UAB student earns prestigious national award for nuclear research

Written by: Katherine Kirk
Media Contact: Tehreem Khan

David Russell pictured with Jonathon Burns, Ph.D, Principal Investigator for the Burns Research Laboratory, and Jennifer Pyles, Ph.D, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Burns Research Laboratory.David Russell, a senior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, received the 2024 American Chemical Society Nuclear Division'sCharles D. Coryell Award for developing a method to analyze elements found within used nuclear fuel for the ultimate purpose of industrializing the process of reducing and recycling nuclear waste.

This annual award, hosted by the Division of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, within the American Chemical Society, is a highly selective award that honors a single undergraduate student who has completed a research project in nuclear or nuclear-related areas.

"I am extremely grateful to be the recipient of the 2024 Coryell Award," Russell said. "It is a life-changing acknowledgment for the academic and professional development I've experienced as an undergraduate chemist."

For his project, titled "Multivariate Modeling to Determine Concentrations of Elements found in Used Nuclear Fuel Recrystallization via UV-Vis-NIR Spectroscopy," Russell integrated his three degrees -- Bachelor of Science in chemistry and public health and an accelerated master's in public health, concentrated in environmental and occupational health -- to focus on creating a greener, more sustainable future in nuclear energy.

"My research focused on separating the spectra of reusable, radioactive elements like uranium, neptunium, plutonium and americium from fission products using multivariate modeling and statistics, thereby reducing the spectral overlap of these elements," Russell said. "This allows the concentrations of these elements to be analyzed during the separation process to ensure its effectiveness. We confirmed that multivariate analysis can help separate overlapping spectroscopic signals, which will streamline the used nuclear fuel recycling process."

After graduation this fall, Russell will be pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry and says he is pleased to know this award will positively impact his career while showcasing the exemplary research performed at UAB.

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