Stony Brook Gets $945,000 for Nuclear Training

The State University of New York at Stony Brook received $945,000 to prepare New York residents for careers in the nuclear energy sector. This grant is part of a $10 million statewide allocation approved by the New York Power Authority board.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the funding on September 29. The award supports the state’s goal of expanding its nuclear energy capacity to more than 8 gigawatts. The money will cover hands-on technical training, support services, and career pathways for thousands of participants across six programs.

Stony Brook’s specific program focuses on three technical tracks: nuclear-aligned welding, HVAC/R certification, and radiation work. The university will partner with Suffolk County Community College and Brookhaven National Laboratory to deliver this training. This collaboration brings together an R1 university, a community college, and a national laboratory within a 30-mile radius on Long Island.

The radiation work component is overseen by the SBU Post-Irradiation Examination And Research Lab, or PEARL. Faculty members Lance Snead and David Sprouster, along with Radiation Safety expert Michelle Kehoe, will lead the practicum. The PEARL lab will teach radiation safety, instrumentation, and personal protective equipment to 36 students, half of whom are enrolled at Stony Brook.

Four of those students will earn fully paid summer internships at Brookhaven National Laboratory. They will shadow professionals in the Radiological Control Division to gain field experience. This practical application allows students to work alongside experienced professionals in a live national laboratory environment.

Derek O’Connor, senior manager for workforce development at Stony Brook, noted that the region’s unique cluster of educational and research institutions is essential for creating effective workforce programming. Aleida Perez, a manager at Brookhaven National Laboratory, said these internships are essential for preparing the skilled workforce the nation will need.

This award follows a $4 million congressionally directed spending award secured earlier this year by the PEARL lab for energy security research. The NYPA has committed $40 million to build New York’s advanced nuclear workforce over the past year. Other awardees in the $10 million pool include Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Jamestown Community College.