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Meet the NEXT Team

Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing

Energy fuels the future. The exciting research taking place in ACU’s NEXT Lab will transform the future.

Meet the team of researchers who are working to build a next-generation molten salt research reactor on the ACU campus, solving the world’s need for clean, safe and affordable energy.

Energy fuels the future. The exciting research taking place in ACU’s NEXT Lab will transform the future.

Meet the team of researchers who are working to build a next-generation molten salt research reactor on the ACU campus, solving the world’s need for clean, safe and affordable energy.
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About Us

NEXT Lab Mission

The mission of ACU’s NEXT Lab is to provide global solutions to the world’s need for energy, water and medical isotopes by advancing the technology of molten salt reactors while educating future leaders in nuclear science and engineering.

This mission provides a clear long-term goal: the design, licensing and construction of a molten salt research reactor, to be housed and owned by ACU.

Having an on-site research facility will provide unprecedented access for students and faculty to collaborate on cutting-edge research that will change lives now and for years to come.

 

Members

Dr. Rusty Towell
Director of NEXT Lab
Professor; Department of Engineering and Physics 


Dr. Tim Head
Assistant Director of NEXT Lab
Professor; Department of Engineering and Physics


Dr. Kim Pamplin
NEXT Lab Director of Chemistry
Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry


Al Adams
Senior Regulatory Consultant


Jared Barker
Instrumentation and Electrical Engineer


Ben Beasley
Director of Licensing


Henry Beiro
Quality Assurance Manager


Alli Mae Berry
Research Chemist


Joe Caton
Engineering Manager


Dale Cox
Instrumentation and Electrical Engineer


Dr. Jim Drachenberg
Professor of Engineering and Physics


Brazos Fitch
Research Engineer


Wei Ji
Accountant


Dr. James Johnstone
Faculty, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry


Sam Lopez
Research Engineer


Walter Phillips
Research Engineer


Dr. Aaron Robison
Senior Research Chemist
Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry 


Vicente Rojas, P.E.
Research Engineer


Sean Rolan
Research Engineer


Dr. Jonathan Scherr
Research Engineer


Jack Shoemate, P.E.
Chief Engineer


Cori Shoultz
Research Chemist


Jackson Shoultz
Research Chemist


Bicky Tolar
Executive Assistant


Dr. Lester Towell
Software Group Manager


Shon Watson
Research Physicist


Diego Zometa Paniagua
Research Chemist