Providing education, research, problem-solving, and service in nuclear science and engineering

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RadLab

The RadLab at The University of Texas at Austin focuses on research using radiation and radioactivity to improve security and quality of life.

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Reactor

The NETL reactor, designed by General Atomics, is a TRIGA Mark II nuclear research reactor. The NETL is the newest of the current fleet of U.S. university reactors.

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Robotics

The Nuclear and Applied Robotics Group is an interdisciplinary research group whose mission is to develop and deploy advanced robotics in hazardous environments in order to minimize risk for the human operator.

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Experiment Facilities & Services

The Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory is an innovative facility with unique capabilities. Services provided by the NETL are available to researchers and clients both within and outside The University of Texas at Austin including international clients. Services include education and training, nuclear and radiation related research, nuclear analytical services, radioisotope production, and specialized technical services. With the varied areas of specialty of NETL staff, NETL welcomes all nuclear and radiation related inquiries.

Nuclear and Radiation Research

NETL research areas are typically related to nuclear forensics but also include robotics applications along with other areas.

Nuclear Analytical Research and Services

Trace element analysis using neutron activation analysis and prompt gamma activation analysis. Measuring distribution of elements in material using neutron depth profiling. Imaging materials with neutron radiography.

Radioisotope Production

The NETL can produce a variety of radioisotopes for use in research, nuclear medicine, and industrial processes.

Technical Services

The NETL staff have a variety of areas of specialty to aid in design and development of experiments, processes, and products.

$20M+

In funding for molten salt reactor development

60+

Graduate students

$1.7M

Research expenditures per tenured/tenure-track faculty in FY23

News

UT Austin moderates TNA panel on building a nuclear workforce in Texas

Dani Zigon, Director of Strategic Initiatives for The University of Texas at Austin’s Nuclear & Radiation Engineering Program, recently served as moderator and panelist for the Texas Nuclear Alliance (TNA) webinar, “The Path Forward for Cultivating Homegrown Nuclear Talent in Texas.” A full recording can be found on YouTube.

PhD candidate wins MARC XIII Poster Competition

Bradley Gladden, a current PhD candidate, was recently selected as the winner of the MARC XIII Student Poster Presentation Competition for her work titled "Modeling Fluorinated Spent Nuclear Fuel in a Molten Salt Reactor."

Dr. Dale Klein addresses the realities of the nuclear renaissance

Dr. Dale Klein, UT Austin Professor and former Commissioner of the NRC, spoke during a plenary at the 21st International Symposium on the Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive Materials (PATRAM 2025), in San Antonio, Texas last July. He cautioned us all not to repeat past mistakes, to consider the role of an independent regulator "sacrosanct," and develop an integrated, "long-term approach between industry and government, both here and internationally, if we want nuclear to scale to what the global economy now demands." Read more of his speech in this issue of Nuclear Newswire.

ANS and Nuclear Niche Present: TerraPower- A Leading Company in Energy and Healthcare

This Nuclear Niche event will be co-sponsored with the KBH Center and our UT American Nuclear Society Student Chapter. We will be welcoming Dr. Jon McWhirter, Chief Engineer at TerraPower to speak on the intersection of nuclear power and healthcare.

📅 When: Thursday, November 6th, 5:00 PM

📍 Where: ETC 3.112

🎤 Speaker: Dr. Jon McWhirter, Chief Engineer at TerraPower

Event: Dr. Derek Haas speaking at the Texas Energy Summit

Come see Dr. Derek Haas speak on nuclear power in Texas at the 2025 Texas Energy Summit in downtown Austin at the Capitol. Student registration is free. 

📅 When: Thursday, November 6th, 1:30 PM

📍 Where: Texas State Capitol

📝 Registration Link: Here