Filling the “Isotope Specialist” Pipeline: The Washington State University Approach

1. Filling the “Isotope Specialist” Pipeline: The Washington State University Approach Ken Nash, Sue Clark, Paul Benny, Aurora Clark, Don Wall, Nathalie Wall, Jim Elliston

2. Radiochemistry @ WSUCirca 1999 • Research reactor, no NE program • R. Filby, Neutron Activation Analysis • S. Clark, Actinide Chemistry • Reactor Staff • Radiation Safety Office • Radiochemistry research laboratories • Approx. $300,000/year research funding • Primarily DOE Office of Science, BES & BER • Approx. 7 Ph.D. seeking students; 1-2 grads/year • Hands-on radiochemistry graduate and undergraduate courses

3. Radiochemistry @ WSUCirca 1999, Continued • R. Filby retirement in 2001 • 1 – 2 faculty retirements / year in Chemistry Department • “Difficult” state budget situation (so no new hires) • Increasing undergraduate student numbers • Little or no “start-up” funding for positions • Possible opportunities for increasing federal research funding in radiochemistry education

4. Chemistry Department Since 1999, • Radiochemistry included as a primary focus area in curriculum • Cross training students in fundamentals of chemistry and nuclear chemistry • Increased the number of faculty positions • Increased the number of radiochemistry students • Undergraduate and graduate • Increased outreach to the community

5. Sue Clark, Professor Research Interests • Environmental Chemistry of Actinides and Lanthanides • Mineral Phases of Tailing piles • Environmental Clean up • Nuclear Security

6. Ken Nash, Professor Research Interests • Advanced Fuel Cycle • Reprocessing • Separation science • Solution chemistry of lanthanides and actinides

7. Paul Benny, Assistant Professor • Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry • Design of new molecular targeting agents for therapy and imaging • Radio Environmental Chemistry • Isolation and identification of migrant radionuclides. Biotargeting Molecule BM

8. Aurora Clark, Assistant Professor Simulation of Actinide Materials Computation Chemistry of Lanthanides and Actinides • Separations • Solvation models • Developing f electron systems • Environmental modeling Using electronic structure to understand physical properties, Magnetic properties of reduced U-minerals DFT Study of Actinide Complexes

9. Harold Dodgen Facility • 1 MW TRIGA Nuclear Reactor • James C. Sullivan milligram Np, Pu laboratory Director of the reactor, Don Wall

10. Veterinarian Medicine Diagnosis of disease in animals • Magnetic Resonance • Radiopharmaceuticals Treatmentof disease in animals • External beam radiation • Radiopharmaceuticals

11. Radiochemistry @ WSU Today • Seven radiochemistry faculty: four tenured or tenure track, three research professors • Increased research funding (Approx. $600,000/year research funding, with increases expected) • Primarily DOE Office of Science, BES, NE & BER • Increased number of Ph.D. seeking students (18 at present) • Hands on radiochemistry graduate and undergraduate courses and undergraduate research • More diversity in course offerings • Student internships at national labs • WSU faculty sabbaticals at national labs • National lab staff sabbaticals at WSU • Improved and expanded facilities on tap for 2009

12. Supporters of the WSURadiochemistry Program • US Department of Energy • DOE Radiochemistry Education Award Program • WSU • WSU Dean of Science and the Provost’s Office • Chemistry Department • Harold Dodgen, Roy Filby • State of Washington

14. 6.8 23.4 12.6 12.5

15. Who is training the next generation of Nuclear Scientists? The rest of the world!