Filling the “Isotope Filling the “Isotope Specialist” Pipeline: Specialist” Pipeline:

The Washington The Washington State University State University

ApproachApproach

Ken Nash, Sue Clark, Ken Nash, Sue Clark, Paul Benny, Aurora Paul Benny, Aurora

Clark, Don Wall, Clark, Don Wall, Nathalie Wall, Jim Nathalie Wall, Jim

EllistonElliston

Radiochemistry @ WSURadiochemistry @ WSUCirca 1999Circa 1999

Research reactor, no NE programResearch reactor, no NE program R. Filby, Neutron Activation AnalysisR. Filby, Neutron Activation Analysis S. Clark, Actinide ChemistryS. Clark, Actinide Chemistry Reactor StaffReactor Staff Radiation Safety OfficeRadiation Safety Office

Radiochemistry research laboratoriesRadiochemistry research laboratories

Approx. $300,000/year research fundingApprox. $300,000/year research funding Primarily DOE Office of Science, BES & BERPrimarily DOE Office of Science, BES & BER

Approx. 7 Ph.D. seeking students; 1-2 Approx. 7 Ph.D. seeking students; 1-2 grads/yeargrads/year

Hands-on radiochemistry graduate and Hands-on radiochemistry graduate and undergraduate courses undergraduate courses

Radiochemistry @ WSURadiochemistry @ WSUCirca 1999, ContinuedCirca 1999, Continued

R. Filby retirement in 2001R. Filby retirement in 2001

1 – 2 faculty retirements / year in 1 – 2 faculty retirements / year in Chemistry DepartmentChemistry Department

““Difficult” state budget situation (so no Difficult” state budget situation (so no new hires)new hires)

Increasing undergraduate student Increasing undergraduate student numbersnumbers

Little or no “start-up” funding for Little or no “start-up” funding for positionspositions

Possible opportunities for increasing Possible opportunities for increasing federal research funding in federal research funding in radiochemistry educationradiochemistry education

Chemistry DepartmentChemistry DepartmentSince 1999,Since 1999, Radiochemistry included as a primary Radiochemistry included as a primary

focus area in curriculumfocus area in curriculum Cross training students in fundamentals Cross training students in fundamentals

of chemistry and nuclear chemistryof chemistry and nuclear chemistry Increased the number of faculty Increased the number of faculty

positionspositions Increased the number of radiochemistry Increased the number of radiochemistry

studentsstudents Undergraduate and graduateUndergraduate and graduate

Increased outreach to the communityIncreased outreach to the community

Sue Clark, ProfessorSue Clark, Professor

Research InterestsResearch Interests Environmental Environmental

Chemistry of Actinides Chemistry of Actinides and Lanthanidesand Lanthanides

Mineral Phases of Mineral Phases of Tailing pilesTailing piles

Environmental Clean upEnvironmental Clean up Nuclear SecurityNuclear Security

Ken Nash, ProfessorKen Nash, Professor

Research InterestsResearch Interests Advanced Fuel CycleAdvanced Fuel Cycle Reprocessing Reprocessing Separation scienceSeparation science Solution chemistry of Solution chemistry of

lanthanides and lanthanides and actinidesactinides

Paul Benny, Assistant Paul Benny, Assistant ProfessorProfessor

Radiopharmaceutical Radiopharmaceutical ChemistryChemistry Design of new Design of new

molecular targeting molecular targeting agents for therapy and agents for therapy and imagingimaging

Radio Environmental Radio Environmental ChemistryChemistry Isolation and Isolation and

identification of migrant identification of migrant radionuclides.radionuclides.

OH2

Tc

CO

OC CO

OH2H2O

Tc

CO

CO

CO

BM

Biotargeting Molecule

Aurora Clark, Assistant Aurora Clark, Assistant ProfessorProfessor

Computation Chemistry of Computation Chemistry of Lanthanides and ActinidesLanthanides and Actinides SeparationsSeparations Solvation modelsSolvation models Developing f electron Developing f electron

systemssystems Environmental Environmental

modeling modeling

Simulation of Actinide MaterialsSimulation of Actinide Materials

Using electronic structure to understand physical properties,

U(V)

U(V)

U(V)

U(V)

U(V)

U(V)

U(V)

U(V)

Magnetic properties of reduced U-minerals

Optimized potential

Reference Database

MD SimulationFitting Algorithm

Optimized potentialOptimized potentialOptimized potential

Reference Database

MD SimulationFitting Algorithm

Reference Database

MD SimulationFitting Algorithm

DFT Study of Actinide Complexes

Harold Dodgen FacilityHarold Dodgen Facility

1 MW TRIGA Nuclear Reactor1 MW TRIGA Nuclear Reactor James C. Sullivan milligram Np, Pu laboratoryJames C. Sullivan milligram Np, Pu laboratory

Director of the reactor, Don WallDirector of the reactor, Don Wall

Veterinarian MedicineVeterinarian Medicine

Diagnosis of disease in Diagnosis of disease in animalsanimals Magnetic ResonanceMagnetic Resonance RadiopharmaceuticalsRadiopharmaceuticals

TreatmentTreatment of disease in of disease in animalsanimals External beam External beam

radiationradiation RadiopharmaceuticalsRadiopharmaceuticals

Seven radiochemistry faculty: four tenured or Seven radiochemistry faculty: four tenured or tenure tenure track, three research professorstrack, three research professors Increased research funding (Approx. Increased research funding (Approx. $600,000/year $600,000/year research funding, with increases research funding, with increases expected)expected)

Primarily DOE Office of Science, BES, NE & BERPrimarily DOE Office of Science, BES, NE & BER

Increased number of Ph.D. seeking students (18 Increased number of Ph.D. seeking students (18 at at present)present) Hands on radiochemistry Hands on radiochemistry graduategraduate and and undergraduateundergraduate courses and undergraduate courses and undergraduate researchresearch More diversity in course offeringsMore diversity in course offerings Student internships at national labsStudent internships at national labs WSU faculty sabbaticals at national labsWSU faculty sabbaticals at national labs National lab staff sabbaticals at WSUNational lab staff sabbaticals at WSU Improved and expanded facilities on tap for 2009Improved and expanded facilities on tap for 2009

Radiochemistry @ WSU Radiochemistry @ WSU TodayToday

Supporters of the WSUSupporters of the WSURadiochemistry Program Radiochemistry Program

US Department of Energy US Department of Energy DOE Radiochemistry DOE Radiochemistry

Education Award Education Award Program Program

WSU WSU WSU Dean of Science and WSU Dean of Science and

the Provost’s Officethe Provost’s Office Chemistry DepartmentChemistry Department Harold Dodgen, Roy FilbyHarold Dodgen, Roy Filby

State of WashingtonState of Washington

PhDs in Nuclear & Radiochemistry Awarded at US Universities

05

10152025303540

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Year

Nu

mb

er

23.4 12.6 12.56.8

Who is training the next generation Who is training the next generation of Nuclear Scientists?of Nuclear Scientists?

The rest of the world!The rest of the world!