Dr. Arthur Situm
B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Tier 2 CRC SMR Safety and Licensing
Energy Systems Engineering
University of Regina
Assistant Professor at the University of Regina within the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Energy Systems Engineering program. Prof. Situm’s group is investigating challenges surrounding the corrosion or corrosiveness of nuclear fuel proposed for use in various SMR designs in order to improve the safety and support the licensing of these SMR designs.
Graduate Students
Zoe Hoyda
Ph.D. Student
Zoe Hoyda is a graduate student studying policy pertaining to GenIV reactors as well as the Raman spectroscopy (experimental and simulated) of molten salts.
Daniel Slogoski
M.A.Sc. Student
Daniel Slogoski is investigating additive manufacturing techniques for metal alloys used in nuclear environments, focusing on corrosion analysis of Inconel 718 and stainless steel 316L in molten salts, and copper in deep geological repository conditions.
Sukhwinder Singh
P.Eng., PMP, LSSGB
M.A.Sc. Student
Sukhwinder Singh is conducting research on Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) claddings within existing nuclear reactor environments and SMRs, with a particular emphasis on exploring different coatings to enhance the life of Zircaloy fuel claddings under extreme temperature conditions.
Brett C. Pikkert
M.A.Sc. Student
Brett’s research is focused on the alterations in corrosion rate of the silicon carbide layer of TRISO nuclear fuel particles within a simulated Canadian deep geological repository environment as a result of groundwater undergoing radiolysis due to exposure to radiation.
Matthew Blinkhorn
M.A.Sc Student , Engineer-In-Training (Saskatchewan)
Matt is working to investigate the feasibility of nuclear reactor
deployment at various regions across the province based on simulations of current and future power requirements.
Elham Ali
M.A.Sc Student
Energy Systems Engineering
Elham’s research focuses on characterizing the corrosion of different fuel-cladding compositions for small modular reactors (SMRs) using distinct experimental techniques, such as neutron reflectometry. Corrosion of the various claddings is then studied under reactor conditions to better simulate in situ performance.
Research Staff
Dr. A. A. Banerjee
M.Phil., Ph.D.
Research Associate
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
University of Regina
Dr. Banerjee is exploring various waste forms for Small Modular Reactors (SMR) for safe storage of active waste. Her expertise is in the encapsulation of waste forms to withstand degradation over a period of time.
Elijah Adesuji, PhD
B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Research Associate
SMR Safety and Licensing
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
University of Regina
Dr. Elijah is investigating the impact of different deep geological repository (DGR) environments on damaged polymer coated carbon steel via the use of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS).
Love Preet
M.Sc.
Research Assistant
Love’s research involves conducting simulation studies on spent fuel from a once-through fuel cycle, evaluating its compatibility with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s (NWMO) Deep Geological Repository (DGR) safety case and preliminary waste acceptance criteria.
Undergraduate Students
Michael Palsich
B.A.Sc. Student
Michael Palsich is testing how well different coatings protect against corrosion of zirconium alloy when exposed to high temperature steam. This will contribute to the development of accident-tolerant fuel.
Grace Kalu-Umeh
B.A.Sc. Student
Grace is investigating the electrochemical behavior of silicon carbide (SiC) in simulated deep geological repository environments, focusing on how fission products diffuse through SiC barriers in TRISO fuel and impact its long-term integrity for Gen IV SMRs.
Jad De-Booq
B.A.Sc. Student
Jad is currently investigating the use of Zr alloy spent fuel in containing other waste-forms. Challenges arise from densifying Zr metal around waste forms and determining the precise pressures to compact the sample.
