Penn State University
Penn State University

Department of

Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering


Committed to Teaching, Research, and Service

Research & Facilities - Research - Nuclear

Faculty: Dr. Jack Brenizer - INIE Research Grant, Dr. Gary Catchen, Dr. Fan Bill Cheung, Dr. Robert Edwards, Dr. Kostadin Ivanov, Dr. John Mahaffy, Dr. Matthew Mench, Dr. Arthur Motta, Dr. Kenan Unlu

Research Areas: Reactor Safety Research, Reactor Core Analysis, Particle Transport Methods and Application, Advanced Control, Radiation Monitoring and Instrumentation, Materials Research, Reactor Thermal-Hydraulics Research.

Automatic sample handling system - Dr. Kenan Ünlü

Research Facilities: Nuclear research facilities include the Radiation Science and Engineering Center that features: 

  • Triga Mark III Reactor—1 mega-watt

  • Gamma Irradiation Laboratory—6,000 curies of Cobalt

  • GPU Basic Principles Reactor Simulator

  • Low Level Radiation Monitoring Laboratory

  • Angular Correlations Laboratory

  • Fast Neutron Irradiation Capability

  • Neutron Beam Laboratory

  • Two Hot Cells

  • Neutron Activation Analysis Laboratory

  • Transparent Low Pressure Two-Phase Flow Test Loop

  • Full-Length Rod Bundle Test Facility
Automatic Sample Handling System



Fuel Cell

Dr. Mench and Dr. Brenizer:
Neutron radiograph of a fuel cell showing water accumulation



Innovations in Nuclear Infrastucture and Innovation

INIE: Innovations in Nuclear Infrastructure and Innovation