Nuclear Undone brings together technical and policy experts to answer your questions about a variety of nuclear topics. Experts are available for consulting opportunities in nuclear policy research, communications, and advocacy. Contact us to learn more.
Lenka Kollar (@lenkakollar) is the owner and editor of Nuclear Undone. She is a nuclear engineer educated at Purdue University in the United States. Formerly a researcher at Argonne National Laboratory and the National Nuclear Security Administration, Lenka now spends her career educating people about nuclear issues. She is an active member of the American Nuclear Society, North American Young Generation in Nuclear, and Women in Nuclear. Lenka is also passionate about getting more women into the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. To learn more about Lenka, visit her website.
Rita Patel (@RitaTherPita) grew up talking and arguing so much that her parents were convinced she was going to become a lawyer. Instead, she majored in Materials Science Engineering with a focus on Metallurgy and Nuclear Engineering and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in April of 2012. Two months later, she returned to school to begin work on her graduate degree, also in Materials Science. When she isn't working in her lab, Rita can be found baking in her kitchen, discussing nuclear power to anyone willing to listen to her in exchange for a cookie.
Suzanne Hobbs Baker (@popatomicstudio) is the founder of the nonprofit organization PopAtomic Studios and the Director of the Nuclear Literacy Project. With a background in fine arts Baker uses art and imagery to communicate the benefits associated with nuclear energy. From reducing our carbon emissions to reducing proliferation risks, nuclear energy technologies and professionals have an important role to play in solving some of our world's biggest challenges. Throughout her work, Baker explores ways to overcome the communications challenges associated with the advancement of nuclear technologies using visual arts, social media and collaborative thinking. She hopes to demystify the inner workings of the nuclear sector by highlighting the people and programs behind the technology.
Kristine Madden is a Senior Project Engineer at a nuclear waste management company and is currently stationed in the Ukraine where she is working on the Chernobyl Dry Fuel Storage Project. Previously, Kristine has commercial nuclear power plant experience in the operations, reactor engineering, radiation protection, and leadership development realms. Kristine is a nuclear engineer educated at the University of Michigan in the United States. She is an active member of the American Nuclear Society, North American Young Generation in Nuclear, Women in Nuclear, European Nuclear Society Young Generation Network, and International Youth Nuclear Congress. Kristine's passions lie in increasing and contributing to nuclear outreach and policy initiatives. Check out her profile interview on the Nuclear Energy Institute website.
Mark Reed is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Nuclear Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States. His research focuses on the neutronic effects of geometric distortions in fast reactors. He has performed reactor modeling at TerraPower and risk assessment for the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Passionate about nuclear policy, he published a series of six articles on the history of nuclear technology, served as a speechwriter for an elected official, and conceived the I'm A Nuke campaign. In his spare time, he pursues his affinities for hiking, making random iPhone applications, and composing awkward third-person autobiographies.
Robyn Spink is a nuclear engineer turned medical physicist. She has a B.S.E from the University of Michigan in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences as well as an M.S. from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Radiological Physics. Her experience includes research in nuclear medicine at Oak Ridge National Lab, a CAMPEP accredited medical physics residency in Detroit, Michigan and will soon hold a staff physicist position in Little Rock, Arkansas. Robyn is an active member of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine and the American Society for Radiation Oncology. Robyn is also always looking for opportunities to mentor young women on their journey to the STEM fields.
Chris Wagener is a Senior Nuclear Designer at a nuclear fuel
vendor in the United States. He has a
B.S. from Purdue University and a Master’s Degree from Penn State University,
both in Nuclear Engineering. Currently,
he works on ensuring the safe operations of domestic and international nuclear
power plants with a focus on core modeling.
When not modeling neutrons, he enjoys golf, football and traveling.
Wes Deason (@wrdeason) is a research scientist for the Center for Space Nuclear Research in Idaho Falls, ID. After learning about the capabilities of nuclear power-enabled space exploration, he just can’t seem to stop dreaming about where we could explore. Currently, Wes is collaborating with NASA to construct the propulsion system for our first manned mission to Mars. He also spends his time assisting on various projects for the Idaho National Lab, volunteering and writing blogs for the American Nuclear Society, and teaching Boy and Girls Scouts about nuclear science. Wes obtained his M.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Oregon State University and his B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Nicholas Thompson (@thompn4) is a Ph.D. student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) studying Nuclear Engineering and Science. He is also the chair of this year's Nuclear Engineering Student Delegation, which is a program that brings nuclear engineering students to Washington, D.C. to meet with politicians and policymakers to advocate for nuclear engineering education funding. Some of Nick's research interests include nuclear data, reactor design, accelerator technologies and applications, and nuclear energy policy. Nick is an avid skier and believes that cheap, clean, reliable, safe nuclear power can help the economy and the environment.
Diego Garcia (@DiegoAGarcia89) is a nuclear engineer currently working on
nuclear safety performance engineering and business development at AREVA. He also serves as the Advocacy Director for the Columbia, MD, chapter of
North America - Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN). Diego has
served in a number of political outreach groups including the Nuclear
Engineering Student Delegation (NESD), the Florida Delegation of Nuclear
Engineering Students (FDNES), NA-YGN, and the American Nuclear Society
(ANS). His policy activism includes climate change
and energy issues, nuclear nonproliferation, nuclear engineering education
and research funding, and even immigration reform. He holds a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering and a B.A. in
Political Science from the University of Florida.