Missouri S&T Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

We were honored to welcome our visiting Golden Alumni back to the NERS Department!

The Golden Alumni Reunion celebrates the 50-year anniversary of graduation from MSM/UMR (today, Missouri S&T). Alumni return to campus to reconnect with classmates, tour campus, and learn about the exciting things happening at Missouri S&T today. The celebration concludes with a Recognition Ceremony where each graduate receives a 50-year pin and Golden certificate.

Thank you to Harold “Skip” Garner, Richard and Kathy Lickett, and Sam Wier for visiting with us and continuing to support the NERS community. We loved having you back on campus!

Congrats Maxwell!

Oh baby! S&T grad crosses stage with 2-month-old daughter When Milena Lynn Gessert crossed the commencement stage at Missouri S&T earlier this month, she was likely one of the youngest participants in university history.

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

Congratulations to our graduating class of 2026! 🎓🎉

We are very proud to celebrate our graduating seniors and can’t wait to see where your journey takes you next!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the screening of The Nuclear Frontier on April 28th, 2026, in the Innovation Lab! The evening brought together students, faculty, and industry professionals for meaningful conversations about the future of nuclear energy in the United States.

The documentary highlighted the growing momentum behind fleet-scale nuclear reactor deployment and the next generation of clean energy leadership. Following the screening, attendees heard from an outstanding panel of experts:

• Dr. Joshua Schlegel, Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Academics, S&T NERS
• Dr. Jaime McCoy, Site Vice President, Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant
• Mark Reidmeyer, Technical Services Executive, Certrec
• James Daniell, Graduate Student, S&T NERS
• Michael Hoehn II, Program Director, NextGen MURR
• Dr. Betsy Brunner, Director of Public Sector Partnerships and Strategic Funding, TNC

We appreciate everyone who took the time to attend and engage with the panel discussion, and we’re grateful to our speakers and sponsors for helping make the event possible.

April 22nd provided our department the opportunity to call upon the new Missouri S&T Nuclear Energy Board of Advisors.

It was an excellent opportunity to connect with leaders from across the nuclear and energy sectors, including representation from Idaho National Laboratory, Mizzou, Ameren, Evergy, NuScale Power, Westinghouse Electric Company, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Electric Power Research Institute, Sargent & Lundy, Pitt Tech, and Oak Ridge Associated Universities. The insight and perspectives shared among these brilliant minds will help guide the future of nuclear research, education, and innovation across the nation.

From touring the Missouri Protoplex, the Student Design and Experiential Learning Center, and our research reactor, MSTR, as it approaches its 65 year anniversary, the visit highlighted incredible momentum happening all across campus.

We are grateful for the collaboration and engagement of this outstanding group as we continue building and learning together!

Idaho National Laboratory Mizzou Ameren Corporation Evergy NuScale Power Corporation Westinghouse Electric Company Sargent & Lundy Pitt Technology Group ORAU Power Research Institute (EPRI)

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded Missouri S&T $2.8 million to support workforce development efforts. The money will support upgrades across the Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Department, including:

• A collaboration with Mirion Technologies to provide a complete overhaul of the Radiation Measurements Laboratory with modern equipment and expanded capacity
• A 12-unit VOYAGR simulator from NuScale to support reactor operations training

A large portion of the funding will go toward supporting the Missouri S&T reactor, including:

• A data diode system for securely sharing data with students and other partners
• An overhauled, digital system for operational and visitor logs
• A hot cell for working with high-activity samples and training students in advanced research systems
• Control room upgrades
• And more!

Keep an eye out for additional updates and exciting developments. As everything comes online, we hope to have even bigger news on this front soon!

April 7th marked an exciting step forward as Missouri University of Science and Technology and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) formalized a SUPER agreement, further strengthening a long-standing partnership rooted in both innovation and impact.

What is a SUPER agreement?

A Strategic Understanding for Premier Education and Research (SUPER) agreement is a formal memorandum of understanding that enhances collaboration between national laboratories and universities by aligning shared goals and expanding opportunities for research, academic engagement, and workforce development.

There are only 12 SUPER schools nationwide, and Missouri S&T is currently the only institution within this group to have a Master blanket research contract in place. This blanket contract helps streamline collaboration by allowing funding to be awarded in a very efficient manner, making it easier to move research efforts forward quickly. As the first to establish this type of agreement, we look forward to seeing other SUPER schools continue building toward similar models in the future.

We are proud to continue strengthening our well-established partnership with INL, advancing the work of our exceptional students and faculty as they drive innovation in cutting-edge science and engineering. Together, we are creating new opportunities to tackle some of the world’s most pressing energy challenges.

Learn more: https://news.mst.edu/2026/04/missouri-st-idaho-national-lab-sign-super-powered-research-agreement/

Congratulations to Nuclear Engineering student Drew Barringhaus on being named an Academy Scholar and one of seven recipients of a 2026 scholarship from the Academy of Mines and Metallurgy.

Founded in 1954, the academy is composed of distinguished alumni and industry leaders who have made significant contributions to their professions. Its scholarship program recognizes outstanding students at Missouri University of Science and Technology for their academic achievement and professional promise.

This honor reflects Drew’s dedication and hard work. His character and commitment to excellence in nuclear engineering is a reflection of his trustworthiness as a leader. We commend him on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to his continued success!

From energy markets to innovation strategy, employers want engineers who understand both technology and economics. Our Nuclear Engineering students can earn a second major in Economics or an Energy Economics Certificate to extend their skills without extending their graduation date.

Learn more: https://econ.mst.edu/mei/

The 118th annual “Best Ever” St. Pat’s celebration has begun! ☘️

Missouri S&T has officially kicked off this year’s St. Pat’s celebrations, and there’s nothing quite like it! Campus traditions are bringing students, alumni, and the Rolla community together as the energy continues to build.

St. Pat’s isn’t just a day, it’s a season of history, pride, and Miner spirit. Here’s to another unforgettable celebration!