WSU lands $1.4m DOE grant to train next wave of nuclear workers

A $1.4 million federal grant will help expand Washington State University's nuclear training capabilities, supporting a new "Reactor Ready" initiative aimed at preparing students and other workers for careers in the nation's nuclear energy sector.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, with a 1:1 cost share from WSU bringing the total investment to $2.8 million, the system-wide effort is designed to build a steady pipeline of workers trained in nuclear operations, safety, and support roles, as industry demand is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

"The workforce pipeline hasn't kept pace with where the industry is going," said Noel Schulz, director of the Institute for Northwest Energy Futures at WSU Tri-Cities and a co-principal investigator on the project. "We're trying to shorten that learning curve and give people the skills they need before they ever walk into a facility."

A central piece of the project is a nationwide analysis of workforce gaps at nuclear plants, research labs, and related industries. That data will be used to shape new courses, short-term training programs, and certification pathways for students, current workers, and people looking to move into the field from other careers.

Industry demand for workers is expected to climb as older employees retire and as companies prepare to build and operate small modular reactors, or SMRs, next-generation nuclear systems that are smaller, factory-built, and designed to be deployed more flexibly than traditional plants. Their scalable design allows utilities and private industry to add power in increments, making them particularly attractive for energy-intensive uses such as data centers and advanced manufacturing in Washington, where reliable, carbon-free electricity is in growing demand.

According to Kim Christen, WSU vice president for research, the Reactor Ready program builds on decades of investment at WSU in nuclear science and research infrastructure. It will bring together faculty and facilities across WSU's Pullman, Tri-Cities, and Spokane campuses, along with partners including Columbia Basin College and Energy Northwest, which operates the Columbia Generating Station, the Pacific Northwest's only commercial nuclear power plant.

"By connecting our campuses, industry partners, and communities across the state, we are expanding a statewide ecosystem - from hands-on reactor training to emerging technologies - that prepares students and professionals to lead in the next generation of reliable energy while delivering lasting benefits for Washington," Christen said.

The effort will also focus on expanding access to the field by reaching students earlier and creating new pathways for those looking to enter or transition into nuclear careers, including outreach to high schools, community colleges, and workers seeking to reskill.

WSU's one-megawatt research reactor in Pullman will give students hands-on experience learning how it operates and how safety procedures are carried out. At Tri-Cities, a full-scale simulator designed for small modular reactors lets trainees practice running a reactor, watching how systems respond, and working through different scenarios they could face on the job.

"We're trying to figure out what the right level of training is and how to deliver it across the WSU system in a way that matches what industry actually needs," said John S. McCloy, a co-principal investigator on the project and director of the WSU School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

Unlike traditional degree programs, which can take years to complete, the new training model offered by WSU will include shorter, stackable credentials designed to match specific job requirements. Courses will be offered in multiple formats, including online and hybrid options to reach working professionals.

WSU has been training licensed nuclear reactor operators for more than 50 years, accepting students from any major. Building on that foundation, the Reactor Ready initiative will expand the university's offerings with a broader array of courses and credentials, which are expected to roll out in phases as workforce needs are identified and refined through the project's industry analysis.

Employees at work inside WSU's Nuclear Science Center (photo by Dean Hare, WSU Photo Services). Employees at work inside WSU's Nuclear Science Center (photo by Dean Hare, WSU Photo Services). Student employee Layla Lumzer inside the control room at WSU's Nuclear Science Center (photo by Dean Hare, WSU Photo Services). WSU's one-megawatt research reactor in Pullman gives students hands-on experience learning how it operates and how safety procedures are carried out (photos by Dean Hare, WSU Photo Services).

The jobs themselves can be lucrative. Nuclear reactor operators in the United States typically earn median salaries above $100,000, with senior operators earning more depending on experience and facility type. But running a nuclear facility takes far more than operators, with teams that include engineers, technicians, and safety specialists working behind the scenes.

"As the nuclear sector grows and modernizes, the workforce gap is becoming one of its biggest constraints. WSU is helping close that gap by preparing people for both the high visibility roles and the critical support positions that make nuclear power," said Corey Hines, director of WSU's Nuclear Science Center and principal investigator on the grant. "The nuclear industry needs an entire ecosystem of skilled professionals who can keep facilities safe and reliable. WSU is uniquely positioned to build that pipeline, from hands-on reactor training to stackable credentials to meet people where they are and help them get industry ready."