdown caused by computers constantly needing to move data back and forth between processor and memory. These efficiencies could make advanced AI more efficient and accessible, paving the way for the first commercially viable applications of quantum materials..

The research is a collaboration with University of Virginia professors Avik Ghosh and Joseph Poon. A VCU Ph.D. student will work on the project and receive training in fabrication, characterization and measurement techniques, preparing them to lead in the rapidly evolving field of computing hardware.


vcu-college-of-engineerings-michael-mcclure-phd-named-chair-of-orthopaedic-research-societys-skeletal-muscle-section

VCU College of Engineering’s Michael McClure, Ph.D., named chair of Orthopaedic Research Society’s Skeletal Muscle Section

Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering | BE, Vanderbilt University | Ph.D, Virginia Commonwealth University

Michael McClure, Ph.D., associate professor from the Department of Biomedical Engineering and affiliate faculty in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and in the Institute for Engineering and Medicine, has been named chair of the Orthopaedic Research Society’s (ORS) newly launched Skeletal Muscle Section.

The section began in August 2025, building on research interest groups and symposia to create a dedicated home for skeletal muscle studies within ORS. Its mission is to advance collaboration, innovation, education and translation in this field.

Skeletal muscle disorders cause disability, chronic pain and high health care costs. Severe injuries and degenerative diseases, such as muscular dystrophies, remain difficult to treat. The section will strengthen research in muscle development, aging, trauma, disuse and disease. This work will expand the basic understanding of and identify therapeutic targets to restore function.

In its first year, the section will measure success through increased skeletal muscle abstracts at the 2027 ORS Annual Meeting, growth in ORS membership and active participation in section programs.

“We are thrilled to launch the Skeletal Muscle Section,” McClure said. “This home for translational muscle research will build on ORS progress over the past 10 years, help recruit new members and foster an environment that connects multiple areas of orthopaedic science.”

McClure’s commitment to this work is shaped by his family’s experience with neuromuscular diseases, witnessing the impact of war-related injuries on patients’ quality of life from the  Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the momentum of translational discovery.

Learn more about the ORS Skeletal Muscle Section.


the-skys-the-limit-researching-surface-impacts-to-improve-the-durability-of-aircraft

The Sky’s the Limit: Researching surface impacts to improve the durability of aircraft

Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering

Associate professor Ibrahim Guven, Ph.D. from the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering is conducting a research project funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) that explores building aircraft for military purposes and civilian transportation that can travel more than five times the speed of sound. Guven’s role in this project is to consider the durability of aircraft surfaces against elements such as rain, ice, and debris. His research group is composed of Ph.D. students who assist with the study and has collaborated with other institutions, including the University of Minnesota, Stevens Institute of Technology and the University of Maryland.

Why did you get involved with this research project? The intersection of need and our interests decides what we research. I’m interested in physics and have been working on methods to strengthen aircraft exteriors against the elements for 12 years. We started with looking at sand particle impact damage, and then we graduated from that to studying raindrop impact because that’s a more challenging problem. Sand impact is not as challenging in terms of physics. A liquid and a solid behave differently under impact conditions. The shape of the raindrop changes prior to the impact due to the shock layer ahead of the aircraft. Researching this impact requires simulating the raindrop-shock layer interaction that gives us the shape of the droplet at the time of contact with the aircraft surface. Unlike with sand, analyzing raindrop impact starts at that point, which requires accurate modeling of the pressure being applied. As the aerospace community achieves faster speeds, there’s a need to understand what will affect a flight’s safety and the aircraft’s structural integrity. That need is what I’m helping to fulfill.

Were there any challenges you and your research group faced while working on this study? How did you overcome them? Finding data was hard. I’m a computational scientist, meaning I implement mathematical differential equations that govern physics to write computer code that predicts how something will behave. My experiments are virtual, so to ensure that my models work well, I need experimental data for validation. However, conducting experiments on this problem is extremely challenging. That’s the roadblock. Currently, we refer to data from the seventies and eighties. Beyond that, this kind of information is not available. We are working to generate data that my computational methods need for their validation. An example is the nylon bead impact experiment. Some researchers found that if you shoot a nylon bead at a target, it leads to damage similar to that from a raindrop of the same size. It is much easier and cheaper to shoot nylon beads compared to the experiments involving raindrops. However, this similarity vanishes as we go into higher velocities.

How do you typically gather data for a project of this nature? We are working with a laboratory under the U.S. Navy. They can accelerate specimens to relevant speeds, meaning they can shoot them into the air at the desired velocity. A colleague at Stevens Institute of Technology also came up with a droplet levitator. He uses acoustic waves emitted by tiny speakers to play a certain sound at a certain frequency to create enough air pressure to suspend droplets midair. To an untrained eye, it looks like magic. They levitate droplets and use a railgun to shoot our samples at the droplets. Our samples hitting the droplets are stand-ins for the aircraft surface material. Once this is done successfully, they shoot a sample with high-speed cameras that can take ten million frames per second. As a result, we get a good, high-fidelity picture of this impact event. That is the type of data I’m seeking, and this is how I get it from my collaborators. 

What was your overall experience working with the students in your research group? I like to think it was positive. I try to be a nice advisor and give them space to explore, fail, and bring their own ideas. Even if I feel like we’re at a dead-end, I step back and let them figure it out. My role is to help them grow. Teach them, train them and help them along the way. That’s the experience. 

Did you notice any personal changes in your students during this project? Yeah, I have. When they’re just out of their undergraduate programs, confidence is lacking sometimes. You see them become more sure of themselves as they learn more and more. Often, regardless of whether English is their native language or not, writing is a big issue for every student. How one presents ideas in written form is a persistent problem in engineering. I see the most growth in that area. Again, an advisor has to be a guide and also have patience. Eventually, after working on multiple paper drafts, I can see tremendous improvement. You must allow them to see their shortcomings. It’s important to work with students to refine how they frame a problem, explain it to a wide audience in concise terms, and use neutral language without leading them to certain conclusions. 

 Why do you think that this research is important? Somebody has to do it, right? I believe that I’m the right person because of my background. Personally, I think if this research makes for safer travel conditions, and if I have something to offer, then why not? If we can accurately simulate what happens in these conditions, we can use our methods to test out designs for damage mitigation. For example, we can perform simulations with different surface materials for the aircraft to see if using a different material or layered coating system leads to less damage. In a bigger picture, we’re working on a very narrow problem in our field, but we don’t know how useful that’s going to be in 10, 15 or 30 years from now. Whatever we study and put out there in terms of publications, it may help some other researcher in a different context many years later. This could be space research, modeling an atmosphere on a different planet, or something that is related to our bodies. There are parts of physics in this problem that do not necessarily only apply to high-speed flight. It could be many different things. One has to understand that what is studied may seem obscure today, but because the universe is more or less governed by the same physics, everything should be put in a theoretical framework, done right and shared with the community. People may learn things that could become relevant in the future. It’s not uncommon. 

 What is another subject that you plan to study? The next natural step is coming up with strategies to mitigate damage in these scenarios. If avoiding a risk is not an option, can we actually come up with a solution? We have to determine how to modify an aircraft’s design to prevent a catastrophe. Another extension of my research would be to examine the landing of spacecraft on dusty planetary bodies. During landing on Earth, aircraft approach and reach the ground very smoothly. On the other hand, a spacecraft comes down slowly and needs a lot of reverse propulsion for a soft landing. As it does, it kicks up a large amount of dust, which blows back and hits the spacecraft. Taking into account the damage that occurs due to particle impact is a direct connection to my work. This again is an open area, and because we have ambitions to have a permanent presence on dusty places like the moon and Mars, we have to nail down the concept of landing safely. That is where my research could help.


secure-communication-technology-research-at-vcu-college-of-engineering-receives-commonwealth-cyber-initiative-support

Secure communication technology research at VCU College of Engineering receives Commonwealth Cyber Initiative support

The grant supports Supriyo Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D.’s investigation of hardware-based secure communication methods.

The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative’s (CCI) Northern Virginia Node recently awarded a $75,000 grant to Supriyo Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) College of Engineering, to develop an ultra-subwavelength microwave polarization switch for secure communication. 

The one-year grant comes through the Cyber Acceleration, Translation and Advanced Prototyping for University Linked Technology (CATAPULT) Fund. It supports Bandyopadhyay’s project, “An ultra-subwavelength microwave polarization switch for secure communication,” which develops a nanomagnet-based antenna integrated with a piezoelectric component. This system can switch the polarization of electromagnetic beams at specific microwave frequencies to enable secret communication between two points without traditional encryption methods.

 “Secret communication sheds the need for encryption,” Bandyopadhyay said. “Any cryptography can be broken, but this scheme does not use cryptography for secret communication and does not suffer from this vulnerability. It is also entirely based on hardware and cannot be hacked.”

The technology offers significant benefits for banking, healthcare and government communications where data security is critical because a hardware-based approach makes it immune to software hacking.

Another result of the research is antenna miniaturization, with antenna sizes several orders of magnitude smaller than the radiated wavelength. This addresses limitations in algorithms, physical size and power requirements that current secure communication systems face.

Bandyopadhyay is collaborating with two researchers from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech and Erdem Topsakal, Ph.D., senior associate dean for strategic initiatives and professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at VCU.

Students involved in the project will be trained in antenna engineering, microwaves and communication engineering, gaining skills increasingly vital in today’s connected world.


department-of-electrical-and-computer-engineering-professor-nibir-dhar-phd-elevated-to-virginia-microelectronics-center-endowed-chair

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering professor Nibir Dhar, Ph.D., elevated to Virginia Microelectronics Center endowed chair

Virginia Microelectronics Consortium Chair in Engineering |CCI Eminent Scholar, SPIE Fellow, OPTICA (OSA) Fellow

Nibir Dhar, Ph.D., director of the Convergence Lab Initiative and professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was recently appointed to the Virginia Microelectronics Center endowed chair. This position gives Dhar the opportunity to shape future scientists and engineers, as well as pursue breakthrough research at the College of Engineering. 

“It’s more than an academic role,” said Dhar. “It’s about preparing students for complex problems they’ll solve in industry and defense.”

Dhar teaches semiconductor and infrared device courses while researching next-generation materials for real-world applications. He also explores AI’s ability to improve human-machine interactions. With his accomplished background and experience at national defense labs, Dhar bridges classroom theory with practical engineering challenges his students will face in their careers. 

“It feels incredible to be recognized this way. Virginia Commonwealth University truly values faculty who pour themselves into student success and university growth. What really drives me is knowing I’m helping build the next generation of problem-solvers. That’s where the real satisfaction comes from.” said Dhar.

This promotion encourages Dhar to make bigger strides for research development that will transform both teaching methods and how technology advances in military and commercial sectors.


engineering-professor-develops-ecofriendly-method-of-creating-semiconductor-materials-for-electronics

Engineering professor develops eco-friendly method of creating semiconductor materials for electronics

Current industrial methods use toxic solvents and damage the environment.

Assistant Professor, Chemical and Life Science Engineering

A Virginia Commonwealth University researcher has developed an alternative method of producing semiconductor materials that is environmentally friendly.

Semiconductors are crucial to modern electronics and displays, but they are constructed from toxic solvents. They also are created at high temperatures and pressures, resulting in both environmental damage and high production costs.

The new technique has been introduced by Leah Spangler, Ph.D., assistant professor in the VCU College of Engineering’s Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, and Michael Hecht, a professor of chemistry at Princeton University. It demonstrates an alternative method to produce semiconductor materials called quantum dots using proteins at room temperature in water, resulting in a more environmentally friendly synthesis method.

“This research uses de novo proteins, which are not taken from natural organisms but instead made by design for specific purposes,” Spangler said. “Therefore, this work shows that protein design can be leveraged to control material properties, creating an exciting new direction to explore for future research.”

This work builds on natural examples of proteins creating materials, known as biomineralization. But this is the first example that uses de novo proteins made by design to control the synthesis of quantum dots.

The study, “De Novo Proteins Template the Formation of Semiconductor Quantum Dots,” was published in the journal ACS Central Science. The work is related to a recent Department of Defense grant to Spangler to test an eco-friendly approach for separating rare earth elements into a refined final product using de novo proteins.


darpa-awards-vcu-4875-million-for-development-of-modular-drug-manufacturing-platform

DARPA awards VCU $4.875 million for development of modular drug manufacturing platform

Virginia Commonwealth University College of Engineering professor James Ferri, Ph.D. applies continuous manufacturing technology to address critical drug shortages

Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is funding a $13M grant for  a Rutgers University and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) partnership through the EQUIP-A-Pharma program, with $4.175 million to James Ferri, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering at VCU, to develop a modular manufacturing platform for sterile liquid drug products.

The 24-month grant supports Ferri’s project, “Modular Manufacturing of Sterile Liquid Drug Products,” which develops a continuous manufacturing platform capable of producing highly potent drug substances such as albuterol sulfate and bupivacaine hydrochloride. These drug substances are for use in sterile liquid products, where compliance with purity of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and impurity profiles are characterized and controlled in real time throughout the manufacturing process.

“This work enables agile continuous manufacturing of drug substance and end-to-end drug product manufacturing of several highly potent drug substances with real time quality control,” Ferri said. “The combination of dynamic modular operation and real-time quality control will increase the supply of critical medicines in the United States.”

Drug shortages continue to receive national attention, with albuterol sulfate and bupivacaine hydrochloride both appearing on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration drug shortage list within the past year. The project develops technologies that enable distributed manufacturing approaches to essential medicines currently in shortage in the United States.

The platform incorporates several innovative features including continuous flow synthesis for improved process performance, online spectroscopy for real-time quality control, and modular unit operations that can be rapidly configured for different drug products. Key technologies include heterogeneous catalytic flow reactors, in-line purification systems and advanced process analytical technologies.

The continuous manufacturing approach offers significant advantages over traditional batch manufacturing, including improved process control, reduced waste and the ability to produce medicines closer to the point of care. The modular design enables rapid deployment and flexible manufacturing of multiple drug products using the same platform.

Ferri is collaborating with researchers from Rutgers University on the project, which began in August 2024. The platform is designed to fit within a standard shipping container, enabling distributed manufacturing capabilities.

The research directly addresses national security concerns about pharmaceutical supply chain vulnerabilities while advancing the field of continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing. Students involved in the project gain experience in cutting-edge manufacturing technologies that are increasingly important in addressing global health challenges.


neutrons-by-the-trillions-using-computational-physics-to-understand-nuclear-reactors

Neutrons by the trillions: Using computational physics to understand nuclear reactors

Zeyun Wu, Ph.D., associate professor in the mechanical and nuclear engineering department at VCU Engineering, is reshaping the future of nuclear power. 

Nuclear reactors are among the most complex engineered systems on earth, with different physical processes interacting simultaneously across various scales. Even the world's most powerful computers cannot simulate every detail of an operating reactor at once.

With a background in computational reactor physics, Wu’s research develops modeling and simulation techniques crucial to understanding next-generation nuclear reactors. By creating these advanced tools, his research eliminates the need for costly physical experimentation while ensuring the safety, efficiency and environmental sustainability of future nuclear power plants. 

Wu's research focuses on understanding reactor behavior through two aspects: multi-physics and multi-scale modeling. The multi-physics approach integrates various physical phenomena, such as nuclear physics reactions, fluid dynamics, heat transfer and structural mechanics, into a unified simulation framework. The multi-scale modeling technique addresses the vast range of physical scales involved, from subatomic neutron interactions to meter-sized reactor components. 

Wu’s research can simulate the complex phenomena within reactors at different scales. These models, developed using advanced numerical methods, help predict reactor behavior under various conditions. 

One of the models Wu uses tracks neutron behavior, a fundamental aspect to understand nuclear reactions. His simulations track trillions of neutrons as they move through various reactor materials, cause fission events and generate power. 

"What drives power is actually the neutron," explained Wu. "Once an atom splits, along with the nuclear energy release, lots of neutrons come out. We're talking about 1012 to 1013 neutrons per second. Our code tracks each neutron to understand where it comes from and where it goes."

By understanding neutron distribution across space, time and energy domains, Wu's team can predict power distribution throughout the reactor core. This helps identify potential hotspots –  areas of heightened thermal activity that could pose safety challenges. Beyond neutron behavior, Wu's research also explores how cooling fluids interact with neutrons and carry away thermal energy, a field known as thermal hydraulics, because how the reactor components are cooled significantly affects the neutron behavior as well. This also explains why the multi-physics modeling becomes essential for nuclear reactor simulations. 

Wu founded the Computational Applied Reactor Physics Laboratory (CARPL) to continue his research in nuclear reactor modeling and simulation. Undergraduate and master’s students learn to use established nuclear simulation codes to analyze reactor problems – skills highly valued in the industry and national labs. Ph.D. students build on theoretical foundations to deepen their understanding, enhance existing models, and develop new ones.

“My area of research has been continually evolving for the past 60 years or so,” said Wu. “Most of the codes we use have been developed by national labs, like Oak Ridge National Lab, but these codes aren’t perfect. National labs hire Ph.D. level students with this niche to identify deficits in the code, correct errors and even add new functions and improve them.”

Looking forward, Wu hopes his research will have a real-world impact on the upcoming shift in nuclear power in America. Over the next 20 to 30 years, the nation's approximately 90 light-water-cooled nuclear reactors reach the end of their operational lifetimes. Light water refers to ordinary water (H₂O), used in most existing reactors to both cool the system and slow down neutrons to sustain the nuclear reaction. To replace them, experts are looking toward advanced, non-light-water-cooled reactors, such as the Molten Uranium Breeder Reactor (MUBR) shown in the figure. Computational methods and tools like Wu’s research lab developed will be essential to their development and implementation. 

 Non-light-water cooled reactors offer significant advantages over the older designs. Some can operate at higher temperatures while others produce substantially less nuclear waste, addressing one of the industry's persistent challenges.

"Unlike traditional water reactors, where we have decades of operational experience and established analysis tools, these new designs present unique challenges," explained Wu. "Companies like Dominion employ large teams of analysts who use well-tested computational tools to maintain their existing reactors, but those same tools aren't calibrated for these next-generation reactors. Our research is developing the computational methods and simulations these advanced reactors will need. When these new reactors come online, the methodologies we're creating now can be quickly converted into production-level nuclear codes, providing immediate practical value to industry.”



Spotlights

Filters

Keyword

Featured Experts

Year