Chair
Hayden Bland
Hayden Bland is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University, where he also obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s in 2022 and 2024 in the same field, with a minor in History. His research focuses on developing a cost-effective and high-throughput molten salt viscometry technique. He has interned at GE-Hitachi, working on the world’s largest electromagnetic pump, and is a Seaborg Graduate Research Fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory, continuing his molten salt work thermophysical properties. Outside of his research, Hayden enjoys sports, mainly hockey and football, reading, his friends and family, and woodworking.
Vice Chairs
Logan Burnett
Logan Burnett is a Ph.D. student in Nuclear Science and Engineering at MIT. His research focuses on the intersection of machine learning, uncertainty quantification, and high-fidelity reactor simulation, with applications in advanced reactor thermal hydraulics, transient forecasting, and data-driven methods for nuclear deployment. Prior to beginning his doctoral work, Logan earned a B.S. in Physics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and an M.S. in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Michigan. He has worked on projects involving high-temperature gas reactor thermal striping, pressurized water reactor flow-field modeling, and machine-learning surrogate models for reactor systems. Logan is particularly interested in how advanced modeling, regulation, and policy can simultaneously support the safe and efficient deployment of current and next-generation nuclear technologies. Outside of research, he enjoys 3D printing, exploring new places with his wife, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Audrey Miles
Audrey is a PhD student in Nuclear Materials Chemistry at the University of California, Irvine. Her research focuses on multiscale characterization of advanced oxides for nuclear applications, whether that be through machine-learned quantum chemistry simulations of nuclear fuels or nanoscale mechanical testing of additively-manufactured ceramic components intended for use with molten actinides and salts. Prior to beginning her doctoral work at UCI, Audrey received 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. She has also previously interned at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Audrey grew up in Northeast Ohio and loves backpacking with friends, knitting, and biking around SoCal.
Delegates
Neal Goturi
Neal Goturi is a sophomore at Cornell University, where he is pursuing a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations. Neal is the treasurer of Cornell’s Nuclear is Clean Energy club (NiCE) and led the effort to establish Cornell’s Chapter of the American Nuclear Society. He has led and supported successful climate and energy legislation in Maryland, including statewide utility cybersecurity standards and local all-electric construction standards, and has testified before legislative bodies on energy and infrastructure reform. Beyond nuclear energy, Neal is an associate editor for the Cornell Undergraduate Law and Society Review and a competitor on Cornell’s British Parliamentary debate team.
Drew Hanson
Drew Hanson is a second-year graduate student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of South Carolina, seeking to earn his Master’s in Nuclear Engineering. His research focuses on thermal hydraulics modeling in MOOSE for nuclear thermal propulsion applications. Prior to graduate school, Drew earned his B.S.E. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of South Carolina as well, having worked as a nuclear materials science intern at Marshall Space Flight Center and Savannah River National Laboratory during that time. Drew enjoys playing soccer, watching movies, and is heavily involved in his local church.
Cecilia Harrison
Cecilia Harrison is a rising senior Nuclear Engineering student at North Carolina State University pursuing minors in Mathematics and Materials Science. At NC State, she is a licensed research reactor operator and directs the reactor training program, preparing candidates for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing examination. Her research experience includes computational materials science, nuclear data, and reactor physics, including work at NC State in condensed matter physics simulations and Texas A&M University developing thermal neutron scattering data. She has interned with Framatome performing radiation and fluence analyses and with Idaho National Laboratory modeling advanced metallic fuel systems. Cecilia also helped establish Ultralith Energy, Inc., where she works as a neutronics engineer supporting small modular reactor development. She serves as President of Women in Nuclear at NC State and is particularly interested in the intersection of nuclear technology, policy, and deployment. Outside of school, she enjoys mountain biking, playing guitar, and singing.
Shelby Hobohm
Shelby Hobohm is a fifth year Ph.D. student in nuclear engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. She grew up in Dallas, Texas, and previously earned her BA in government, BS in mechanical Engineering, and MSE in nuclear engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. She has worked as an applied research engineer studying radiation effects on electronics and her research focuses on neutron flux spectra adjustment. Shelby is interested in the ways that law and regulation can enable growth within the nuclear industry. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her partner and two cats, Peaches and Plutonium.
Chris Leffler
Chris is a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University studying Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics, with a minor in Data Science. His research focuses on high-fidelity thermal hydraulic simulations for nuclear reactors; he hopes to continue in graduate school, focusing on advanced reactor simulations for licensing applications. Chris currently serves as the president of the VCU ANS Student Section and as a Vice-Chair of the ANS Student Sections Committee. He interned at Framatome the last two summers, performing analyses to support the operation and life extension of the existing nuclear fleet. Chris has been advocating for nuclear engineering workforce development and policy at the state level for two years, and on Capitol Hill at the 2025 ANS Congressional Meetings Day. He is a strong advocate for expanding the skilled workforce needed to deploy and sustain nuclear energy, from auditors and engineers to technicians and welders. In his free time, Chris enjoys cooking, baking, and running.
Jaden Palmer
Jaden is a second-year Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University studying nuclear engineering. Previously, he earned a B.S. in nuclear and mechanical engineering from Idaho State University in 2025. Jaden’s research focuses on predicting reactor operations using machine learning techniques for remote monitoring and autonomous control of nuclear reactors, in collaboration with researchers at Idaho National Laboratory. Apart from research, Jaden enjoys fishing, rock climbing, and barbequing.
Eleanor Rouswell
Eleanor is a fourth-year student at the University of Oklahoma pursuing a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Physics. She has interned with BWX Technologies twice, working as a Project Engineering Intern and a Reactor Systems Operations and Test Intern. She is the President of the University of Oklahoma ANS Student Section and is incredibly passionate about outreach and science communication. Outside of academics, she enjoys hiking, running, and traveling.
Matthew Salek
Matt is a junior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign studying Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering. His research with the Illinois Microreactor Demonstration Project (IMDP) focuses on the public perception and public support of nuclear power. Through his work with IMDP and the American Nuclear Society (ANS), Matt is actively involved in nuclear outreach and education, helping build and manage much of the IMDP website and serving on the ANS Public Policy Education and Awareness Subcommittee. Matt’s interests lie at the intersection of nuclear engineering, public policy, and regulation. As a Nuclear Policy Intern at ClearPath, he has worked directly on current nuclear legislation and public comments on NRC regulatory rulemakings, and has worked closely with legislative staff, regulators, and think-tanks from across the nuclear industry. He is particularly interested in advanced reactor licensing and the policies needed to accelerate the deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies.
Pavel Shilenko
Pavel is a second-year master’s student in the Nuclear Science and Engineering department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was commissioned as a 2LT into the US Army from West Point in May 2025 with a B.S. in Physics. Pavel is completing his degree as a Draper scholar, conducting research in modeling Stirling engine performance and radiation damage effects. Pavel developed his passion for space nuclear during his time at Oak Ridge National Laboratory where he supported work in nuclear reactor launch logistics and extreme environment testing of advanced fuels. Pavel is passionate for the future of nuclear reactors in space to power deep exploration of the solar system and the lunar economy. Outside of research, he enjoys working out with his fiancé, leading the intramural NSE soccer team and being part of the ANS leadership team at MIT.
Tivon Straub
Tivon Straub is a first-year graduate student in the Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Department at Missouri University of Science and Technology, where he also earned his bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering. His master’s research applies neutron noise methods to determine reactor kinetics parameters. In addition to his studies, In addition to his studies, Tivon is a licensed senior reactor operator at the Missouri S&T Research Reactor (MSTR), where he focuses on training the next generation of student operators. His firsthand experience operating and maintaining a university research reactor drives his advocacy for consistent federal support for research reactors, which trains much of the industry’s future workforce. In his free time, he enjoys being in nature and reading long fantasy series.
Krishna Sunder
Krishna is a second-year student in MIT’s dual-degree Leaders for Global Operations fellowship, pursuing an MS in Nuclear Science and Engineering alongside an MBA from the Sloan School of Management. Krishna is currently working as an intern at Caterpillar Inc., developing strategy for the company’s Electric Power division. Prior to MIT, Krishna earned his B.A. in Economics and Data Science at the University of Chicago, and worked as an econometric analyst on investment litigation cases and as an associate at a boutique CEO advisory firm. Krishna is passionate about improving the economics of nuclear construction and seeks to commercialize fission reactors for fleet-scale US deployment. In his free time, Krishna enjoys reading history, playing guitar, and chess.
Sam Woolsey
Sam is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the Georgia Institute of Technology studying Mechanical Engineering. His most recent undergraduate research focuses on demonstrating surfactants as a drop-in solution to increase heat transfer in nonpolar, two-phase flow. Sam has a diverse background in low-carbon energy, including an internship in wind engineering at GE Vernova and two years leading Georgia Tech Solar Racing, a solar vehicle design team. Passionate about energy policy, he has organized multiple panels and discussions through Georgia Tech’s Energy Club and American Nuclear Society student chapter. In his spare time, Sam enjoys riding his bike and playing the drums.
Nuclear Engineering Student Delegation 