Two NEEP professors, Kumar Sridharan and Oliver Schmitz, have received a patent for a new material that can withstand the harsh conditions of a fusion reactor. Already licensed to a fusion industry partner, this technology could meet a major need in the industry: plasma-facing components that are compact, durable, and easy to repair. The technology …

Prof. Kumar Sridharan was a part of UW–Madison team that was awarded nearly $25M by U.S. National Science Foundation for a Materials Innovation Platform (MIP) proposal. The funding will create the NSF Materials AI and Transformation through Research Infrastructure for eXtreme environments Materials Innovation Platform (NSF MATRIX-MIP) as a national hub for innovation of materials …

Prof. Kumar Sridharan collaborated with WCNT’s director Dr. Julie Morasch to receive a competitive University of Wisconsin, Madison internal grant award for the proposal “Replacement and Enhancement of Microanalysis System on the Scanning Electron Microscope in the Nanoscale Imaging and Analysis Center”.  The grant will be used to upgrade microanalysis instruments in WCNT’s Nanoscale Imaging …

Materials Science & Engineering graduate student Max Leaf successfully defended his Masters research thesis titled “Application of Chromium Coatings to Silicon Carbide for Gas-Cooled Fast Reactors” in June 2026. Max has received a position at the company Chromalloy, which specializes in engines for aerospace. Congratulations Max !

Nuclear Engineering & Engineering NAMRG undergraduate research intern has published his research in the journal Nuclear Technology: “Investigation of Quench Temperature Dependence on Cladding Wall Thickness under Simulated LOCA Conditions”, N. Fox, C. Dunbar, T. Demo, H. Yeom, M. Corradini, K. Sridharan, and W.H. Jung, Nuclear Technology, ISSN: 0029-5450, 1943-7471, 2026. Nick received his BS …

Congratulations to Tera Benda on successfully defending her Masters thesis entitled “Evaluation of Cr-coated Zr-alloy Claddings in a Loss of Coolant Accident in Light Water Reactors.” Tera is currently Environmental Health & Safety Specialist in the Radiation Safety Department at UW–Madison. Congratulations again Tera!

When Bob Heideman started his undergrad at UW–Madison in 1984, things looked a little different. Back then, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering was referred to as the Department of Metallurgical and Mineral Engineering. It’s safe to say some things have changed over the last 40 years, both for Heideman and the department. For …

Congratulations to Carson Lukas on successfully defending his Masters thesis entitled “Cold Spray Ni Coatings with Hybrid Peening Treatment for Addressing Corrosion in Stainless-Steel Used Fuel Storage Containers.” Carson is currently Researcher with NAMRG working on a range of projects including development of accident tolerant fuel cladding and control rod assembly, coatings for advanced molten …

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering is proud to recognize graduating senior Laney Zuelsdorff as a recipient of the 2026 Ginsberg Family Award, a prestigious honor for students who exemplify outstanding leadership and service at UW–Madison. For the past two years, she has worked in the Nuclear and Applied Materials Research Group. “Laney is …

Adrien Couet, Kumar Sridharan, and Paul Wilson, professors in the Department of Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, are helping advance nuclear materials research and workforce training through a multi-institution consortium led by Penn State University.