This fall, NSSPI hosted two student interns, Vladimir Marchenko and Alexey Nikienko, from the National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) of Russia through a project coordinated by NSSPI staff members Claudio Gariazzo and Dr. Alexander Solodov. The objective of their tenure at TAMU was to fulfill a practical work experience requirement as part of their respective engineering degree plans and to enhance their proficiency of the English language. Both students are enrolled in the TPU nuclear material protection, control and accounting engineering degree program.
Working under the supervision of Dr. Sunil Chirayath of NSSPI, Marchenko focused on proliferation resistance analysis as applied to nuclear fuel cycles using the PRAETOR (Proliferation Resistance Analysis and Evaluation Tool for Observed Risk) code developed by Dr. Chirayath, which is based on multi-attribute utility analysis. Alexey Nikienko worked with Dr. Alexander Solodov on spent fuel quantification using x-ray florescence and assisted Dr. Craig Marianno in establishing a unique gamma coincidence counting laboratory experiment for use in Dr. Marianno’s radiation detection and measurement course offered every year in the TAMU nuclear engineering department.
In addition to their time at NSSPI, both TPU student interns joined nuclear engineering students from Dr. Marianno’s radiation detection and measurement MS course (NUEN605) in visiting the Safeguards Laboratory at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) from October 24-28, 2011. Furthermore, Marchenko and Nikienko stayed at ORNL for a second week to continue their research for NSSPI with subject matter experts.
While in the U.S., the TPU student interns also experienced the Texas Renaissance Festival, hiked in the Smoky Mountain National Park, and joined NSSPI staff for Thanksgiving dinner. Before returning to Tomsk, both TPU interns gave a presentation of their work to NSSPI staff and students.