NPRE Undergraduate Seminar Series - Spring 2025
Dr. Syed Alam, Assistant Professor, NPRE UIUC
Dr. Davide Curreli, Professor and Donald Biggar Willett Faculty Scholar, NPRE, UIUC
Tuesday, February 25 | 12:00 - 12:50 pm
4039 Campus Instructional Facility (CIF)
Digital Twin (DT)-Enabling Technologies for Nuclear Systems
Abstract: According to both US DOE and NRC, the nuclear industry has yet to fully leverage the recent advances in machine learning/artificial intelligence (ML/AI) techniques, and Digital Twin (DT) will play a significant role in risk-informed decision-making. For example, " NRC FY2021-23 Planned Research Activities" and "NRC Future Focused Research" state that "Methodology and Evaluation Tools for Digital Twin Applications" is one of the top priority strategic areas. Major challenges related to DT are (a) Incorporating trustworthy data analytics algorithm, (b) Treatment of noisy or erroneous data and data unavailability, (c) Uncertainty quantification, and (d) Update module in DT by solving the "On-the-fly Inverse Problem." This seminar will encompass the ongoing activities of Dr. Alam's group on different aspects of technical challenges in DT-enabling technologies for nuclear systems..
Bio: Dr. Syed Alam is an Assistant Professor of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is the Director of MARTIANS (Machine Learning & ARTificial Intelligence for Advancing Nuclear Systems) laboratory. He is an expert national committee member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) for a DOE study on AI Foundation Models for Scientific Discovery and Innovation. He received his Ph.D. and MPhil in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Cambridge. Prior to joining NPRE UIUC, he was an Assitant Proessor at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Prior to that, he was a Researcher at French Atomic Energy Commission. He has authored/co-authored 120+ articles and received several awards and honors for his research and teaching.
The Changing Landscape of Fusion Energy: from Privatization to New Paths towards a Fusion Pilot Plan
Abstract: Fusion energy is entering a transformative era, shifting from government-funded megaprojects to an increasingly dynamic landscape driven by private investment and innovative approaches. Thanks to an influx of private investment, technological innovation (such as high-temperature superconductors), and new collaborative frameworks (FIRE, PFR, etc.), fusion research is accelerating at a pace never seen before, fostering new technological pathways, and reshaping the roadmap toward a viable Fusion Pilot Plant (FPP). We will discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by this shift, including advancements in plasma physics, fusion materials & technology, and fusion engineering, as well as few regulatory and economic considerations.
Bio: Davide Curreli is Professor and Donald Biggar Willett Faculty Scholar in the Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Dr Curreli leads the Laboratory for Computational Plasma Physics at Illinois. His research activities focus on computational modeling of plasma material interactions and plasma chemistry for fusion and nuclear applications. Among his current research activities, his group actively works on multiple projects in Fusion Energy Sciences. Dr Curreli is also coordinator of the Nuclear Fireball Plasma Chemistry activities funded by DOD DTRA.
Upcoming Seminar -
Mar 4 - NPRE Department Research Focus - Dr. Ha Hoang Bui, SoTeRiA & Dr. Jiangi Xi, MNM Group
NPRE 199 Undergraduate Seminar is a series of lectures and discussions on current research and developments in the NPRE discipline areas. Presentations are led by visiting scientists and engineers from industry and research facilities as well as faculty and advanced students. Seminars are open to the Illinois community, space allowing. Undergraduate students wishing course credit for attending should register in NPRE 199.