Engaging Universities to Develop the Next Generation of Safeguards Experts

The Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI) was established in 2007 to invest in the development of international nuclear safeguards expertise, policies, concepts, infrastructure, and technologies, which had suffered a lack of growth during the previous two decades. Numerous factors slowed investment in the nuclear industry in the United States, which resulted in a steep decline in safeguards knowledge and capabilities. The NGSI Human Capital Development (HCD) effort actively addresses this safeguards workforce predicament. HCD focuses on developing the next generation of safeguards professionals so they are prepared to tackle the nuclear safeguards challenges ahead. HCD efforts aim to attract and educate talented university students for safeguards careers to start in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories. NGSI sponsors undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students in internships and research positions across the DOE national laboratory complex. While at the national laboratory, the students are afforded safeguards and nonproliferation training and hands-on exercises to gain insight as to where their talent might contribute to international nuclear safeguards expertise, policies, concepts, infrastructure, and technologies. NGSI also supports early and mid-career professionals’ development in safeguards through advanced training and mentoring opportunities. Continuing along the safeguards career life cycle, NGSI encourages and facilitates U.S. experts accepting temporary and permanent positions at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and assists those transitioning back to the national laboratory complex from IAEA assignments.1 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Idaho National Laboratory (INL), and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are three NGSI laboratories that are building strong relationships with universities through nonproliferation and safeguards-focused engagement. These engagements include development of topical material to supplement existing undergraduate and graduate curricula, providing national laboratory experts and subject matter practitioners to lecture and conduct seminars to bring safeguards and nonproliferation topics to university programs, as well as supporting graduate fellowships and research cooperation. This paper will highlight efforts that have been facilitated under NGSI nationally and describe specific efforts at PNNL, INL, and ORNL.