Nuclear Science User Facilities 30 The NSUF: A Model for Collaboration The Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF) and its partner facilities represent a prototype laboratory that utilizes a distributed partnership, with each facility bringing exceptional capabilities to the relationship including reactors, beamlines, state-of-the-art instruments, hot cells, and equally important, expertise. These capabilities and people together create a nationwide infrastructure that allows the best ideas to be tested using the most advanced capabilities. Through the NSUF, researchers and their collaborators are building on current knowledge to better understand the complex behavior of materials and fuels in a nuclear reactor. The NSUF’s partnership program in 2016 included eight universities, one research and education consortium, three national laboratories, and one industry partner.The avenues opened through these partnerships facilitate cooperative research across the country, matching people with capabilities and students with mentors. The NSUF in 2016 included Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the following institutions: • Argonne National Laboratory • Center for Advanced Energy Studies (a research and education consortium between Boise State University, INL, Idaho State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming) • Illinois Institute ofTechnology • Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology • North Carolina State University • Oak Ridge National Laboratory • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory • Purdue University • University of California, Berkeley • University of Michigan • University of Nevada – LasVegas • University of Wisconsin • Westinghouse Materials Center of Excellence. This report contains details on new capabilities brought into the NSUF in 2016, the evidence of the increasing research facilitated by the NSUF, and new tools and activities to propel nuclear research and development forward to meet energy reliability and security needs. Learn about the NSUF Nuclear Fuels and Materials Library and the Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Database, and how the robust NSUF website continues to evolve to support new tools. Read about how the NSUF supports U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) missions through efforts like the 2016 NSUF Ion Beam Options Workshop, which led to a prioritization of ion beam facilities according to their ability to support U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) missions. NSUF Research Supports DOE-NE Missions As referenced in the 2010 DOE Nuclear Energy Research and Development Roadmap, DOE-NE organizes its research and PROGRAM OVERVIEW development activities based on four main objectives that address challenges to expanding the use of nuclear power: • Develop technologies and other solutions that can improve the reli- ability, sustain the safety, and extend the life of current reactors. • Develop improvements in the affordability of new reactors to enable nuclear energy to help meet the administration’s energy security and climate change goals. • Develop sustainable nuclear fuel cycles. • Understand and minimize the risks of nuclear proliferation and terrorism. The NSUF research consortium addresses the first three of these objectives.The NSUF does not conduct classified work and all NSUF work is non-proprietary and intended for open literature publication, so applications to the NSUF research consortium have addressed only the first three of these objectives. Most of the research contained in this report looks at either understanding the mechanisms of radiation damage to materials and fuels or looks at materials and fuels for the next generation of reactors. Take time to read through this report and familiarize yourself with the many opportunities and resources offered by the NSUF. For specific information on DOE missions, go to http://www. energy.gov/ne/mission. To learn more about proposing a research project, visit the NSUF website: http://nsuf.inl.gov.