National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program

The objectives of this program are: (1) to provide a stable foundation from which to develop and maintain the nuclear forensics workforce; (2) to provide an academic pathway from undergraduate to post-doctorate study in disciplines directly relevant to nuclear forensics, including but not limited to radiochemistry, geochemistry, nuclear physics, nuclear engineering, materials science, and analytical chemistry; and (3) to increase a diverse and highly talented cadre of new and emerging forensics experts who will fill specific expertise gaps in the area of nuclear forensics, an important homeland security mission. These objectives are aligned with the Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act, P.L.111-140, reaffirmed in Sections 1923(a)(12) and 1926 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-296 (codified as amended at 6 U.S.C. §§ 592(a)(12), 596). The following goals have been established to meet these objectives: • Recruit and produce a new generation of leaders and technical experts in a wide range of fields relevant to nuclear forensics. • Enhance the ability for universities and the national and defense laboratories to work collaboratively on advanced research in the nuclear forensics field. • Implement nuclear forensics research awards to encourage undergraduate and graduate students to perform forensic-related research in collaboration with academic professors and researchers at the national laboratories. These awards promote research that advances nuclear forensics methods, such as detection, characterization of materials, and analysis of signatures, while encouraging universities to invest in these types of programs, and feed students into post-doctoral/permanent staff positions in nuclear forensics at the national laboratories or federal agencies.