6th Nuclear Facilities Experience – Japan: Application Announcement

Deadline to apply: May 6, 2018 by 11:59PM CST

The Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives (NSSPI) at Texas A&M University in partnership with the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), under a grant provided by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)’s Office of International Nuclear Safeguards, is coordinating the Sixth Nuclear Facilities Experience (NFE) in Japan for the week of June 25‐29, 2018.

The NFE is an opportunity for graduate‐level engineering and policy students studying in the area of nuclear material safeguards to visit advanced operating nuclear fuel cycle facilities to gain experiential understanding in facility operations, nuclear materials management, and applied material safeguards. The NFE is jointly led by subject matter experts at Texas A&M and ANL.

The chosen participants will consist of students from relevant academic programs at various U.S. universities as well as approved national laboratory employees.

Tentative facilities to be included in the 6th NFE are:

• the Rokkasho Nuclear Facility (Reprocessing and Enrichment facilities);
• the Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Security and Nuclear Nonproliferation Tokai site;
• the Plutonium Fuel Production Facility;
• the Monju Fast Breeder Reactor R&D Center; and
• the Hiroshima Peace Museum and Memorial.

All academic participants will be selected by NSSPI and ANL. Travel expenses (airfare, lodging, and M&IE) will be covered by NSSPI.

Applications will be accepted until May 6th, 2018, and selections will be made by May 11th, 2018. Notifications will be sent out shortly thereafter and the inclusive travel dates for the NFE event will be from June 23‐30.

Interested applicants should submit the following to Claudio Gariazzo, NFE coordinator, at [email protected] no later than May 6, 2018 by 11:59PM CST.

Please send a single email with the subject heading “2018 Japan NFE Application” with the following two attachments in .pdf form:

1. Resume (required information includes):
   • Graduate research area
   • Citizenship
   • Current degree being sought
   • Estimated graduation date – August 2018 or after only
   • Relevant courses taken – courses in nuclear safeguards, radiation detection, nuclear fuel cycle,
     nuclear security, nuclear nonproliferation, etc. are preferred
   • List of references with contact information (at least 3) – first reference should be graduate advisor
   • Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI) experiences:
     • Short courses: list title(s) and date(s) of nonproliferation short courses completed at U.S.
       National Laboratories or as part of UCSD’s PPNT boot camp
     • Internships: list mentor name and date of safeguards internships or fellowships performed
       at a national lab (include summer 2018)
2. Personal statement (1‐page) highlighting how the 2018 Japan NFE will benefit the student’s current and
   future research goals

The number of open positions depends on travel costs (estimated between 4 and 6 students). Depending on lodging locations, participants may be expected to room with one other student of the same gender. All participants are expected to visit all facilities with the group, participate in all planned activities, and exhibit professionalism during the entire event. Transportation between facilities and activities will be via train or bus.

There is a possibility that participants may be asked to provide a short briefing of their respective academic program and/or research activities during one or more visits.

Priority will be given to American citizen graduate students working in the field of nuclear safeguards. More information will be provided closer to the date of the
event. Email any questions to [email protected].