The Nuclear Security Education Program (NSEP) is led by faculty members from different departments and colleges, including Dr. Robert Bean (Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Director of the Nuclear Engineering Radiation Laboratories), Dr. Jason Harris (Associate Professor of Health Physics, Courtesy Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering), Dr. Aaron Hoffman and Dr. Keith Shimko (Associate Professors of Political Science).

“We are privileged and honored to be one of only five universities selected for this prestigious program.  Along with other initiatives across campus, this contract will enable Purdue University to become a world leader in nuclear security education and research”, says Dr. Harris who is the PI of the program.

This effort will combine classes across three colleges (Engineering, Health and Human Sciences, and Liberal Arts) to create a seven-course Nuclear Security Graduate Program. Classes will include technical topics such as radiation detection, physical security design and practice, and non-reactor technologies related to nuclear security as well as policy topics such as international treaties and agreements, terrorism, and nuclear nonproliferation.

The longer-term plan is to create an accredited Nuclear Security Certificate program suitable for delivery as part of an online graduate degree program.