Dr. Steven L. Hayes has been named a Distinguished Former Student by the Department of Nuclear Engineering. |
Image: David Hayes
Dr. Steven L. Hayes was recently named the Department of Nuclear Engineering’s Distinguished Former Student, an annual award given to former students who embody Texas A&M University’s core values in their research and career. He is being recognized for his distinguished career with national laboratories, his expertise and leadership in nuclear fuels and materials, navigating highly complex and challenging situations, strong leadership skills and selfless dedication.
Hayes is director of the Nuclear Fuels and Materials Division and a fellow of the Nuclear Science and Technology Directorate at Idaho National Laboratory. He has more than 25 years of increasing leadership responsibilities in developing, testing and modeling nuclear fuels, including metallic oxide and nitride fuels for liquid metal fast reactors, high-density dispersion fuels for research reactors and advanced fuels for light water reactors.
Hayes, a longtime member of the American Nuclear Society, received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M. Attending Texas A&M was the obvious choice because he loved science, especially nuclear physics.
“I have to admit, I didn’t really know what nuclear engineering was when I enrolled, but I assumed it was nuclear physics without the other stuff,” said Hayes. “That proved to be wrong, but I learned to love it anyway.”
Moving into graduate studies, Hayes loved the opportunity to focus exclusively on the technical aspects of the field and develop a specialization, which for him was nuclear fuels. “Performing research in a university setting is an extraordinary opportunity that can’t be matched anywhere else,” said Hayes.
His advice for current students is to get engaged in research as soon as possible, even if you’re an undergraduate.
“It’s an experience you will never regret,” said Hayes. “At the graduate level, many engineering programs are beginning to graduate more master’s degrees without requiring research and a thesis – don’t do it. Even if you don’t plan to do research as a professional career, the experience gained by doing a thesis will serve you well in any capacity.”
Hayes is the author or co-author of many publications related to nuclear fuel performance, fuel modeling and fuel development/qualification. He has been awarded a U.S. patent for an innovative nuclear fuel design enabling the enhanced destruction of plutonium.
Hayes is director of the Nuclear Fuels and Materials Division and a fellow of the Nuclear Science and Technology Directorate at Idaho National Laboratory. He has more than 25 years of increasing leadership responsibilities in developing, testing and modeling nuclear fuels, including metallic oxide and nitride fuels for liquid metal fast reactors, high-density dispersion fuels for research reactors and advanced fuels for light water reactors.
Hayes, a longtime member of the American Nuclear Society, received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M. Attending Texas A&M was the obvious choice because he loved science, especially nuclear physics.
“I have to admit, I didn’t really know what nuclear engineering was when I enrolled, but I assumed it was nuclear physics without the other stuff,” said Hayes. “That proved to be wrong, but I learned to love it anyway.”
Moving into graduate studies, Hayes loved the opportunity to focus exclusively on the technical aspects of the field and develop a specialization, which for him was nuclear fuels. “Performing research in a university setting is an extraordinary opportunity that can’t be matched anywhere else,” said Hayes.
His advice for current students is to get engaged in research as soon as possible, even if you’re an undergraduate.
“It’s an experience you will never regret,” said Hayes. “At the graduate level, many engineering programs are beginning to graduate more master’s degrees without requiring research and a thesis – don’t do it. Even if you don’t plan to do research as a professional career, the experience gained by doing a thesis will serve you well in any capacity.”
Hayes is the author or co-author of many publications related to nuclear fuel performance, fuel modeling and fuel development/qualification. He has been awarded a U.S. patent for an innovative nuclear fuel design enabling the enhanced destruction of plutonium.