In total, the Department of Energy awarded $38 million as part of a campaign to restart the nuclear industry and advance nuclear education. Out of the 27 proposals sent from N.C. State’s College of Engineering, two were selected for awards. The total nationwide proposal pool was 600. The grants were awarded based on certain criteria, including the science behind the proposals and the facilities. Dr. Steven Shannon, associate professor of the Department of Nuclear Engineering, helped to explain the proposals and how this will affect the College of Engineering, as well as the University. ”We’re retooling electronic fabrication to fabricate material samples to do radiation damage,” Shannon said.  ”We are going to take the strengths of N.C. State, using the infrastructure at State, to make materials for researching.” Basically, the nuclear department will be using State’s technology, that have traditionally been used to make items like electronics, and they will make a variety of materials for the nuclear department to expose to radiation. By irradiating these different elements, the nuclear department will be able to test the effects of radiation on these materials. ”Radiation can cause swelling, degrade the material and cause fractures,” Shannon explained. The nuclear research proposal was a group project and was, with the help of Shannon, achieved by a collaboration of Dr. Jacob Eapen, Dr. Jon-Paul Maria and Dr. William Weber of the University of Tennessee. Dr. Hong Luo, associate professor of mechanical engineering, also explained his 20-page proposal, which was standard for all proposals, and the plan for applying funds. ”We deal with nuclear reactor safety codes, how long a nuclear reactor can operate,” Luo said. “We are rewriting code that can be used to predict the safety of a nuclear reactor.” Shannon and Luo feel that this award directly affects the students and their chances of gaining employment after graduation. ”The direct impact is it allows research for undergrads and grad students, and our studies mean more exposure to the national lab infrastructure, which helps with employment,” Shannon said. “I think that’s one of the benefits for the students.” In the College of Engineering, there is no surprise State was awarded such an amount. In fact, they almost expect it. ”I don’t think it says anything we don’t already know,” Shannon explained. “We’re a good school. This is what we’re expected to do. This is what we’re paid to do.” This award also gives more opportunities for undergrad and graduate students to get hands-on experience in the College of Engineering. Altogether, three undergraduates and three graduate student paid positions will be available. ”It will be a lot of experimental work, clean rooms, high temperature furnaces,” Shannon said. You can contact Dr. Steven Shannon at [email protected] about the available positions.