The influx of nuclear-related companies into East Tennessee is fueling unprecedented growth at the University of Tennessee’s (UT) Department of Nuclear Engineering. Driven by cutting-edge research collaborations, workforce training programs, and lucrative internships, the Knoxville/Oak Ridge corridor has exploded into a booming hub for nuclear innovation, housing more than 150 nuclear-related companies within 50 miles of the UT campus.
UT’s geographic proximity has enabled its nuclear engineering department to forge strategic partnerships that amplify its already-strong global standing. Nuclear News, the industry’s leading publication, recently ranked Tennessee No. 1 on its list of top 10 nuclear states. Labeling Tennessee as the “epicenter” of the sector, the ranking highlights more than $12 billion pledged for commercial nuclear power investment in East Tennessee alone.
“There’s no better place to study nuclear engineering in the entire world than right here, because East Tennessee is the national nuclear innovation corridor,” said Brian Wirth, the TVA Department Chair of Nuclear Engineering. “The energy and excitement in this region for nuclear is akin to how Silicon Valley was in the 1990s and early 2000s in terms of the ecosystem and the entrepreneurial aspects of information technology.”
As the nation’s No. 2-ranked public university for nuclear engineering, UT serves as a powerful catalyst for industry connection. In a landmark collaboration, UT, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Type One Energy are partnering to establish a world-class facility to advance fusion energy. Located at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Bull Run Energy Complex in Clinton, Tennessee, this high-heat flux facility engages UT faculty and students to help design and optimize breeding blankets that generate fuel for fusion reactions.
“The reputation and capabilities of the UT system, specifically the nuclear engineering department in Knoxville, played a big role in the company’s decision to locate our headquarters and Project Infinity fusion program in Knoxville two years ago,” said Matt Miles, senior vice president of marketing and external affairs for Type One Energy. “The university proactively engaged with Type One Energy early on, showcasing the resources, facility, and talent who would eventually support the development of our fusion energy technology.”
A Premier Workforce Training Ground
UT is actively building the talent pipeline required to sustain this booming industry. The university recently introduced a nuclear power engineering minor, and a massive portion of the student body secures practical experience through local co-ops and internships. The demand is undeniable: at the Tickle College of Engineering’s most recent Engineering Expo, 30 out of 165 participating companies were actively recruiting nuclear workers.
“Students have the opportunity to train at UT to learn the fundamental engineering skills needed in the workforce and get practical experience at these top nuclear companies in East Tennessee,” Wirth said. “They can network and build connections while still in school. Then, they can graduate and get high-paying and fulfilling career opportunities right in the same region in town.”
Industry leaders are investing directly in UT’s campus infrastructure. Kairos Power, which operates a reactor demonstration campus in Oak Ridge, is partnering with UT to bridge critical skill gaps. The company provided an endowment to host its Operator Training Simulator Laboratory inside UT’s Zeanah Engineering Complex. This state-of-the-art facility trains reactor operators for Kairos’ Hermes 2 plant while serving as a hands-on training hub for UT students entering the advanced nuclear workforce.
“UT’s world-class nuclear engineering program has been a wonderful asset for Kairos as we build our team in Oak Ridge,” said Kairos Power Chief Technology Officer Edward Blandford. “We have many UT grads on staff, and we’re proud to partner with the university to strengthen our talent pipeline through internships, co-ops, and other workforce development efforts.”
A Model University for Nuclear Investment
Students are taking notice of these unparalleled resources and career prospects. The undergraduate population in UT’s nuclear engineering department has doubled over the last four years, and freshman applications for the 2026–27 academic year have surged by 18 percent.
By embedding students and faculty directly alongside leading engineers and corporate executives, UT provides a launchpad for novel project partnerships.
“Our faculty and students are directly working with the companies that are trying to further innovate and optimize their designs and concepts for reactors and fuel enrichment and fuel fabrication facilities,” Wirth said. “It’s really an ecosystem that is going to fuel the economic and community development of Tennessee and the United States by providing these opportunities to grow our secure, stable, always-on, clean nuclear power.”
These collaborative efforts span both technological development and environmental stewardship. Type One Energy has launched several critical initiatives with the department, including a joint effort with the Tennessee Department of Environmental Quality at the Bull Run site in Claxton, Tennessee. There, UT students and faculty are conducting a comprehensive environmental assessment before operations begin on Project Infinity—the company’s multi-phase fusion power prototype.
For prospective students, the region’s unique corporate-academic ecosystem offers an unmatched head start in a critical field.
“I’d encourage anyone attending or considering getting into curriculums involving nuclear engineering, or the other engineering disciplines, to feel confident what you will learn at UT will serve you very well when starting your career,” Miles said. “UT is a model university program ready to take on these new challenges and train the next generation.”
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey ([email protected])