Stony Brook University receives $945,000 for nuclear workforce training

Stony Brook University has been awarded $945,000 to provide technical training for workers entering the nuclear energy industry. This grant is one of six awarded statewide under a $10 million initiative funded by the New York Power Authority (NYPA). Governor Kathy Hochul announced the distribution of these funds on September 29, following approval by the NYPA Board of Trustees.

The program aims to align workforce skills with New York's goal of increasing its reliable, emissions-free nuclear energy capacity to more than 8 gigawatts. The state plans to use this funding to equip thousands of participants with hands-on technical training and career pathways. Governor Hochul stated that advanced nuclear is central to her strategy for maintaining low energy costs and keeping the lights on for New Yorkers.

Stony Brook’s specific award supports training in three distinct career tracks: nuclear-aligned welding, HVAC/R certification, and radiation work. The university will partner with Suffolk County Community College and Brookhaven National Laboratory to implement this three-track initiative. This collaboration leverages the proximity of an R1 university, a community college, and a national laboratory, all located within a 30-mile radius on Long Island.

A key component of the radiation work pathway involves the SBU Post-Irradiation Examination And Research Lab, or PEARL. Led by faculty members Lance Snead and David Sprouster, along with Michelle Kehoe from Radiation Safety, the lab will oversee the practicum. PEARL will teach radiation safety, instrumentation, and Personal Protective Equipment usage to 36 students, half of whom will be enrolled at Stony Brook.

Upon completing the training, four students will be selected for fully paid summer internships at Brookhaven National Laboratory. These interns will shadow professionals in the Radiological Control Division to gain fieldwork experience. Aleida Perez, manager of Workforce Development and Science Education at Brookhaven National Laboratory, noted that these opportunities allow students to apply classroom learning in a working national laboratory environment.

Mónica Bugallo, Stony Brook’s interim vice president for research and innovation, emphasized that the program combines faculty expertise with workforce development professionals. She described the initiative as a practical approach to energy research that prepares the workforce needed for New York’s clean energy future. The university’s training facility features state-of-the-art infrastructure designed for immersive, hands-on learning.

The $10 million in state-wide awards is drawn from a larger $40 million commitment by the NYPA to build New York’s advanced nuclear workforce. This action supports the NextGen Nuclear New York program, which aims to develop a skilled, in-state workforce through coordinated education and training. Other recipients of the funding include Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Jamestown Community College, and the Manufacturers Talent Institute.