A three-year, $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy will help Tennessee Tech University radiochemistry students train to become the next generation of nuclear scientists while they participate in a groundbreaking research project.

David Dan, associate professor of chemistry at Tech, applied for and was awarded the grant through the DOE’s Reaching a New Energy Workforce (RENEW) initiative. 

The program is part of the DOE’s larger effort to revitalize interest in radiochemistry and nuclear science, fields that have seen declining participation over the past two decades despite their critical roles in energy, industry and national security. 

“We’re entering a second golden age of nuclear science, and it’s critical that we train the next generation to lead it,” Dan said.

At Tech, the research will involve undergraduate and graduate students and will provide them with hands-on experiences in a field that has often been overlooked outside of specialized settings. 

Dan’s project will focus on the use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) – highly porous, 3D structures made of metal ions linked by organic molecules – to develop a more efficient method for separating and purifying Promethium-147.

“Promethium-147 is notoriously difficult to separate from its parent isotope because of their similar chemical properties,” Dan said. “By using metal-organic frameworks, we aim to develop a more efficient and scalable method for purification, which could have far-reaching implications beyond this project.”

Although challenging to separate and purify, Promethium-147 is a rare isotope with critical applications in space exploration and other industries, he explained.

While MOFs are used in a variety of chemical applications, such as water purification, gas storage and drug delivery, the process has never yet been used for separation and purification of Promethium-147, making Dan’s research project groundbreaking work. 

Ultimately, Dan said he hopes his team and their work will not only advance scientific understanding of MOFs in radiochemistry but also inspire students to pursue careers in a rapidly evolving and essential field. 

Student training and workforce development are key components of the project’s focus. Over its three-year span, the grant is expected to support the work of at least 16 students, who will achieve direct experience in both academic and national lab settings, with research rotations at Oak Ridge National Lab.

Tech will partner with ORNL researchers Dr. Frankie White and Megan Simms, who will provide expertise and access to specialized facilities for advanced experiments that cannot be conducted on campus.

“The goal is to create a strong pipeline of future radiochemists and nuclear scientists. The experience this project will provide – especially through our collaboration with ORNL – will make them highly competitive for careers in industry, government labs and academia,” Dan said.

The project’s training component includes extensive preparation to ensure students have the skills to approach subsequent phases of the work. 

This initiative aligns with a broader national effort to renew interest in nuclear science, a field that is experiencing a resurgence as demand grows for sustainable energy solutions, electric vehicles and reliable power grids. 

“For decades, radiochemistry has been negatively impacted by misconceptions, but nuclear science has applications far beyond weapons creation; in fact, it’s a mature and safe technology when it’s used correctly,” Dan said.