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

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

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

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

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

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

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. BM Biotargeting Molecule

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

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

Veterinarian Medicine Diagnosis of disease in animals Magnetic Resonance Magnetic Resonance Radiopharmaceuticals Radiopharmaceuticals Treatment of disease in animals External beam radiation External beam radiation Radiopharmaceuticals Radiopharmaceuticals

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

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

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