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Members are devoted to applying nuclear science and engineering technologies involving isotopes, radiation applications, and associated equipment in scientific research, development, and industrial processes. Their interests lie primarily in education, industrial uses, biology, medicine, and health physics. Division committees include Analytical Applications of Isotopes and Radiation, Biology and Medicine, Radiation Applications, Radiation Sources and Detection, and Thermal Power Sources.
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Colin Judge: Testing structural materials in Idaho’s newest hot cell facility
Idaho National Laboratory’s newest facility—the Sample Preparation Laboratory (SPL)—sits across the road from the Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF), which started operating in 1975. SPL will host the first new hot cells at INL’s Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) in 50 years, giving INL researchers and partners new flexibility to test the structural properties of irradiated materials fresh from the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) or from a partner’s facility.
Materials meant to withstand extreme conditions in fission or fusion power plants must be tested under similar conditions and pushed past their breaking points so performance and limitations can be understood and improved. Once irradiated, materials samples can be cut down to size in SPL and packaged for testing in other facilities at INL or other national laboratories, commercial labs, or universities. But they can also be subjected to extreme thermal or corrosive conditions and mechanical testing right in SPL, explains Colin Judge, who, as INL’s division director for nuclear materials performance, oversees SPL and other facilities at the MFC.
SPL won’t go “hot” until January 2026, but Judge spoke with NN staff writer Susan Gallier about its capabilities as his team was moving instruments into the new facility.
As vice president of nuclear strategy & development for Exelon, Marilyn Kray leads major initiatives on current and advanced reactor designs to create growth opportunities that leverage Exelon’s nuclear operations competency. These initiatives include pursuing operational service agreements, both domestically and internationally, as well as engaging with advanced reactor developers in order to evaluate potential business opportunities and future technology deployment.
She served as president of NuStart Energy Development LLC, an industry consortium formed to develop the process for preparing the combined construction and operating license applications for the first new nuclear plant construction in the United States in over 30 years.
Her in-depth knowledge of the global nuclear industry comes from years of experience including as vice president of Exelon Nuclear Partners. In this role, she led international business development. Prior to this, she served as Exelon’s vice president of nuclear acquisition support, where she pioneered internal processes for due diligence and plant transitions. The result was the successful purchases of the Three Mile Island, Clinton, and Oyster Creek generating stations. More recently, she led the acquisition of the FitzPatrick nuclear power plant.
Marilyn began her career with Exelon in the licensing organization for the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station. Prior to joining Exelon, she was a reactor engineer and project manager for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. She has testified in front of Congress on multiple occasions regarding nuclear development in the United States. Throughout her career Marilyn has served in leadership roles as Exelon’s representative to the Nuclear Energy Institute and the Electric Power Research Institute.
Marilyn has been a member of ANS since 2007 and serves in the Education, Training, and Workforce Development Division as well as the Operations and Power Division. In 2007, she received the American Nuclear Society’s Utility Leadership Award. Other recognitions Marilyn has received include the World Nuclear Association award for Distinguished Contribution to the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Technology, and under her leadership the NuStart organization was one of four finalists for the 2012 Edison Award.
Marilyn is a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering.
Read Nuclear News from July 2019 for more on Marilyn.
Last modified September 13, 2019, 11:26am CDT