NUCLEAR ENGINEERING MINORS RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Three Virginia Tech students have received scholarships from the Office of Nuclear Energy in the Department of Energy ( DOE-NE ) to advance their studies in the field of nuclear engineering .
While Virginia Tech does not yet have an undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering , the first cohort of nuclear engineering minors were conferred in the spring 2020 commencement ceremonies . As the program continues to grow , there is great promise in the academic strength of the students engaged in the program .
Of particular note is a scholarship given by the DOE to a small group of students nationwide . The Office of Nuclear Energy ’ s Integrated University Program includes 86 universities from around the US , of which 42 have students who have received awards . Universities must apply for a grant for their students to be eligible , and Virginia Tech ’ s grant has been active since 2009 .
The program offers undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships to students interested in futures in nuclear energy . Each undergraduate scholarship provides $ 7,500 to help cover education costs for the upcoming year . Three Virginia Tech students applied , and all three were awarded . Each was a junior majoring in mechanical engineering .
Adam Berlinerman , a junior from Richmond , Virginia , was one of this year ’ s recipients . He expressed excitement about the potential of the field of nuclear engineering . “ What interests me about nuclear engineering is the
Adam Berlinerman intellectual challenges it presents ,” he said . “ The education I am receiving now and will receive will be the foundation for me to pursue my goals of working on the research and development side of new reactors .”
Also receiving a scholarship was Ayden Cohn , a junior from Norfolk , Virginia . “ Nuclear engineering interests me because it could be a key energy source in the future as we shift away from fossil fuels ,” he said . “ If managed safely , it will be one
Ayden Cohn of the most , if not the most , efficient sources of energy . I hope to apply my education in the future to help make nuclear energy more widely used .”
The third recipient , Great Falls , Virginia , resident Shayan Sanjideh , also commented on the vital industry to which his education could allow him to contribute . “ Nuclear engineering interests me because it is something whose potential
Shayan Sanjideh isn ’ t fully realized yet ,” he said . “ I want to help contribute as much I can to this relatively new field of science .”
Mark Pierson , an associate professor of practice and coordinator of the undergraduate nuclear program , expressed excitement about the momentum that the minor has achieved . “ I am very happy with the support that our program is receiving from the Department of Energy . That three of our students in the nuclear engineering minor received a DOE- NE scholarship is a testament to the quality of the students in our program . This is significant since this is a national competition .”
More about the Virginia Tech nuclear engineering program is available on the program website , nuclear . ncr . vt . edu .
The nuclear engineering program is administered through the Department of Mechanical Engineering .
VIRGINIA TECH MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ANNUAL REPORT • 2019-2020 • EDUCATION 13