Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) has welcomed its first cohort of doctoral students from the United Kingdom (UK) as part of a new, multi-year international training collaboration, marking a significant step forward in global nuclear talent development.
(Six PhD students from the UK travelled to Canada for two weeks of experiential learning at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and McMaster University as part of the UK SATURN CDT program)
The visit represents the inaugural cohort under a five-year agreement between CNL and the University of Manchester-led United Kingdom Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Skills And Training Underpinning a Renaissance in Nuclear (SATURN).
The SATURN CDT program is an initiative between seven UK universities designed to equip the next generation of nuclear experts with hands-on, real-world experience. The program, facilitated by CNL staff as an offering of the soon-to-be accessible Canadian Nuclear Learning Centre (CNLC), will welcome up to two cohorts annually to participate in immersive training experiences in Canada.
“This collaboration is about more than a single visit,” says Dr. Gina Strati, Director of Academic Partnerships at CNL. “It’s the launch of a sustained international partnership that positions CNL as a global hub for nuclear learning and innovation.”
The collaboration emerged from a strategic alignment between the SATURN CDT program and CNL’s unique capabilities as Canada’s national nuclear laboratory.
Funded by the UKEPSRC, the SATURN CDT requires its doctoral candidates to engage in meaningful, real-world training opportunities beyond the classroom. While students typically select from a range of international destinations, this marks the first time Canada has been chosen as a partner of choice.
“International visits such as this give our students valuable opportunities to build professional networks within their fields, broaden their perspectives, and gain first-hand experience of specialist facilities and capabilities that complement those available in the UK,” said Professor Maulik Patel of the University of Liverpool, who accompanied the students on the visit. “That’s why opportunities like these are key.”
(Maulik Patel pictured touring through one of CNL’s Fuel Fabrication Laboratories)
Through expanded academic partnerships, CNL is uniquely positioned to deliver structured, high-impact training programs that bridge theory and practice. Some of these programs will also be offered at university campuses in the future, with information available through the Canadian Nuclear Learning Centre website launching this fall.
While SATURN is focused on developing the skills and expertise needed to support the UK’s growing nuclear sector, it recognizes that many countries are expanding their nuclear capacity as part of their transition to net zero by increasing the contribution of nuclear energy within their low-carbon energy mix. By engaging with leading international organizations and research facilities, the program enables students to compare different regulatory frameworks, reactor technologies, fuel cycles, and approaches to nuclear science and engineering. This international perspective equips graduates with the knowledge and networks needed to help strengthen the UK’s nuclear capability while learning from the experiences of other nations pursuing similar ambitions.
CNL’s role in the program represents a major North American training pillar. During their time in Canada, students gain insight into Canadian nuclear technologies, including CANDU® reactors, emerging small and micro modular reactors (SMRs/MMRs), large hot-cells, hybrid energy systems, environmental monitoring, space radiation effects, and long-term waste management strategies.
The cohort’s training experience extends beyond Chalk River, with additional programming delivered in collaboration with McMaster University, further broadening the academic and practical exposure.
(Students touring through the Fuel and Material Cells facility at Chalk River Laboratories)
“There’s this idea that research happens in universities, but being here at Chalk River Laboratories is proof that it definitely also happens in industry,” says University of Sheffield PhD student, Rebecca Bates.
Heading into her third year of doctoral studies, Bates is researching how to recycle and repurpose radioactive concrete and steel collected during the power plant decommissioning process that otherwise would have gone on to become nuclear waste. The goal is to reduce the carbon emissions that come with producing these materials.
Naturally, learning about CNL’s decommissioning and waste management processes was particularly interesting and relevant to her, she says.
(Lucy Rudd pictured participating in the ‘approach to criticality’ demonstration facilitated inside Chalk River Laboratories’ ZED-2 research reactor)
At the same time, the partnership deepens ties with leading academic institutions in the UK and Europe, supporting ongoing international collaboration.
“This program demonstrates that CNL is not only advancing research, but we’re also helping to train and inspire the next generation of nuclear leaders,” says Strati.
The initiative also highlights CNL’s ability to deliver structured, programmatic training at a high level, an important dimension of work under the Academic Partnership Program.
For the students, the experience offers a glimpse into the real-world impact of their studies. For CNL, it’s an opportunity to inspire and be inspired in return. As the program grows in the years ahead, these connections formed in labs, classrooms, and conversations will carry forward, linking Chalk River Laboratories to a global network of future nuclear leaders.
