7th International Nuclear Facilities Experience (INFE) – Europe 2019

June 17-21, 2019

Application Announcement

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 the International Nuclear Safeguards, is coordinating the Seventh International Nuclear Facilities Experience (INFE) during the week of June 17-21, 2019. The 2019 INFE will visit four countries:

• the Netherlands;
• Belgium;
• Germany; and
• Switzerland .

The INFE is an opportunity for graduate-level engineering and policy students studying in the areas of nuclear material safeguards to visit advanced operating nuclear fuel cycle facilities to gain experiential understanding in facility operations, nuclear materials management, and applied nuclear material safeguards. The INFE 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 national laboratory employees.

Tentative facilities to be included in the 7^th INFE are:

• the URENCO Gas Centrifuge Uranium Enrichment Facility in Almelo, Netherlands;
• the Framatome Fuel Fabrication Facility in Lingen, Germany;
• the Tihange Nuclear Power Station in Huy, Belgium;
• the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in Karlsruhe, Germany;
• and the Zwilag Nuclear Waste Interim Storage Facility in Wurenlingen, Switzerland.

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

Applications will be accepted until March 31^st, 2019 and selections will be made by April 12^th, 2019. Notifications will be sent out shortly thereafter, and the inclusive travel dates for the INFE event will be from June 15-22.

Interested applicants should submit the following to Claudio Gariazzo, INFE coordinator, at [email protected] no later than March 31, 2019 by 11:59PM CST. Please send a single email with the subject heading “2019 EU INFE Application” with the following two attachments in .pdf form:

1. Resume (required information includes):
2. Graduate research area
3. Citizenship
4. Current degree being sought
5. Estimated graduation date – August 2019 or after only
6. Relevant courses taken – courses in nuclear safeguards, radiation detection, nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear security, nuclear nonproliferation, etc. are preferred
7. List of references with contact information (at least 3) – first reference should be graduate advisor
8. 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 2019)
9. Personal statement (1-page) highlighting how the 2019 EU INFE will benefit the student’s current and future research goals

The number of open positions depends on travel costs (estimated between 10 and 12 students from various US Universities). 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].