At the 2026 GeekWire Awards, PNNL earned Innovation of the Year for decades of research on vitrification—transforming radioactive tank waste from the Hanford Site into stable glass for long-term storage. Lab fellow John Vienna brought a sample of the simulated green glass onstage, offering a tangible look at a cleanup effort designed to protect future generations. Find out how science, engineering, and public engagement came together in this award-winning achievement.
Three Decades of Building Nuclear Security Leaders
For 30 years, a PNNL–administered fellowship has helped launch careers in nuclear security and national defense, connecting more than 850 early-career professionals with hands-on experience in nonproliferation, export controls, and emerging threats. The program’s lasting impact can even be seen within families who followed the same path into public service. Discover the program's impact.
AI Helps Address Nuclear Waste Challenge
PNNL scientists have used the power of AI to analyze and predict the conversion of liquid radioactive waste into solid glass waste forms for long-term storage. They developed and validated customized "recipes" that maximize how much waste can be incorporated into the glass, which could reduce the number of canisters needed—lowering costs and shortening cleanup timelines for one of the nation’s most challenging environmental missions. Learn how AI is helping reshape the future of nuclear waste cleanup.
From Legacy Waste to Cancer Care
An interagency team led by DOE and the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is recovering radium-226 from legacy radioactive waste to strengthen the U.S. supply of medical isotopes used in cancer treatment. The effort highlights how nuclear science and national laboratory expertise can turn obsolete materials into a strategic health resource. Discover how old waste is finding new purpose.
A Clearer View Underground
When a key monitoring system used in environmental cleanup lost its commercial supplier, PNNL researchers built a faster, next-generation replacement. The new electrical resistivity tomography system creates near real-time images of underground conditions, helping scientists track contamination and guide cleanup decisions more effectively. Explore how the team turned a technology gap into a new tool for environmental monitoring.
Chemist Honored for Environmental Cleanup Research
PNNL chemist Sarah Saslow has received the American Chemical Society’s 2026 Rising Star Award for research that advances environmental cleanup, including studies of legacy nuclear waste and underground contamination. The recognition highlights her growing role in tackling complex cleanup challenges with chemistry-based approaches. Discover how her work could shape future remediation efforts.
Building the Next Generation of Nuclear Security Leaders
A new partnership between the National Nuclear Security Administration Graduate Fellowship Program and the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management aims to expand career pathways for students interested in nuclear security and nonproliferation. The collaboration connects emerging professionals with mentoring, training, and a global network focused on the safe stewardship of nuclear materials. Learn how this program is shaping future leaders.
PNNL Team Accredited for Readiness
A PNNL team earned national accreditation for a radiological response training workshop that helps law enforcement and emergency personnel prepare for incidents involving radioactive materials. The recognition strengthens a program developed with the DOE's Office of Radiological Security and could expand future training opportunities nationwide. Learn how accredited training supports public safety and emergency preparedness.
From Fusion Materials to Smarter Traffic: PNNL at ARPA-E
PNNL researchers brought emerging energy technologies to the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit, highlighting advances in fusion materials, AI-enabled transportation systems, and critical mineral recovery. The event connected scientists with industry and investment partners working to move promising ideas toward real-world deployment. Explore how these collaborations could shape future energy systems.
PNNL has named three senior leaders to guide research, operations, and workforce strategy as PNNL expands its work in energy, environmental science, national security, and nuclear energy innovation. The appointments reflect a long-term succession effort and a focus on cross-disciplinary collaboration. Discover how these leaders will help shape PNNL’s next chapter.
Shaping PNNL’s Science and National Security Agenda
PNNL has appointed new senior leaders to help guide its science and national security strategy. The expanded leadership team will support research across physical, computational, and biological sciences, including nuclear security and nonproliferation efforts aligned with the DOE mission. Learn more about the leaders guiding PNNL’s science and security mission.
Connecting the Nation's Key Players on Risk Management
In late April, approximately 150 risk managers, analysts, and decision-makers from across the national security enterprise gathered at PNNL for the NNSA Spring 2026 Risk Summit. The three-day event focused on building a shared understanding of qualitative risk analysis and best practices for informing enterprise decisions. Participants collaborated on approaches to manage risk across diverse domains, including nuclear safety, nuclear materials, energy and infrastructure resilience, and cybersecurity—advancing next-generation approaches to enterprise risk management.
Rethinking Cybersecurity for Nuclear Detection
As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, researchers at PNNL are developing a "zero trust" approach to protect systems used to detect chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. The work adapts federal cybersecurity guidance for specialized devices that cannot rely on traditional defenses alone. Explore how this framework could strengthen national security and modernize critical protections.
See the current nuclear-related career opportunities across PNNL research and operations missions on the Careers website and search for “nuclear.” Join our Talent Community and upload your resume to receive updates on future job postings. Current opportunities include:
PNNL's multidisciplinary expertise in nuclear science provides solutions to some of the world’s most complex environmental, radiological, and national security challenges.
Nuclear@PNNL gives readers a firsthand look at PNNL's focus on nuclear materials behavior, chemistry, forensics, and processing to advance nuclear energy, resolve legacy waste, and support national security. Each issue highlights the expertise of our researchers, their contributions to the nuclear mission space, and our state-of-the-art research facilities where discoveries and advancements are made.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory draws on its distinguishing strengths in chemistry, Earth sciences, biology and data science to advance scientific knowledge and address challenges in energy resiliency and national security. Founded in 1965, PNNL is operated by Battelle and supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information about PNNL, visit PNNL's News Center. Follow us onX, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
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