Fritchie selected for fellowship supporting global nuclear security collaboration

Jacob Fritchie, a PhD student in the Department of Nuclear, Plasma & Radiological Engineering in The Grainger College of Engineering, has been awarded the prestigious Training in Radiological and International Security (TRAINS) Fellowship, hosted at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The TRAINS Fellowship is designed to enhance international collaboration in nuclear security education among universities and laboratories in the United States and Europe. It supports graduate students from both Europe and the United States to participate in short courses and tours of nuclear security research facilities, providing hands-on learning experiences in nuclear security and nonproliferation.

“Jacob’s selection for the TRAINS Fellowship is a well-deserved achievement,” said NPRE assistant professor Angela Di Fulvio.  “This opportunity will allow him to expand his knowledge of nuclear safeguards, particularly in the area of international safeguards and their wider significance.”

Fritchie said he applied to the TRAINS Fellowship to deepen his understanding of international nuclear safeguards and their broader role in supporting global security.

“Through my work in the Nuclear Measurement Laboratory and the NPRE program, I have developed a strong foundation in radiation detection and safeguards measurement techniques, and I am excited to continue building on that experience while further developing my skills,” he said.

“The program’s hands-on training, facility visits, and workshops will provide direct exposure to real safeguards instrumentation and practices, helping bridge the gap between academic research and real-world implementation,” Fritchie said. “I look forward to gaining practical experience and an international perspective that will prepare me to contribute to safeguards and nonproliferation efforts.”

TRAINS is designed to strengthen training and share knowledge in radiological and nuclear security. It focuses on bringing together fellows from a wide range of backgrounds—like science, engineering, law, international relations, and economics—to learn about keeping radiological sources and nuclear materials secure.

For younger students, it offers a chance to take advantage of the renewed growth in the nuclear field by building valuable skills for the future. More broadly, the program also helps raise awareness in the scientific community about the importance of security and how it connects with safety and safeguards.

“In today’s climate of geopolitical uncertainty, it is essential that the next generation of professionals be prepared not only in the technical aspects of nuclear nonproliferation, but also in the policy frameworks that shape its practice and impact,” Di Fulvio added. “I am very proud of Jacob for carrying the knowledge developed in the lab into a broader effort to understand and address the social and policy implications of this field.”