Written by Zach Thomas, communications specialist, Applied Research Institute
NPRE Alumnus Jeffrey L. Binder has been named the director of the Illinois Applied Research Institute (ARI) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Jeff Binder and Emeritus Prof. Barclay Jones in 2010.
Binder comes to the University of Illinois from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), where he served most recently as associate laboratory director for nuclear science and engineering. Since joining ORNL in 2003, Binder has led efforts within Oak Ridge and the greater Department of Energy system to advance national priorities in nuclear technology development. Some of the projects that he has led include the development of spent nuclear fuel recycling technologies, the revival of an isotope research program, and the formation of ORNL’s Fuel Cycle and Isotopes Division, where he served as director.
“Jeff is a proven leader,” said Andreas Cangellaris, dean of the College of Engineering at Illinois. “His successful track record launching and leading research endeavors at the Department of Energy’s National Laboratories will translate well to directing Illinois’ translational research efforts at the ARI.”
Previous to his tenure at ORNL, Binder worked from 1990 to 2003 at Argonne National Laboratory in a number of research roles centered on nuclear reactor safety issues, including service as Director of the U.S. International Nuclear Safety Center.
Binder is no stranger to the Urbana campus and the greater Champaign-Urbana community, having earned his bachelor’s (1985), master’s (1987), and PhD (1990) in NPRE. Binder also earned an MBA from the University of Chicago.
When asked about the vision for the ARI, Binder said that it “integrates the knowledge, science, and capabilities of the University of Illinois and creates a model for translational research that will lead to greater economic opportunities for the State of Illinois, the region, and the nation.”
Located at the center of the University's Research Park, ARI is an initiative of the College of Engineering and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research with the goal of partnering with organizations and industry to conduct translational research and develop products and processes for the marketplace. It is an interdisciplinary organization that calls upon all of the University’s faculty and its scientific and research laboratories to execute applied research projects. Promoting economic development and business engagement in east-central Illinois is a primary pillar of ARI’s mission.
“A key component of that strategy will include the development of partnerships with other universities, federal research centers such as Argonne and ORNL, and the private sector to rapidly develop and deploy technologies that enhance economic competitiveness and national security.” Binder added. “What is unique about the ARI is its ability to address R&D projects that go beyond the University’s traditional research boundaries, and the capacity to scale rapidly to meet new opportunities. We see the ARI as becoming a gateway for commercial and governmental customers to access the rich intellectual and technical resources available within the University of Illinois and the State."
Some of the ARI’s areas of expertise include technologies for national and homeland security, advanced materials for energy applications, and computational engineering. Binder is expected to arrive at the ARI later this fall.
Over the years, Binder has retained close ties with NPRE, serving on the department's alumni group, the Constitutent Alumni and Industry Advisory Board, and participating in NPRE's annual Interchange events, in which alumni are encouraged to return to campus to talk to students about companies and employers.