Rising Tennessee Tech sophomores to present research at nuclear energy conference
Two rising sophomores at Tennessee Tech University have been awarded stipends through the U.S. Department of Energy to present their research at the 67th annual meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) in Austin, Texas.
INMM describes the conference as "the premier event for companies that serve the technical fields associated with nuclear materials management." This year's theme is "Navigating New Nuclear: Building Partnerships to Advance Innovation."
With more than 500 attendees expected, the annual event presents a unique opportunity for the students and Tennessee Tech's growing nuclear engineering program.
On receiving the stipend to attend, Tech student Miche Cambie-Fabris explained, "The stipend is an award given to approximately 25 students or young professionals working in radiological security or a related field. The stipend covers most trip expenses, including flights, hotel accommodations, conference admission, and meals. It also includes a one-year membership to the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management."
Cambie-Fabris added, "This will be my first professional conference, which makes the opportunity especially exciting for me. I'm looking forward to presenting and networking with professionals in the field."
Lacey Coates, the other Tech student selected to present, also earned recognition for her research at the university's Research and Creative Inquiry Symposium. She sees the conference as an opportunity for both university advancement and her own growth within the STEM community.
"I am beyond thankful for the opportunities that I have been given. I pray that I can be a role model for any of the girls out there wondering if they can do engineering," she said. "Being a woman in STEM can be hard. I hope that one day a woman doing engineering is not seen as sometimes exceptional, but instead is seen as something normal. The opportunities I have at Tennessee Tech are allowing me to do things I never thought possible, and for that, I am very grateful."
Launched in 2024, Tech's nuclear engineering program was only the second baccalaureate-level nuclear engineering program in Tennessee. The program was created to help meet growing workforce demands in the nuclear energy sector, an industry that plays a vital role in the state's economy and energy infrastructure. Approximately 40% of Tennessee's electricity is generated by nuclear power.
Student participation in prominent professional meetings such as INMM helps raise the program's profile while strengthening relationships with industry and government partners.
Manish Sharma, assistant professor of nuclear engineering, said, "Being selected for a competitive U.S. Department of Energy stipend, supported by the National Nuclear Security Administration's Office of Radiological Security, is both an honor and a significant achievement. For a new program like ours, this level of national recognition highlights the quality of our students and the hands-on opportunities we are committed to providing from the very beginning. It also reinforces our vision of establishing Tennessee Tech as a strong and emerging contributor to the nuclear engineering field."
For Cambie-Fabris and Coates, receiving the stipend and attending INMM continues a pattern of opportunities and support they have found at Tech.
"I have loved getting to know the staff and getting hands-on experience. I have made such amazing friendships inside the department with my classmates. I have made some of my best friends in such a short time," Coates reflected. "The professors in the nuclear department truly fight for you. Without Dr. Sharma and [Nuclear Engineering Technician] Mrs. Samantha Travis, I would not have half the opportunities that I have. Another thing that I believe sets us apart from other universities is the sheer number of opportunities I have been given. Tennessee Tech is truly an amazing university, and this is an amazing department."
To learn more about nuclear engineering at Tennessee Tech, click here.