Chair
Natalie Cannon
Natalie is a fifth-year Ph.D. student at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She earned a Master’s in nuclear engineering from Georgia Tech in 2023 and a bachelor’s degree in physics from Long Beach State University in 2021. Her master’s research focused on developing a regulatory policy framework to address nuclear proliferation risks associated with advanced manufacturing. Natalie works full-time at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where her Ph.D. work involves optimizing real-time neutron noise analysis for use with Fukushima fuel debris and critical assemblies. Natalie was the former president of Georgia Tech’s American Nuclear Society student section and founded the GT U.S. Women in Nuclear student chapter. In her free time, Natalie enjoys running, playing Dungeons & Dragons, and hiking.
Vice Chairs
Hayden Bland
Hayden is a third-year Ph.D. candidate in Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University, where he also earned his M.S. in 2024 and his B.S. in 2022 in the same field, with a minor in History. His research focuses on developing a new technique for measuring the viscosity of molten salts in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Prior to graduate school, he interned at GE-Hitachi, working on electromagnetic pumps and the Natrium reactor. His interest in history complements his work in nuclear engineering, as it provides insight into how the field’s past and present are shaping its future. Outside of work, he enjoys sports such as hockey and soccer, as well as woodworking, which allows him to make furniture at a discount.
Sarah Cole
Sarah is a first-year Ph.D. student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Nuclear Science and Engineering. At MIT, she investigates the synthesis and synchrotron lightsource characterization of nuclear fuels. Prior to her graduate studies, Sarah earned her B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Boise State University, where she conducted research in the Advanced Materials Laboratory and a capstone project with the Idaho National Laboratory. Sarah has interned at Nuclear Innovation Alliance, the American Nuclear Society WISE Program, and Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource.
Chris Forsyth
Chris Forsyth is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His primary research interest is the economics of new nuclear power plants, and his current research focuses on the competitiveness of advanced reactor designs for industrial applications. Before attending MIT, Chris received a joint bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and worked as an engineer at Kairos Power. He enjoys kayaking and board games and plays the tuba in the MIT Wind Ensemble.
Delegates
Logan Burnett
Logan Burnett is a graduate student in Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he researches the deployment of microreactors in urban areas and their ability to provide versatile power and process heat. Prior to MIT, Logan earned his M.S. in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Michigan, researching the application of AI to build digital‐twin models for reactor systems, leveraging time‐series prediction techniques to enhance safety, operation, and performance. He is passionate about bridging cutting‐edge machine learning and physics-based modeling with practical reactor technology deployment, and looks forward to contributing to policy discussions, outreach, and the next generation of nuclear innovations.
Santi Fajardo
Santiago is a third-year student at Iowa State University pursuing a major in Political Science with an emphasis in law and public policy. Although not a nuclear engineer, he is passionate about the development of new advanced reactors, such as SMRs and microreactors, that will allow the US to transition away from fossil fuels. He is interested in the critical role of public policy and government in promoting those new technologies. Santiago first became involved in nuclear after attending the American Nuclear Society 2024 Student Conference at Penn State University. He also has experience working on Capitol Hill as an intern in the office of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa. Outside of academics, he enjoys spending time with friends and family and is heavily involved in the community at Iowa State University.
Piper Fernau
Piper is a senior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) studying Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering with a concentration in Power, Safety, and the Environment. Her research in the Synthesis, Plasma, Energy, Conversion (SPEC) Lab focuses on plasma-chemical and electrochemical degradation of PFAS for environmental remediation. Piper currently serves as President of the UIUC ANS Student Section, following previous roles as Internal Vice President and Outreach Chair. She has actively engaged in nuclear policy efforts, including organizing letter-writing campaigns to Illinois legislators in support of lifting the state’s moratorium on new nuclear construction. In her free time, she enjoys baking, thrifting, and making embroidery projects for her friends.
Jacob Fritchie
Jacob is a Ph.D. student in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he also earned his B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering. His research focuses on the characterization and modeling of silicon photomultipliers for radiation detection in nuclear safeguards and nonproliferation applications. Jacob is an NNSA Nuclear Nonproliferation and International Safeguards Fellow and an intern with Sandia National Laboratories, working on projects related to international nuclear safeguards and security. He is passionate about the intersection of nuclear technology, policy, and international security. Jacob currently serves as a Graduate Ambassador for the Grainger College of Engineering, mentoring fellow graduate students, and is the founder and president of the UIUC student chapter of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management. Outside of research, Jacob enjoys hiking, attending concerts, and reading science fiction novels.
Aidan Furlong
Aidan is a third-year Nuclear Engineering Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University, specializing in machine learning applications in nuclear reactor design. His thesis is on improving thermal hydraulic models using explainable ML approaches and deploying these techniques “out of the lab” in design codes. He received his M.Sc. from the same institution in 2024, and a B.Sc. from the University of Florida in 2022, both in nuclear engineering. Previously, he has interned at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Westinghouse Electric Company, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Outside of work, Aidan likes to lift weights, backpack, and play guitar with good friends.
Emily Grabow
Emily is a senior Political Science major at Boise State University, studying American Government and Public Policy with a minor in Legal Studies. Her research focuses on the public perception of nuclear energy, international strategy, and the historical dynamics of nuclear policy in comparison to current frameworks. As a U.S. Senate Legislative Intern, she gained firsthand exposure to the key players shaping energy policy and how complex energy issues are considered within the legislative process. She is passionate about strengthening the nuclear energy supply chain; from uranium production to waste management to bolster domestic energy independence. In her free time, she enjoys paddleboarding, cycling, baking, and reading.
K.G. Howey
An ethical commitment to the planet and a curiosity for the inner workings of matter led Howey to nuclear energy. While earning a B.S.E. in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Michigan, they explored everything from thermomechanical behavior in advanced SMRs to critiques of the Technology Readiness Level scale through a sociotechnical lens. Call it passion, call it impractical, they in parallel completed a B.M. in Percussion Performance driven by a love of sounds. In between their Bachelors and beginning their PhD at MIT, Howey served as a young fellow in transatlantic relations in Germany through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals. For Howey, nuclear energy is more than engineering; it’s about listening across disciplines, finding connections, and asking every question.
Audrey Miles
Audrey Miles is a first-year Ph.D. student in Nuclear Materials Chemistry at the University of California, Irvine. She holds a master’s degree in Nuclear Energy from the University of Cambridge and a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with Computing from the University of Notre Dame. Her research uses computational materials science and machine learning to improve our understanding of nuclear fuel performance at the atomistic scale. She is also interested in leveraging the intersection of nuclear engineering and policy to streamline the rollout of advanced reactor technologies for applications beyond baseload electricity generation, such as the decarbonization of industrial process heat. Audrey grew up in Northeast Ohio and loves backpacking with friends, claiming she is going to train for a triathlon, and exploring coffee shops around the world.
Jacob Martin
Jacob is a fourth-year nuclear engineering student at North Carolina State University, where he conducts research in material characterization using advanced microscopy techniques. His industry experience spans diverse sectors of the nuclear field. During an internship with EnergySolutions, he supported decommissioning efforts at the Three Mile Island Unit 2 site. The following summer, he worked as a Probabilistic Risk Assessment Co-Op at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Washington, D.C. Most recently, Jacob interned at the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, France, contributing to the world’s largest fusion energy project. In his free time, Jacob volunteers as a tutor with Neighbor to Neighbor in Raleigh and is a competitive long-distance runner.
John Mobley IV
John is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Engineering Education Research program at the University of Michigan—with joint research and collaboration in NERS and STPP. His research interests encompass education, training, and workforce development within the U.S. nuclear sector, particularly within the purview and framework of advanced reactor designs and technologies. He holds five degrees from Iowa State University: B.S. in Physics with a Nuclear Engineering minor; B.S. in Mathematics with Applications; Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Education Focus); M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration; and an MBA. He has prior experience collaborating with organizations such as Ames National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Exelon Nuclear, the Nuclear Innovation Alliance, and the Nuclear Energy Institute. He is an active member of the American Nuclear Society, serving as an executive member within the Education, Training, and Workforce Development Division; Young Members Group; Student Sections Committee; and CARES Committee. As a legally blind individual, John is passionate about ensuring that higher education is accessible and guaranteeing that all students have the resources necessary to flourish. In his free time, John enjoys going on long-distance bike rides, reading about nuclear history, and exploring new destinations.
Addison Mulder
Addison is a rising senior at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering. At RPI, Addison has contributed to research on consent-based siting and played a key role in organizing community feedback workshops, emphasizing her engagement in energy policy. She spent the summer interning with Kairos Power on their Licensing Team, where she supported the development of licensing frameworks for advanced reactors. Addison also currently serves as Vice President of RPI’s Student Nuclear Advancement Groups, where she leads the campus chapter of the American Nuclear Society. With a strong interest in science communication and stakeholder-centered policy design, Addison is passionate about connecting technical innovation with community needs. In her free time, she enjoys birdwatching, bike repair, and exploring new card games.
Yusuf Shehata
Yusuf is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He earned his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of California, San Diego, in 2024. Following graduation, he conducted postbaccalaureate research at Los Alamos National Laboratory, focusing on nonlinear structural dynamics. Inspired by the nuclear engineers and clean energy innovations at the lab, Yusuf is now researching molten salt reactors to advance next-generation nuclear technologies. He aspires to combine his aerospace and nuclear engineering studies to support the development of space-based microreactors. Outside of his academic pursuits, Yusuf enjoys writing, traveling to explore new cultures, and playing soccer.
Pavel Simeonov
Pavel is a master’s student in Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M University. He conducts research in the Low Energy Interaction Physics group under Dr. Ayman Hawari, focusing on thermal scattering law development and advanced reactor simulation. Pavel was introduced to research and reactor operations as an undergraduate at North Carolina State University, where he was a licensed reactor operator at the PULSTAR research reactor. He has interned at Los Alamos National Laboratory with the Advanced Nuclear Technology group in the Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation division, contributing to fast burst reactor modeling and nuclear data. Pavel is an emerging member of the nuclear data community and is particularly interested in how improved modeling supports the timely deployment of next-generation reactors. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, watching college basketball with friends, and cooking with his girlfriend.
Arian Timm
Arian is a Master’s student in Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University with a specialization in neutron transport, ion beam systems, and nuclear nonproliferation. With a background in plasma fusion physics and a B.S. in Physics and minor in Mathematics from the University of Minnesota, Arian is passionate about understanding complex nuclear systems from the ground up—integrating deep theoretical insight with hands-on experimentation. He has conducted research on high-heat flux interactions with plasma-facing components and modeled ion beam accelerators for material testing during his graduate studies. He also contributed to diagnostics development for tokamak fusion devices during a SULI internship at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. Arian is currently serving as a Solutions Architect Engineer Intern at PowerSecure Inc., where he works on integrating microgrid solutions with advanced control systems for renewable and backup power applications. In addition to his technical interests, Arian is committed to nuclear policy and international security. He is pursuing a graduate certificate in Nuclear Nonproliferation at NC State and aspires to bridge the gap between science and policy to advocate for responsible innovation in nuclear technology. Outside of his studies, Arian enjoys reading, hiking, exploring symbolic metaphors in science, and finding ways to make complex topics accessible through education and outreach. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. following the completion of his Master’s, with a focus on advanced nuclear systems and neutron transport.
Nuclear Engineering Student Delegation 