SRS and FIU Strengthen Partnership to Advance DOE Missions

DOE Fellows Program Mechanical Engineer Brendon Cintas, left, and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions Director of Engineering Technical Services Ken Burrows, right, test out the Boston Dynamics robot nicknamed Spot, showcasing cutting-edge technology being integrated into DOE projects.

AIKEN, S.C. — In an effort to strengthen academic and industry partnerships, representatives from the Savannah River Site (SRS) recently visited Florida International University (FIU), a leading public research university in Miami, Florida. The visit aimed to bolster the growing collaboration between FIU’s Applied Research Center (ARC) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Since 2007, the DOE-FIU Science & Technology Workforce Development Initiative, also known as the DOE Fellows Program, has played a pivotal role in advancing the missions of DOE’s Office of Environmental Management (EM) and Office of Legacy Management (LM).

In fiscal year 2024, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), the site’s management and operations contractor, began establishing a partnership with FIU to increase the number of interns transitioning into full-service roles, strengthen technical capabilities and elevate industry reputation and visibility with academic institutions.

"This partnership brings fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the complex challenges we face at DOE facilities," said Bryan Ortner, SRNS Workforce Services and Talent Management acting senior vice president. "By collaborating with FIU, we hope to harness the capabilities of their students and faculty, yielding valuable research outcomes and providing students with hands-on experience in addressing real-world problems."

The program includes a two- to four-year mentoring component, offering paid research experiences to address technical problems that benefit DOE missions. Research areas include deactivation and decommissioning of contaminated facilities, soil and groundwater remediation, workforce development, robotics, intelligence applications, radioactive waste management, information technology, and environmental protection.

“SRS plans to hire 9,000 full-time employees over the next five years, so it is imperative to leverage this agreement to build a robust talent pipeline,” said Leonel “Leo” Lagos, DOE Fellows Program director. “By integrating coursework, DOE fieldwork, and applied research at FIU, we create a well-structured program that brings highly skilled individuals into the workforce to fill those critical gaps.”

During the visit, representatives from SRNS Workforce Services, Talent Management, and Engineering departments toured FIU’s research facilities, reviewed student projects and revisited past research findings.

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) established a partnership with Florida International University in 2024 to increase the number of interns transitioning into full-service roles at the Savannah River Site. From left: SRNS Senior Vice President of Plutonium Disposition Operations and Programs Jeff Griffin, DOE Fellows Program Director Leonel "Leo" Lagos, and SRNS Talent Acquisition Manager Angela Martin.

“The initiative marked a significant step towards rekindling and strengthening our ties with FIU,” said Ken Burrows, SRNS director of engineering technical services. “The innovative work being conducted is directly applicable to solving the challenges we face in our aging nuclear facilities and supporting new projects for DOE-EM and NNSA missions. Interacting with the faculty and students has given me confidence that there is a bright, capable group ready to tackle our challenges at SRNS.”

SRS plans to implement a high-level memorandum of understanding with FIU to ensure a steady stream of skilled specialists are available to tackle technical challenges through grant-funded research or the SRNS Internship Program.

This summer, DOE Fellows Program intern Kevin Yulkowsky will join SRS to gain hands-on experience in H Canyon — the only operating, production-scale, radiologically shielded chemical separations facility in the United States. Additionally, FIU students and faculty are scheduled to visit the site in May for a comprehensive tour.

-Contributor: Mackenzie McNabb