Science & Engineering Orientation: Nuclear
The Nuclear Science and Technology orientation within Chemical Engineering focuses on the use of nuclear technology in the fields of energy, health and materials science. Nuclear energy can play a key role in the need to use the Earth resources in a sustainable manner.
Next to this, nuclear technologies are also highly beneficial to the field of health, more specifically through the development of innovative production routes for medically relevant radionuclides, chemical separation and radiolabelling, nuclear spectroscopy, preparation of radiopharmaceuticals for imaging and therapy etc.
Finally, neutron and positron beams generated from nuclear research reactors are also used worldwide for the investigation of inorganic, soft matter and hybrid materials for a variety of applications ranging from batteries to luminescent materials, magnetic materials, nuclear materials etc.
Chemical engineers play an essential role in the fields of nuclear reactor technologies, nuclear medicine and radiation measurements and instrumentation. Specific examples include solving materials chemistry issues of the nuclear fuel for the next generation of nuclear reactors (Generation IV systems) that should replace by 2030’s the current fleet of Light Water Reactors at the end of their operating license, and should provide innovative, safer, more reliable and sustainable designs; the development of medical radioisotopes production routes for cancer treatment; the development and characterisation of a variety of materials for numerous applications using radiation measurements.
Students interested in this orientation for their masters programme are suggested to select from the following electives.
| Year 1: Q2 (Advanced Chemical Engineering Courses) | Year 1: Q3 (Chemical Engineering Electives) |
|---|---|
| Reactors & Kinetics (R&K) Applied Transport Phenomena (ATP) Advanced Thermodynamics (ATP) Interfaces & Particles (I&P) Soft Materials Engineering (SME) Solid State Materials (SSM) | Nuclear Medicine Nuclear Chemistry Advanced materials analysis by radiation instrumentation |
Please be advised that students will not receive a separate title or addendum when finishing a science & engineering orientation. It will also not show on the degree.