ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Materials Science & Technology
The objectives of MSTD are: promote the advancement of materials science in Nuclear Science Technology; support the multidisciplines which constitute it; encourage research by providing a forum for the presentation, exchange, and documentation of relevant information; promote the interaction and communication among its members; and recognize and reward its members for significant contributions to the field of materials science in nuclear technology.
Meeting Spotlight
ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
Latest Magazine Issues
Feb 2025
Jul 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
March 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
February 2025
Latest News
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.
General Chair:
Steve Johnson (Idaho National Laboratory)
Deputy General Chairs:
Andrew Zillmer (Idaho National Laboratory)
Amanda Robertson (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
Publications/Technical Programs Chair:
Sebastian Corbisiero (Idaho National Laboratory)
Administrative:
Cassie Sandoval (Idaho National Laboratory)
Student Involvements:
Young Lee (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
Nate Gilliam (Idaho National Laboratory)
Saroj Kumar (The University of Alabama in Huntsville)
Technical Programs:
Austen Fradeneck (Idaho National Laboratory)
Sabah Bux (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
Mike Houts (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center)
Vedant Mehta (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
Social Media Liaison:
Anna Lanzillotta (Idaho National Laboratory)
Committee Members:
Harmon Veselka (Idaho National Laboratory)
TJ Harrison (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
George Ulrich (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
Paul Ostdiek (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory)
Alexei Klimenko (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
Organizer:
R. Chris Robinson (Principal Technical Consultant, Y-12 National Security Complex | Pantex Plant)
If you have a question or suggestion, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to help! Please send us an email and someone will get back to you within 24 hours of your email.
Questions relating to Meeting (General): meetings@ans.org
Questions relating to Meeting Registration: registrar@ans.org
Questions relating to ANS Membership: members@ans.org
