Nuclear Science and Security Consortium

The Nuclear Science and Security Consortium is a multi-institution consortium led by the University of California (UC) Berkeley to support the nation’s mission in nuclear nonproliferation through the training and education of experts in the nuclear security field. University students who are accepted by the consortium are able to collaborate with researchers at four Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration laboratories — LLNL and Lawrence Berkeley, Los Alamos, and Sandia National Laboratories.

The consortium focuses on hands-on training for undergraduate and graduate students. Universities in the NSSC — and whose students are eligible — are not only UC Berkeley but also Michigan State University, UC Davis, the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, UC Irvine, the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, and Washington University in St. Louis. The consortium also brings in historically Black colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving institutions.

Through these student–mentor collaborations, NSSC ultimately seeks to train the next generation of experts to lead the nation's research endeavors in nuclear science and security. In fact, the consortium's nickname is SUCCESS PIPELINE, which stands for Seven Universities Coordinating Coursework and Experience from Student to Scientist in a Partnership for Identifying and Preparing Educated, Laboratory-Integrated Nuclear Experts.

The consortium's key focus areas are:

• Nuclear physics
• Nuclear and radiation chemistry
• Nuclear engineering
• Nuclear instrumentation
• Public policy

NSSC students attend workshops and summer schools organized on these focus areas and other topical areas critical to nuclear security. Teaching is accompanied by active research to give students firsthand experience with advanced theories and experimental techniques. The NSSC will also provide adjunct teaching appointments for national laboratory staff so they can bring their experience with mission-critical science directly to the classroom.