The University of New Mexico announced on Aug. 19 that Eric Lang, an assistant professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering, has been selected for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) program, according to a press release. This initiative, called the NRC Distinguished Faculty Advancement Program, offers assistance to empower recently appointed, pre-tenured faculty members like Lang to further develop their roles as educators and researchers within their respective university departments.

Lang is set to receive $600,000 through the program to support his research and career growth, and UNM is also contributing $100,000 as matching funds. His research focus is centered on studying materials in extreme conditions, employing ion beam irradiation and small-scale mechanical testing to decipher material behavior for advancing next-gen nuclear reactors, particularly in the realm of fusion reactor materials. Lang, who joined UNM in the autumn of 2022, previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Sandia National Laboratories.

“Eric is clearly a rising star with a bright future ahead of him,” said Hank Lee, chair of the Department of Nuclear Engineering, according to the press release.

Lang's hands-on investigations will involve cutting-edge materials, aiming to analyze their ability to withstand radiation, with a specific focus on real-time material assessment and advanced analysis techniques to unravel the underlying mechanisms that influence material behavior under irradiation. The project's lead, Lee, will guide Lang's progress and collaborate with the department's existing faculty mentoring groups.

“This award is a great opportunity to expand the nuclear engineering research and education opportunities at UNM. It is an honor UNM was selected for the award,” Lang said.