Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering

The Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering (NSE) provides undergraduate and graduate education for students interested in developing and understanding nuclear technologies for the benefit of society and the environment.

This is an exciting time to study nuclear science and engineering. There is an upsurge of innovative activity in the field, including a drastic increase in nuclear start-up companies, as energy resource constraints, security concerns, and the risks of climate change are creating new demands for safe, secure, cost-competitive nuclear energy systems. At the same time, powerful new tools for exploring, measuring, modeling, and controlling complex nuclear and radiation processes are laying the foundations for major advances in the application of nuclear technologies in medicine and industry as well as in fundamental science.

In response to these developments, the department has created programs of study that prepare students for scientific and engineering leadership roles in energy and non-energy applications of nuclear science and technology. Applications include nuclear fission energy systems, fusion energy systems, quantum engineering, and systems for securing nuclear materials against the threats of nuclear proliferation and terrorism. Underlying these applications are core fields of education and research, including nuclear physics; plasma physics; thermal sciences; radiation sources, detection, and control; the study of materials in harsh environments; and advanced computation and simulation.

Students in nuclear science and engineering study the scientific fundamentals of the field, engineering methods for integrating these fundamentals into practical systems, and the interactions of nuclear systems with society and the environment. Undergraduate and graduate students take core subjects in the field and can then select from a wide variety of application areas through more specialized subjects.

Principle areas of research and education in the department are described below.

Nuclear Fission Energy. Nuclear reactors, utilizing the fission of heavy elements such as uranium, supply roughly 10% of the world's electricity, powering grids, ships and submarines. They produce radioisotopes for medical, biological, and industrial uses, and for long-lived on-board power sources for spacecraft. They can also provide energy for chemical and industrial processing and portable fuel production (e.g., synthetic fuels or hydrogen).

Electricity generation is the most familiar application. In some countries, the fraction of electricity obtained from nuclear power exceeds 50%. In the United States, more than 90 nuclear power plants supply almost 20% of the nation's electricity. Thirty countries generate nuclear power today, and more than 40 others have recently expressed an interest in developing new nuclear energy programs. Nuclear power is the only low-carbon energy source that is both inherently scalable and already generating a significant share of the world's electricity supplies. Fission technology is entering a new era in which lifetime extensions existing plants, next-generation reactors, and new fuel cycle technologies and strategies will contribute to meeting the rapidly growing global demand for safe and cost-competitive low-carbon electricity supplies.

Fission energy research in the Nuclear Science and Engineering department is focused on developing advanced nuclear reactor designs for electricity, process heat, and alternative fuels production that include passive safety features; developing innovative proliferation-resistant fuel cycles; extending the life of nuclear fuels and structures; and reducing the capital and operating costs of nuclear energy systems. These research goals are pursued via targeted technology options, based on advanced modeling and simulation techniques and state-of-the-art experimental facilities. Progress toward these goals also entails advances in the thermal, materials, nuclear, and computational sciences. The overall objective is to advance the role of nuclear energy as an economical, safe, environmentally friendly, and flexible energy source, thereby contributing to energy security, economic growth, and a sustainable global climate.

Plasma Physics and Fusion Technology. A different source of nuclear energy results from the controlled fusion of light elements, notably hydrogen isotopes. Since the basic source of fuel for fusion can be easily and inexpensively extracted from the ocean or from very abundant lithium, the supply is virtually inexhaustible. Fusion reactions can only readily occur in a fully ionized plasma heated to ultra-high temperatures (150 million K). Such hot plasmas cannot be contained by material walls and are usually confined instead by strong magnetic fields. An alternative approach entails inertial confinement, usually achieved with very high-power lasers. Recent progress within the international fusion community increases the likelihood that controlled fusion will become a practical source of energy within the next half-century. Attainment of a fusion power plant involves the solution of many intellectually challenging physics and engineering problems. Included among these challenges are a mastery of the sophisticated field of plasma physics; the discovery of improved magnetic geometries to enhance plasma confinement; the development of materials capable of withstanding high stresses and exposure to intense radiation; and the need for great engineering ingenuity in integrating fusion power components into a practical, safe, and economical system. The department has strong programs in plasma fundamentals, materials for intense radiation fields, and engineering of fusion systems.

Plasma processes are key to many naturally occurring phenomena, and to many practical applications. Solar physics, space weather, and dusty plasma physics, are basic plasma research areas of departmental expertise. Treatment of toxic gases, magnetohydrodynamic energy conversion, ion propulsion, radiation generation, materials processing, and various other industrial applications use the knowledge students gain in applied plasma physics. The Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering leads MIT's interdepartmental graduate instruction in plasma physics and many of its research applications.

Nuclear Security.  The field of nuclear security concerns itself with the challenges and dangers of nuclear weapons and nuclear materials.  Various areas of nuclear security include nuclear nonproliferation, arms control treaty verification, cargo security, as well as nuclear safeguards.  For nuclear power to retain its societal relevance, it is important for the nuclear community to develop a culture of security just as it has developed a culture of safety. Thus, nuclear security in its broadest sense becomes of paramount importance to the nuclear engineering community. MIT is perfectly positioned to perform long-term research in the field of nuclear security, to make the use of nuclear energy less risky for global security. Part of this effort of necessity contains a component of policy, as well as a component of technological research necessary to stop proliferation, improve nuclear safeguards, and intercept any attempts at nuclear terrorism:  a successful program cannot be either purely technology driven or purely policy driven but rather a careful integration of these two areas. The Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering is actively pursuing an integration of both technology and policy development.

Quantum Engineering. An exciting new frontier in nuclear science and engineering is to precisely control the quantum mechanical wave function of atomic and subatomic systems. Thus far, this has been achieved only in low-energy processes, particularly nuclear magnetic resonance, a form of nuclear spectroscopy which has allowed the basic techniques needed for quantum control to be explored in unprecedented detail. The department has initiated an ambitious program in this area, which promises to be widely applicable in nanotechnology. The ultimate achievement would be the construction of a "quantum computer," which would be capable of solving problems that are far beyond the capacities of classical computers. Other significant applications are quantum-enabled sensors and actuators, secure communication, and the direct simulation of quantum physics.

Materials for Extreme Environments. An important area of research in the department which unites many of the primary applications of nuclear science and technology involves the study of materials in extreme environments. To achieve the full potential of nuclear energy from both fission and fusion reactors, it is necessary to develop special materials capable of withstanding intense radiation for long periods of time as well as high temperatures and mechanical stresses. It is also crucial to understand the phenomenon of corrosion in radiation environments. To develop a fundamental understanding of these phenomena, chemical and physical processes must be followed at multiple scales, from the atomic to the macroscopic, over timescales from less than a nanosecond to many decades, and even, in the case of nuclear waste, thousands of years. Materials research in the department draws on a wide array of new scientific tools, including advanced compact radiation sources, material probes and characterization at the nanoscale, and advanced computational simulations.

Interdisciplinary Research. Students and faculty in the department work closely with colleagues in several other departments, including Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Political Science, and with the Sloan School of Management. The department is an active participant in the MIT Energy Initiative and in MIT's interdisciplinary programs of instruction and research in the management of complex technological systems and technology and public policy.

Undergraduate Study

The department's undergraduate programs offer a strong foundation in science-based engineering, providing the skills and knowledge for a broad range of careers, with an emphasis on hands-on exploration of the subject matter. The programs develop scientific and engineering fundamentals in the production, interactions, measurement, and control of radiation arising from nuclear processes. In addition, the program introduces students to thermal-fluid engineering, computational methods, and nuclear materials. Building upon these fundamentals, students understand the principles, design, and appropriate application of nuclear-based or nuclear-related systems that have broad societal impacts in energy, human health, and security—for example, reactors, imaging systems, detectors, and plasma confinement. In addition, they develop professional skills in quantitative research, written and oral technical communication, team building, and leadership. The program provides excellent preparation for subsequent employment, graduate education, and/or research in a broad range of fields. In the nuclear field, there is high demand for nuclear engineers around the world as the nuclear energy industry continues to expand. Other nuclear and radiation applications are increasingly important in medicine, industry, and government.

A characteristic of the curriculum is the development of practical skills through hands-on education to reinforce the fundamentals of the nuclear discipline. This is accomplished through various required and elective subjects, such as a laboratory subject on radiation physics, measurement, and protection (22.09 ), and through the laboratory components and exercises of the electronics (22.071 ), ionizing radiation, and computational subjects. Even foundational courses in nuclear processes (22.01 ) and neutronics (22.05 ) include hands-on activities and analyses of real objects/systems. Examples include measuring the radioactivity of fruits with high potassium content,  predicting and measuring the neutron multiplication of a large graphite/uranium pile, and analyzing trace impurities in various foods, minerals, or biological tissues in our nuclear reactor. The concept of experiential learning is continued with a 15-unit design subject focusing on nuclear-centric design and prototyping and/or a 12-unit undergraduate thesis that is normally organized between the student and a faculty member of the department. Thesis subjects can touch on any area of nuclear science and engineering, including nuclear energy applications (fission and fusion) and nuclear science and technology (medical, physical, chemical, security, political science, and materials applications).

Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Science and Engineering (Course 22)

The Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Science and Engineering (Course 22) prepares students for a broad range of careers, from practical engineering work in the energy industry to graduate study in a wide range of technical fields, as well as entrepreneurship, law, medicine, and business. The degree program includes foundational subjects in physics, mathematics, and programming, leading to core subjects in the areas of nuclear energy (fission and fusion), as well as nuclear energy policy, social issues surrounding nuclear energy, quantum engineering, radiation physics, and product design.

The Course 22 degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Course 22-ENG)

The 22-ENG degree program is designed to offer flexibility within the context of nuclear science and engineering applications. This program is designed to enable students to pursue a deeper level of understanding in a specific nuclear application or interdisciplinary field related to the nuclear science and engineering core discipline. The degree requirements include core subjects relevant to a broad array of nuclear and related interdisciplinary areas, a specialization subject in energy systems, and a senior project, as well as a focus area consisting of 72 units of additional coursework.

A significant part of the 22-ENG degree program consists of focus area electives chosen by the student to provide in-depth study in a field of the student’s choosing. Focus areas should complement a foundation in nuclear science and engineering and General Institute Requirements. Some examples of potential focus areas include nuclear fission technology, fusion energy or plasma science, nuclear materials, energy policy and economics, and quantum science and engineering. Focus areas are not limited to these examples. Advising on students' development of focus areas is available from the undergraduate officer and/or the Academic Office. Students enrolled in the flexible major must submit a proposal to the Academic Office no later than Add Date of the second term in the program, to be reviewed by the Undergraduate Committee.

Combined Bachelor's and Master's Programs

The five-year programs leading to a joint Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Science and Engineering, or Physics and a Master of Science in Nuclear Science and Engineering are designed for students who decide relatively early in their undergraduate career that they wish to pursue a graduate degree in nuclear science and engineering. Students must submit their application for this program during the second term of their junior year and be judged to satisfy the graduate admission requirements of the department. The normal expectations of MIT undergraduates for admission to the five-year program are an overall MIT grade point average (GPA) of at least 4.3, and a strong mathematics, science, and engineering background with a GPA in these subjects of at least 4.0.

The nuclear science and engineering thesis requirements of the two degrees may be satisfied either by completing both an SB thesis and an SM thesis, or by completing an SM thesis and any 12 units of undergraduate credit.

For further information, interested students should contact either their undergraduate department or the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering.

Minor in Nuclear Science and Engineering

This minor allows students from any major outside of Course 22 to delve deeper into advanced topics within the department or to support interdisciplinary areas of interest in nuclear science and engineering.

Required subjects
18.03	Differential Equations	12
22.01	Introduction to Nuclear Engineering and Ionizing Radiation	12
NSE Electives
Select two of the following:		24
22.02	Introduction to Applied Nuclear Physics
22.033	Nuclear Systems Design Project
22.05	Neutron Physics and Radiation Transport
22.06	Fission Energy Systems
22.09	Nuclear Detection Laboratory
Foundation and Specialized Subjects
Select one of the following options:		24
Option 1
2.005	Thermal-Fluids Engineering I 1
or 8.03	Physics III
12 units of Course 22 coursework 2
Option 2
24 units of Course 22 coursework 2
Total Units		72

1	Subject has prerequisites that are outside the program.
2	Selected subjects must be letter-graded. Research/UROP subjects cannot be used.

Inquiries

Further information on undergraduate programs may be obtained from the department's Academic Office.

Graduate Study

The nuclear science and engineering field is broad and many undergraduate disciplines provide suitable preparation for graduate study.

An undergraduate degree in physics, engineering physics, chemistry, mathematics, materials science, or chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, or nuclear science and engineering can provide a good foundation for graduate study in the department. Optimal undergraduate preparation would include the following:

• Physics: At least three introductory subjects covering classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and wave phenomena. An introduction to quantum mechanics is quite helpful, and an advanced subject in electricity and magnetism (including a description of time-dependent fields via Maxwell's equations) is recommended for those wishing to specialize in fusion.
• Mathematics: It is essential that incoming students have a solid understanding of mathematics, including the study and application of ordinary differential equations. It is also highly recommended that students will have studied partial differential equations and linear algebra.
• Chemistry: At least one term of general, inorganic, and physical chemistry.
• Engineering fundamentals: The graduate curriculum builds on a variety of engineering fundamentals, and incoming students are expected to have had an introduction to thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, electronics and measurement, and computation. A subject covering the mechanics of materials is recommended, particularly for students wishing to specialize in fission.
• Laboratory experience: This component is essential. It may have been achieved through an organized subject, and ideally was supplemented with an independent undergraduate research activity or a design project.

Applicants for admission can find information about admission requirements in the Graduate Education Admissions section and on the Nuclear Science and Engineering at MIT Department website.

Master of Science in Nuclear Science and Engineering

The object of the master of science program is to give the student a good general knowledge of nuclear science and engineering and to provide a foundation either for productive work in the nuclear field or for more advanced graduate study. The general requirements for the SM degree are listed under Graduate Education.

Subjects are selected in accordance with the student's particular field of interest. Master of science candidates may specialize in one of several fields: including nuclear fission technology, applied plasma physics, nuclear materials, nuclear security, and nuclear science and technology. Some students pursue a master of science degree in technology and policy in parallel with the Course 22 master of science program.

Students with adequate undergraduate preparation take approximately 18 months to complete the requirements for the master of science. Actual completion time ranges from one to two years. Additional information concerning the requirements for the Master of Science in Nuclear Science and Engineering, including lists of recommended subjects, may be obtained from the department's Academic Office, Room 24-102.

Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Science in Nuclear Science and Engineering

The program of study leading to either the Doctor of Philosophy or the Doctor of Science in Nuclear Science and Engineering aims to give comprehensive knowledge of nuclear science and engineering, to develop competence in advanced engineering research, and to develop a sense of perspective in assessing the role of nuclear science and technology in our society.

General Institute requirements for the doctorate are described under Graduate Education and in the Office of Graduate Education Policy and Procedures manual. The specific requirements of the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering are the core requirement, the field of specialization requirement, the oral examination, the advanced subject and minor requirements, and the doctoral thesis. Upon satisfactory completion of the requirements, the student ordinarily receives a PhD in nuclear science and engineering, unless he or she requests an ScD. The requirements for both degrees are the same.

Students admitted for the master of science or nuclear engineer's degree must apply to the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering's Admissions Committee for admission to the doctoral program.

Candidates for the doctoral degree must demonstrate competence at the graduate level in the core areas of nuclear science and engineering; the core requirement must be completed by the end of the fourth graduate term. Candidates for the doctoral degree are also required to complete three 12-unit (or greater than 12-unit) graduate subjects in their field of specialization with a grade of B or better. The field-of-specialization subjects should together provide a combination of depth and breadth of knowledge.

Candidates for a doctoral degree are required to demonstrate their readiness to undertake doctoral research by passing an oral examination by the end of their fourth graduate term. Oral exams are held twice a year, at the end of January or beginning of February and at the end of May. Students will generally take the oral exam for the first time in January or February of their second year. Two attempts are allowed at the oral exam. An overall GPA in graduate subjects of 4.0 is required to take the oral. 

Candidates for a doctoral degree must also pass a thesis prospectus defense and submit an approved thesis prospectus by the end of the fourth term.

Students will be permitted to embark on doctoral research only if, by the end of their fourth graduate term, they have demonstrated satisfactory performance in the core requirement, the field of specialization, and the oral examination, and have passed the thesis prospectus defense and final thesis prospectus submission by the end of the fifth term.

Candidates for the doctoral degree must satisfactorily complete (with an average grade of B or better) an approved program of two advanced subjects (24 units) that are closely related to the student’s doctoral thesis topic. Neither of these subjects may be from the list of three subjects selected to satisfy the field-of-specialization requirement. The advanced subjects should be arranged in consultation with the student’s thesis advisor and the student’s registration officer, and should have the approval of the registration officer. In addition, students must satisfactorily complete at least 12 units of coursework in an NSE subject outside of their field of specialization to fulfill the breadth requirement, and 12 units of unrestricted electives.

Doctoral research may be undertaken either in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering or in a nuclear-related field in another department. Appropriate areas of research are described generally in the introduction to the department, and a detailed list may be obtained from the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering.

Financial Support

Financial support for graduate students can take the form of research and teaching assistantships (employment), department-administered fellowships, and supplemental subsidies from the College Work-Study Program. The duty of a teaching assistant is to assist a faculty member in the preparation of subject materials and the conduct of classes, while that of a research assistant is to work on a research project under the supervision of one or more faculty members or senior researchers.

Inquiries

Questions and requests for additional information can be directed to nse-admissions@mit.edu.

Research Facilities

The department's programs are supported by a number of outstanding experimental facilities for advanced research in nuclear science and engineering.

The MIT Research Reactor in the Nuclear Reactor Laboratory operates at a thermal power of 6 MW and is fueled with U-235 in a compact light-water cooled core surrounded by a heavy-water reflector. This reactor provides a wide range of radiation-related research and teaching opportunities for the students and faculty of the department. Major programs, sponsored by industry and government, to study materials performance and degradation under irradiation are currently in place. Details of the laboratory's research programs and facilities are given at Research | MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory.

The department's theoretical and experimental research in plasma physics and fusion energy is primarily carried out through the Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) with faculty leadership in key areas of astrophysical plasma science, magnetic confinement fusion physics, high energy density physics, fusion materials science, and superconducting magnet engineering. The department's faculty, research scientists, and students have access to on-campus midscale experimental facilities at the PSFC to carry out their research, including particle accelerators, neutron generators, linear plasma devices, high energy density physics devices, and magnet fabrication and test facilities, and three large high-bay experimental halls for experiments. A full range of shops (welding, vacuum, electronics, etc) as well as a professional engineering and technical staff support the research. In addition, the PSFC theory group has significant computational resources to support departmental research in these areas.

The thermal hydraulics laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation for measurement of fluid thermo-physical properties, fabrication facilities to engineer surfaces at the micro and nano scale, and flow loops for characterizing single-phase and phase-change heat transfer and fluid dynamics behavior. The lab deploys high-speed infrared thermography and optical diagnostics to study fundamental phenomena of boiling, such as bubble nucleation phenomena, convective boiling heat transfer, departure from nucleate boiling and dryout over a broad range of operating fluids, pressures, flow rates, and heat fluxes, encompassing the operating conditions of nuclear reactors, space propulsion systems, and power electronics systems.

The study of nuclear materials plays a central role in the department. Research in the Laboratory for Electrochemical Interfaces centers on understanding the response of surface structure and physical chemistry when driven by dynamic environments of chemical reactivity and mechanical stress. This laboratory is equipped with surface science tools including scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as well as electrochemical and electronic characterization tools. The H. H. Uhlig Corrosion Laboratory investigates the causes of failure in materials, with an emphasis on nuclear materials. The Mesoscale Nuclear Materials group studies reasons for material property changes due to radiation and rapid ways of measuring them. The Cambridge Laboratory of Accelerator Study of Surfaces provides unique capabilities for studying synergistic radiation effects in various environments, including plasma-facing materials, molten salt and liquid metal corrosion, and superconductors at cryogenic temperatures. This lab is also used for ion beam analysis, implantation, and self-ion damage studies.

Professor Cappellaro's Quantum Engineering lab is located within the Research Laboratory of Electronics. The lab facilities are dedicated to magnetic resonance and spin physics with quantum technology applications. One laboratory houses a 7 Tesla wide bore superconducting magnet with  in-house-made probes, and equipped with a spectrometer providing RF modulation for control and detection of nuclear spins.

Two other laboratories are dedicated to optically-detected magnetic resonance of spin defects in solids and molecular crystals. The laboratories house four state-of-the art confocal photoluminescence setups with all of the necessary microwave electronics, RF electronics, and control hardware for manipulating quantum spins at the single level and one imaging microscope for spin ensemble. The lab is also equipped to perform biological research with quantum imaging.

The Quantum Measurement Group is located in Building NW13 and boasts a state-of-the-art laboratory facility, complete with advanced crystal growth and quantum materials measurement systems. The laboratory is equipped with a range of crystal growth techniques, including flux and vapor transport growth capabilities, with a specially designed tetra-arc furnace being a particular highlight. The arc generators can produce temperatures up to 3000 degrees Celsius, streamlining single crystal growth and making it especially suitable for synthesizing high-melting-temperature materials. The laboratory's characterization capability features a Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS) with a temperature range of 1.8 Kelvin to 400 Kelvin and an external magnetic field up to 9 Tesla. The PPMS system is equipped to conduct a wide range of measurements, including DC/AC electrical transport, Hall measurement, heat capacity, thermal transport, and thermoelectric measurements, with the additional advantage of angular-resolved capability from the horizontal rotator. The laboratory also features angular-resolved dilatometry and magneto-restriction capabilities, along with a custom-made steup for high-precision nonlinear electrical transport measurements.​

The NSE Department also houses The Vault, an experimental laboratory containing a large ~1 meter thick shielded concrete vault, two adjacent accelerator bays, and a control room suitable for performing high radiation experiments with active ion accelerators and passive radioactive sources. The Vault presently contains: (1) Three 14.1 MeV neutron generators; (2) a 2 MV tandem accelerator that produces protons and deuteron beams; and (3) a 12 MeV superconducting cyclotron that produces proton beams. The laboratory also contains a wide variety of particle and radiation detector equipment, including analog and digital data acquisition system hardware and software, suitable for performing energy spectroscopy on charged particles, neutrons, and gamma rays. A wide variety of radioactive sources (alpha, beta, gamma, and neutron) are available for use in detector calibrations and efficiency measurements while more intense sources may be borrowed from MIT EHS for use in the space when required.