Chemical engineers bring a unique science and engineering perspective for solutions to environmental challenges. This country’s largest environmental liability is the toxic waste resulting from decades of nuclear weapons production. This legacy includes some of the world’s most dangerous radioactive wastes, spent nuclear fuel, excess plutonium and uranium, and thousands of contaminated facilities including soil and ground water. Dr. Monica Regalbuto will discuss the unique challenges of legacy nuclear waste cleanup, and will illustrate how Chemical Engineers are contributing to the growing success of this mission.

Dr. Monica Regalbuto is a leader in the development of nuclear fuel cycle technologies, combining her knowledge in separations, computer simulations, and proliferation risk reduction. She has over 30 years of experience in radio-isotope processing, recovery and immobilization for environmental remediation, resource conservation and medical applications.

Dr. Regalbuto is a member of (1) the Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board at the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and (2) the Standing Advisory Group on Nuclear Energy (SAGNE) at the IAEA which advises the Director General.

Dr. Regalbuto has served in multiple national leadership roles. In 2015, she was appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate as Assistant Secretary for the Office of Environmental Management for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). In this capacity, she was responsible for managing the environmental cleanup resulting from weapons production as well as special nuclear materials. As the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fuel Cycle Technologies with DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy, Dr. Regalbuto managed the nation’s research and development fuel cycle portfolio. At Argonne National Laboratory, Dr. Regalbuto served as the head of the Process Chemistry and Engineering Department in the Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division.

She is an INL and American Nuclear Society fellow and has authored multiple journal articles, reports, and presentations and holds six patents.

Dr. Regalbuto is the recipient of the 2023 ND Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award.

Sponsored by Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering