NE Colloquium: Tara Pandya & Louise Evans

Nuclear Energy Research, Capabilities, and Opportunities at ORNL

Abstract

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the largest US Department of Energy Office of Science national laboratory, conducts research and development across the full spectrum of Office of Science mission areas. Within this broad portfolio, ORNL maintains extensive programs in nuclear energy spanning both fusion and fission. This presentation will provide an overview of research activities in the Fusion and Fission Energy and Science Directorate, with particular emphasis on advanced nuclear modeling and simulation, fuels development and characterization, and the nuclear fuel cycle. It will also highlight ORNL’s unique research capabilities and discuss opportunities for academic engagement, collaboration, and student involvement.

Biographies

Tara M. Pandya, Director of the Nuclear Science and Engineering Division at ORNL, received her BS, MS, and PhD degrees in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M University in 2006, 2009, and 2012 respectively. She joined ORNL in 2012 as a Postdoctoral Researcher and transitioned to R&D Associate Staff in 2014 in the Radiation Transport Group, eventually taking over as group lead in 2020. Pandya served as section head of the Nuclear Applications, Methods, and Data Section from August 2025 to October 2026.

Louise Evans, Director of the new Fuel Cycle Science and Technology Division, works within the Fusion and Fission Energy and Science Directorate at ORNL. She previously served as the Group Leader for Verification Technologies and Distinguished R&D Scientist in National Security Sciences at ORNL. In that role, she led a diverse research portfolio in safeguards and security technologies. She also previously served as the Nonproliferation Program Integration Lead, growing ORNL’s integrated nuclear initiatives, and ORNL program manager for DOE-NNSA Advanced Reactor International Safeguards Engagement.