Transuranic Chemistry Center of Excellence

Stored: Transuranic Chemistry Center of Excellence

Transuranic Chemistry Center of Excellence

Type	Program
Sponsor Organization	Georgia Institute of Technology
Top Organization	Department of Energy
Creation Legislation	Not specified; part of broader research initiatives
Website	Website
Purpose	Transuranic Chemistry Center of Excellence studies transuranic elements for security and science, training scientists and linking academia with labs.
Program Start	2023
Initial Funding	$11.6 million from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Duration	5 years (from 2023)
Historic	No

The Transuranic Chemistry Center of Excellence at Georgia Tech seeks to deepen the understanding of transuranic elements' chemistry, specifically under conditions pertinent to nuclear stewardship, environmental remediation, and national security. Led by Associate Professor Henry "Pete" La Pierre, the center aims to explore new chemical bonding theories, develop predictive models, and educate future scientists in this specialized field.

Official Site

Goals

• Advance fundamental research in transuranic chemistry, focusing on elements beyond uranium.
• Develop new chemical models and theories for transuranic elements under extreme conditions.
• Train and educate students and postdocs in transuranic chemistry for careers in national security and nuclear science.
• Foster a collaborative network with national labs and other academic institutions for mutual research advancement.

Organization

The center is directed by Dr. Henry "Pete" La Pierre, an Associate Professor at the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. It involves a collaborative network of researchers from Georgia Tech and partner institutions, including five universities and six national laboratories. Funding is provided by the NNSA under the Stewardship Science Academic Alliances (SSAA) program, supporting both theoretical and experimental research.

Partners

• Georgia Institute of Technology
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of Notre Dame
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Utah
• Various national laboratories (exact names not publicly listed)

History

The Transuranic Chemistry Center of Excellence was established in 2023 with a significant grant from the NNSA, highlighting its role in the broader mission of stockpile stewardship and the need for advanced research in nuclear science. This center continues Georgia Tech's tradition of pioneering research in chemistry, particularly in areas critical to national and global security.

Funding

The program received an initial funding of $11.6 million for a five-year period from the NNSA. This funding supports research activities, student training, and the development of new scientific tools and methodologies. There's no public information on additional funding beyond this initial grant, but the nature of such centers often involves seeking further support.

Implementation

Implementation includes both theoretical and experimental research, using state-of-the-art facilities at Georgia Tech and in collaboration with national labs. The center will conduct experiments on transuranic elements, develop computational models, and host educational programs to train the next generation of nuclear chemists. The program is set to run for at least five years, with no defined end date beyond this period.

Related

• National Nuclear Security Administration
• Stewardship Science Academic Alliances

External links

• https://www.chemistry.gatech.edu/
• No specific Wikipedia article for this center; general information on Georgia Tech can be found at wikipedia:Georgia Institute of Technology

Social media

• There are no specific social media accounts for this center; updates can be found through Georgia Tech's social media.