New agreement emphasizes innovative research collaboration and development of Canada’s nuclear talent pipeline
World-class science happens when talented people, leading-edge infrastructure and ambitious ideas come together. It’s why Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), alongside Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), established the Academic Partnership Program at Canada’s national nuclear laboratory in 2023 to strengthen connections between Canada’s national nuclear research capabilities and the broader academic research community. A few years later, the program is welcoming its eleventh member: the University of Alberta.
The new partnership brings together the scientific expertise of leading Canadian research organizations alongside the country’s unique nuclear research infrastructure to accelerate innovation in areas that matter to Canadians, including health, safety and security, energy, and environmental stewardship.
It comes at an important time for Canada’s nuclear sector as Alberta is exploring nuclear deployment to support economic growth, energy security and emissions reduction. And research collaborations are playing an increasingly critical role in accelerating innovation and developing the skilled workforce needed to deliver on these ambitions.
CNL and the University of Alberta will explore opportunities to collaborate on research that supports the advancement of Canada’s recently released Nuclear Energy Strategy. Areas of potential focus include advanced reactor technologies, medical isotope production, radioactive waste management, materials science, and fusion-related research.
The University of Alberta brings significant expertise in energy systems, engineering, health sciences and advanced materials research, creating new opportunities to combine complementary strengths with CNL’s world-class facilities, scientific capabilities and more than 75 years of nuclear research experience.
For AECL, the partnership will help connect Canada’s nuclear research capabilities with academic expertise and create new opportunities for collaboration.
“By bringing together researchers, expertise, and specialized infrastructure, we can advance nuclear science and technology in ways that deliver real benefits for Canadians,” says Dr. Amy Gottschling, Vice-President of Science, Technology and Commercial Oversight at AECL. For Alberta, this partnership creates new opportunities for researchers and students to connect with Canada’s broader nuclear research ecosystem, collaborate on emerging areas of nuclear science and technology, and build expertise that will support the sector’s future.”
Just as importantly, the partnership will help build the next generation of highly skilled scientists, engineers and innovators.
“We are excited about the opportunities it creates for students and researchers to gain hands-on experience and contribute directly to Canada’s growing nuclear sector,” says Dr. Gina Strati, Director of CNL’s Academic Partnership Program. “CNL has a long history of serving as a training ground for research scientists, and as Canada looks to develop new nuclear technologies and build new nuclear infrastructure, we need a strong talent pipeline to make it happen.”
University of Alberta students will have opportunities to participate in experiential learning, internships and research collaborations at Canada’s national nuclear laboratory in Chalk River. These experiences will provide students and early-career researchers with direct access to specialized facilities and expertise while helping prepare them for careers supporting Canada’s expanding clean-energy and innovation economy.
“Joining Canadian Nuclear Laboratories’ Academic Partnership Program is an exciting step forward for the University of Alberta,” shares Dr. Aminah Robinson Fayek, Vice-President (Research), University of Alberta. “Uniting our research strengths with national nuclear infrastructure allows us to prepare future industry leaders through hands-on experience while delivering real-world solutions in nuclear energy, health and environmental sustainability.”
CNL’s university partners have unique opportunities to contribute to its research objectives through collaboration and sharing of expertise and infrastructure. To date, the Academic Partnership Program has engaged more than 7,000 students from across Canada. Among its highlights is a competitive 16-week experiential learning program designed to inspire and prepare future leaders in nuclear science and engineering. The program also supports a wide range of student engagement opportunities, including mentorship programs, guest lectures, conferences, panel discussions, graduate and undergraduate research poster sessions, capstone projects and design challenges. Through these activities, CNL researchers and subject matter experts share their knowledge and practical experience, helping students better understand the opportunities and impact of careers in nuclear science and technology.
