Jeremy T Busby

Bio

Jeremy Busby is the Associate Laboratory Director for the Isotope Science and Engineering Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Dr. Busby oversees ISED's scientists, engineers, technicians and other talented experts charged with producing unique isotopes for various uses; developing enrichment technology; and operating ORNL’s unique nuclear facilities. The broad science portfolio for ISED includes making difficult-to-produce materials, such as actinium-225 for use in potential treatments for aggressive forms of cancer and plutonium-238 to power NASA’s deep space missions.

Prior to becoming ALD for ISED in April 2023, Dr. Busby was ALD for the Fusion and Fission Energy and Science Directorate, leading scientists and engineers who are tackling such challenges as extending operations of the current US nuclear reactor fleet; investigating economical and flexible advanced reactor systems; and making fusion energy a viable power source.

Dr. Busby joined ORNL in 2004 and has served in several leadership roles at the laboratory, including director of the Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division. His research is focused on materials performance and development of materials for nuclear reactor applications. While at ORNL, Dr. Busby has participated in materials research efforts for space reactors, fusion machines, advanced fast reactors, and light water reactors. His diverse research aims to enable the development of operating criteria for structural materials in a variety of adverse environments that will allow for design and operation of safe, reliable, and cost-effective nuclear systems.

Dr. Busby was the lead for the Materials Aging and Degradation Pathway for the DOE–Office of Nuclear Energy Light Water Reactor Sustainability Research and Development program from 2009 to 2015. He also led the Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies Materials Cross-cut effort, in addition to participating in several nuclear industry-sponsored research tasks. As principal investigator for the DOE Office of Science ITER Program, he led an investigation into the feasibility of utilizing an innovative cast austenitic stainless steel for the first wall structure of the international ITER project. 

In 2010, Dr. Busby received the Presidential Early Career Award for Science and Engineering, for “excellence in research leading to the development of high performance cast stainless steels, a critical part of the U.S. contributions to ITER project, and for his mentoring of students both as an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Michigan and at ORNL.”

In 2011, he was awarded a Secretary of Energy Achievement Award for contributions to DOE’s response to Fukushima. The American Nuclear Society presented Dr. Busby with the Landis Young Member Achievement award in 2006, and in 2007 he received the ORNL Early Career Award for Engineering Accomplishment for his leadership in the cast stainless steel effort.

Dr. Busby is an adjunct assistant professor of nuclear engineering and radiological sciences at the University of Michigan and has developed and taught a graduate-level course in materials degradation and performance for fission and fusion reactors. He also is heavily involved in the leadership of many professional society activities.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Kansas State University and master’s and doctoral degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of Michigan.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2000
• Master of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 1998
• Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering: Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, Cum Laude, 1995

Research Interests:

• Radiation-induced degradation in nuclear structural materials, radiation-induced segregation, embrittlement, radiation-induced phase transformations, stress corrosion cracking, development of advanced reactor materials, advanced characterization techniques, small specimen testing, and development of novel testing methods.

Research Experience:

• Technical Lead and Program Manager for Materials Aging and Degradation Pathway for Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program 
  - Manage and lead national $10M+/year research effort
  - Coordinate research at 5 US national laboratories and12 US universities
  - Support and develop multinational collaborations
  - Principal Investigator on three research tasks
• Technical Lead (national) for DOE-NE Reactor Materials Cross-Cut
  - Manage and lead national coordination of nuclear material programs
  - Develop and support annual open funding opportunity and call for proposals
  - Principal Investigator on two research tasks
• Technical Lead and Program Manager (national) for AFCI/ARC Advanced Structural Materials Program 
  - Manage and lead national $3M+/year research effort
  - Coordinate research at 3 US national laboratories and 2 US universities
  - Principal Investigator on three research tasks
• Technical Lead and Program Manager for US-ITER Cast Stainless Steel Development Program (First-Wall)
• Principal Investigator for Activated Corrosion Product Modeling for US-ITER Program (Cooling System)
• Reactor Materials Lead for NASA-DOE Space-Fission Power System Program

Professional Activities and Service:

• Dean of Modeling, Experiment and Validation (MeV) Summer School
• Chair of 2012 MeV Summer School on Nuclear Materials
• American Nuclear Society.
• ANS Materials Science and Technology Division Executive Committee
• ANS Materials Science and Technology Division Chair
• ANS Materials Science and Technology Division Vice Chair
• ANS Materials Science and Technology Division Secretary/Treasurer
• ANS Accelerator Applications Division Executive Committee
• The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society
• TMS Nuclear Materials Executive Committee
• Assistant Technical Program Chair for 13th International Symposium on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems-Water Reactors
• Technical Program Chair for 14th International Symposium on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems-Water Reactors
• General Program Chair for 15th International Symposium on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems-Water Reactors
• ASTM Editorial Board Member for 23rd ASTM Radiation Effects on Materials Conference
• Co-Chair for 22nd ASTM Radiation Effects on Materials Conference
• Co-Chair for 23rd ASTM Radiation Effects on Materials Conference
• Chair for 24th ASTM Radiation Effects on Materials Conference
• Co-organizer for TMS 2010 Annual Meeting Special Session: Nuclear Energy Policies and Processes
• Co-organizer for Microscopy and Microanalysis 2010 Symposium on “Structural and Chemical Analysis of Materials in the Nuclear Power Industry
• International Scientific Program Committee for IAEA International Conference on Fast Reactors and Closed Fuel Cycle
• International Scientific Program Committee for Joint IAEA-EC Topical meeting on Development of New Structural Materials for Advanced Fission and Fusion Reactor Systems
• Member of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD-NEA) Expert Group on Innovative Structural Materials

Teaching and Mentoring:

• Adjunct Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan:
  - Developed and co-taught graduate level course (NERS 522: Radiation Materials Science II: Mechanical and Environmental Effects of Irradiation) in Winter 2009, Winter 2011, and Winter 2013 Terms:
  - Served on PhD committee for Kale Stephenson (2011 to present)
  - Provided financial support and advice for 4 graduate students
• Recent mentoring:
  - University of Michigan: 1 undergraduate student, 5 graduate students and 1 postdoctoral researcher
  - University of Wisconsin: 2 graduate students and 1 post-doctoral researcher
  - University of Illinois: 1 graduate student
  - Ohio State University: 1 undergraduate student
  - Idaho State University: I graduate student
  - Penn State University: 1 graduate student and 1 post-doctoral researcher
  - University of Tennessee: 1 undergraduate student
  - University of California-Berkley: 2 graduate student and 1 post-doctoral researcher
• Assistant Scout Master: Boy Scouts, Troop 555, Knoxville TN (2011 to present)
• Technical Mentor: Hardin Valley Academy FIRST Robotics team (2014 to present)

Awards

Presidential Early Career Award for Science and Engineering, 2010,  "For excellence in research leading to the development of high performance cast stainless steels, a critical part of the U.S. Contributions to ITER project, and for mentoring of students both as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan and at ORNL.”

Secretary of Energy Achievement Award, 2011, “For contributions to DOE's response to the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan on March 11.”

ORNL Early Career Award for Engineering Accomplishment, 2007, "For excellence in engineering materials research and development of highperformance cast stainless steels for critical application in ITER.”

ORNL Significant Event Award, 2007, "For achievement in development of improved cast stainless steels.”

ANS Landis Young Member Achievement Award, 2006, "For developing post-irradiation annealing as a recognized method for understanding IASCC and other irradiation-induced degradation processes.”

Literary Award, ANS Materials Science and Technology Division, 2002.

Publications