MSI3 stands for Minority Serving Institutions for Manufacturing Sustainable Isotopes and Mainstreaming Scientific Inclusion (MSI³). The MSI3 project has two main objectives: (1) perform research on producing isotopes of interest more efficiently and (2) educate and train students in isotope science to fulfill the requirements of the isotope R&D and production community.

Project Leadership Team:

Research Areas:

• Radiation transport simulations: Design and optimization of target material geometry and composition to maximize isotope production during irradiation processes

• Target irradiation: Model and fabricate target irradiation capsule that will be used in HFIR at ORNL. Perform all safety calculations (temperature, pressure, etc.) to satisfy HFIR irradiation requirements

• Elemental separation: Separate key isotopes from irradiated target materials using aqueous and pyro processing techniques. Computational and experimental approaches will be implemented.

• Radionuclide assay: Measure radiation signature from separated isotope to quantify their activity and potential radionuclide impurities. Computational and experimental approaches will be implemented

MSI³ Schedule:

MSI³ Benefits to Students:

• Year-round research funding (10 hours/week for fall & spring, 29 hours/week for summer)

• $16/hour and a free research laptop

• Individual research projects with dedicated technical mentoring offered

• Funding to present research at the American Nuclear Society Student Conference

• Funded 2-week trip to Oak Ridge National Laboratory

• Tuition and fees paid for during the summer (Must take VCU’s course on Radioisotope Science)

• Eligible to apply for graduate school funding (e.g., M.S. at VCU)

Former MSI³ Trainees:

Interested students should contact: Dr. Wu (zwu@vcu.edu).