MARIETTA, Ga. | Jul 18, 2017

Nuclear Regulatory Commission awards grant to help engineering students pursue careers in nuclear field

Kennesaw State University’s nuclear engineering program has received a two-year, $200,000 grant from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in an effort to educate more engineers for the nuclear industry.

“We are among the few nuclear engineering programs in the nation that on competitive basis has received meaningful support from the NRC and the DOE (Department of Energy) for nuclear workforce development,” said Mahmoud Ghavi, a research professor and director of KSU’s nuclear engineering program. Funding from the NRC and DOE for the College’s nuclear program has totaled more than $1.5 million over the past few years. 

The $200,000 award will provide up to 24 student scholarships over the two-year grant period, with qualified recipients receiving $6,400 to cover the cost of KSU’s in-state tuition and fees.

“This NRC scholarship grant is intended to attract talented students to our program and provide qualified engineering students with financial assistance as they prepare for and pursue careers in the expanding field of nuclear science and engineering,” Ghavi said.

With nearly half of the nuclear workforce set to retire in the coming years, the need for more professionals educated in nuclear engineering is crucial. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, more than 25,000 new workers will be needed to fill the gaps left by these retirees.

Kennesaw State’s minor in nuclear engineering is housed within the mechanical engineering department in the University’s Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. The program, which launched in 2011, is open to all engineering and science students. The nuclear discipline focuses on atomic energy, nuclear power generation, reactor design, reactor control, radiation detection and protection, the nuclear fuel cycle and environmental protection.

Funding from the NRC to Kennesaw State’s nuclear engineering program initially began in 2008 but increased when it became a minor in nuclear studies degree in 2011. The grant funding has been used to support program establishment, course development, student scholarships and faculty development.

Graduates of Kennesaw State’s nuclear engineering program are now working in many sectors of the industry including power generation, nuclear plant construction, nuclear defense, national labs, engineering services and nuclear medicine.

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The Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology at Kennesaw State University is the second largest engineering college in Georgia, serving more than 4,000 students. The College offers 20 undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering and engineering technology led by industry-expert faculty in the university’s state-of-the-art facilities. For more information, visit engineering.kennesaw.edu.

 

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.