The US News and World Report top-five ranked UC Berkeley Department of Nuclear Engineering (NE) is at the forefront of academia and research, further progressing the field of nuclear engineering. The department is concerned with the science of nuclear processes and their application to the development of various technologies. Nuclear processes are fundamental in the medical diagnosis and treatment fields, and in basic and applied research concerning accelerator, laser and superconducting magnetic systems. Utilization of nuclear fission energy for the production of electricity is the current major commercial application, and radioactive thermal generators power a number of spacecraft. For the longer term, electricity production based on nuclear fusion is expected to become an increasingly important segment of the field.
MEng in Nuclear Engineering
The MEng program in NE focuses on nuclear reactor design, management and infrastructure, specifically focusing on systems and the infrastructure needed for generating electricity from nuclear energy. This provides training in advanced reactors, fuel cycle, safety and security, electric grid, and environmental impact assessment. The program also stresses research in applied nuclear science and radiation detection, specifically focusing on low-energy nuclear physics and interaction of radiation with matter important to nuclear chemistry, nuclear technology and applications. You will learn about fundamental nuclear physics measurements for applied purposes and the development of advanced detectors and methodologies, in addition to the application of nuclear techniques in a wide range of studies. Capstone projects often leverage experimental facilities such as the 88″ cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the High Flux Neutron Generator in Etcheverry Hall. The MEng technical concentrations in this department are:
- Nuclear Reactors Design, Management and Infrastructure
- Applied Nuclear Science and Radiation Detection
- Nuclear Materials and Manufacturing
- Medical Physics
Creating a Stable Supply of Rare Elements for Medical and Industrial Applications Using a Molten Salt Nuclear Reactor
This team is designed a new generation molten salt nuclear reactor with a sole focus on continuous production and extraction of these elements without the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation. They aimed to provide an innovative and safe approach to meet current US demands at or below market pricing.
Andria Sperry, Class of 2021
Andria Sperry graduated from the Berkeley MEng program in 2021, where she studied Nuclear Engineering. Here, Andi speaks about her MEng experience, engineering successes in water purification systems, and long-term goals of space exploration.
For more information, including sample course listings, visit the Nuclear Engineering website.
