Nuclear Engineering Faculty
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Darryl Butt has been the Dean of the College of Mines and Earth Sciences since 2016. Prior to joining the University of Utah he was a Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Boise State University. He was with Boise State for eleven years serving as Department Chair between 2008 and 2013, and as an Associate Director of the Center for Advanced Energy Studies from 2007 to 2016. Dr. Butt received his PhD in Materials Science from Penn State University in 1991. He has held various academic, research and leadership positions with Ceramatec, Inc., A. P. Green Industries, the University of Florida, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. The author or co-author of approximately 220 publications, his research and interests are diverse including development of sensors and materials for extreme environments and energy applications, membrane technologies for gas separation and syngas production, technical issues associated with nuclear non-proliferation and international security, chemical and engineering solutions to carbon dioxide emissions including early work on sequestration, and materials issues associated with art and cultural heritage. Dr. Butt is a Fellow and member of the American Ceramic Society, and is a member of the Materials Research Society, and the American Association for Engineering Education. He also serves as chair of the American Ceramic Society Committee on Publications, as a Division Officer, and as an Associate Editor of J. Am. Ceram. Soc.
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Dr. Edward Cazalas is an Assistant Professor in the Nuclear Engineering Program within the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Utah. His research group (CAZ-RAD) works to understand the physics and engineering of nuclear and radiation interactions, tools, and instruments for radiation detector development, advancement of the field of dosimetry, and investigation of radiation effects. This work goes into application by supporting the fields of nuclear engineering, radiation and nuclear physics, nuclear security, and radiation damage and hardness effects in electronics.
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Dr. Ted Goodell has a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from The University of Utah and a senior reactor operator license from The Nuclear Regulatory Commission. His Ph.D. research included image analysis of uranium morphology to determine chemical processing routes used to produce the uranium. He also did research in cybersecurity for nuclear reactor control systems by building a digital twin of The University of Utah's reactor. In his free time, he likes to hike and camp in Utah's national parks and the Uinta Mountains.
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Dr. Tara Mastren is an associate professor of nuclear engineering. Her teaching and research interests are in nuclear medicine, which targets radiotherapy for the treatment of cancer and Alzheimer’s, lanthanide and actinide chemistry, and isotope production. Dr. Mastren tells all of her students, “if you want to go into research science, get as much lab experience as possible.”
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Before joining the University of Utah, Dr. Supathorn Phongikaroon led Virginia Commonwealth University's Nuclear Engineering Program. Under his direction, the program has soared to a top 20 national ranking in U.S. News & World Report. Dr. Phongikaroon's vision has fostered strong industry ties, expanded online education, and prioritized career preparation for over 400 students. As an Engineering Foundation Professor, his research has transformed nuclear fuel separation and safeguards. Breakthroughs in pyroprocessing, advanced separations, and laser spectroscopy have established VCU as a leader in molten salt radiochemistry and laser spectroscopy. Dr. Phongikaroon's work has garnered over $6 million in funding, resulting in 50+ peer-reviewed publications and 100+ presentations. His dedication to education has shaped 25+ courses, connecting fundamental concepts to real-world applications. Dr. Phongikaroon has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from University of Maryland, College Park in 2001 and a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering (Chemical Engineering Secondary Field) from the same institution in 1997.
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Dr. Powell's research is focused on solving critical energy problems at a systems level. My research group designs, simulates, automates, and optimizes complex energy systems with a focus on maintaining reliability and efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. We work on solar energy, nuclear energy, hydrogen, industrial energy systems, buildings, smart grid issues, and hybrid systems.
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Dr. Simpson's research interests lie in nuclear fuel pyroprocessing, molten salt electrochemistry, and spectroscopy.
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Dr. Meng-Jen (Vince) Wang is an Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Utah. He brings a broad spectrum of expertise spanning computational particle transport, reactor physics, radiation shielding, and multi-physics simulation.
Before joining the University of Utah, Dr. Wang worked at two commercial nuclear technology firms, where he contributed to the design and analysis of microreactors and advanced reactors. He also holds a U.S. NRC Senior Reactor Operator License and has extensive hands-on experience with the TRIGA research reactor, both in experimental design and in daily operations. This unique combination of practical reactor operation knowledge and high-level computational capability allows him to bridge the gap between theory, simulation, and experiment in nuclear science and engineering.
Dr. Wang’s research focuses on advancing particle transport simulation methods, multi-physics coupling, and reactor digital-twin development. He is particularly interested in leveraging high-performance computing and advanced numerical techniques to improve predictive modeling of complex nuclear systems. His broader research interests also include general scientific computing and the development of innovative tools that support nuclear energy applications and safety.
Beyond his research, Dr. Wang is deeply committed to education and mentorship, preparing the next generation of nuclear engineers to tackle both technical and societal challenges. Having experienced the worlds of academia, government laboratory work, and industry, he values collaboration across disciplines and sectors to accelerate innovation in nuclear science.
Dr. Wang is passionate about building inclusive and supportive research communities. He believes in nuclear energy’s critical role in enabling a cleaner and more sustainable future and is dedicated to advancing technologies that balance safety, reliability, and environmental stewardship.