MAX-Nuclear is one of four Tier 1 Research Institutes<\/a> at Queen\u2019s. It builds on a nuclear materials research program that began at Queen\u2019s in 2002 and is led by Scientific Director Mark Daymond<\/a>, Canada Research Chair in Nuclear Materials and Mechanics of Materials.<\/p>\n The institute studies how existing and emerging materials perform under the demanding conditions in current and next-generation nuclear reactors, including small modular reactors (SMRs). Its researchers bring expertise in corrosion, materials used in reactor structures, computational modelling, and the effects of radiation. This work can help guide decisions about current and future reactor design and maintenance in Canada and abroad.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Building on Queen\u2019s nuclear research strengths<\/p>\n At the core of MAX-Nuclear is the Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory<\/a> (RMTL). There, specialized equipment lets researchers simulate key aspects of reactor conditions in a controlled setting. Tests and detailed imaging then allow them to connect microscopic changes within a material to its overall performance. Opened in 2015 with support from a $20 million investment from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Research Fund, the RMTL has since attracted another $20 million in funding. \u00a0<\/p>\n “Building the nuclear materials research program at Queen\u2019s to this level has been a deliberate process centred around recruiting outstanding people, establishing the Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory, and continuing to earn the trust of our industry and government partners,” says Dr. Daymond. “MAX-Nuclear strengthens our standing both nationally and internationally, bringing our researchers together under one banner to speak with a credible voice and help shape the research that will support the operation of existing reactors, and that next-generation reactors will depend on.”<\/p>\n MAX-Nuclear\u2019s research community includes 16 core and associate faculty members from Queen\u2019s and the Royal Military College. Among them is Yanwen Zhang<\/a>, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Impact of Radiation in Energy and Advanced Technologies, who joined Queen\u2019s in 2024. Supported by an $8 million CERC program, Dr. Zhang seeks to predict how metal alloys deteriorate inside reactors. This knowledge could support safer, longer-lasting components, including the cladding that protects reactor fuel.<\/p>\n Researchers, students, staff, and members affiliated with MAX-Nuclear gather together to mark the launch of the new Queen’s research institute in October 2026. <\/p>\n Connecting research to Canada\u2019s nuclear future<\/p>\n Bringing this expertise and infrastructure together through MAX-Nuclear helps researchers pursue larger projects and build partnerships as Canada\u2019s nuclear sector evolves. The institute works with other universities, government, industry, and international research networks to connect its research with the needs of Canada\u2019s nuclear sector and help strengthen Canada\u2019s role in the global energy transition.<\/p>\n “MAX-Nuclear builds on Queen\u2019s longstanding strengths in nuclear materials research and demonstrates how bringing together leading researchers, specialized infrastructure, and industry partnerships can help address some of Canada\u2019s most pressing challenges,” says Nancy Ross, Vice-Principal (Research and Innovation). “By advancing safer, more sustainable nuclear technologies and training the next generation of researchers, the institute will contribute to Canada\u2019s clean energy future while strengthening our leadership in research and innovation.”<\/p>\n Training the next generation of nuclear researchers is another part of the institute\u2019s mandate. With more than 70 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research associates, and technical staff involved in its work, MAX-Nuclear offers graduate internships and interdisciplinary professional development to help prepare emerging researchers for careers in energy and nuclear materials.<\/p>\n Learn more about MAX-Nuclear<\/a> and nuclear materials research at Queen\u2019s<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Inside a nuclear reactor, materials must withstand heat, radiation, and corrosion for years. Understanding how these conditions can…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":378635,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[9,24,63,122,124,123],"class_list":["post-378634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-queens","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-queens","tag-queens-headlines","tag-queens-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/378634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=378634"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/378634\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/378635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=378634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=378634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=378634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/p>\n