Krista Carlson

Krista Carlson serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, specializing in advanced materials development for nuclear and environmental applications. Her research bridges fundamental materials science with practical engineering solutions for radioactive waste management and water treatment systems.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Glass Science, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University (2008)
• B.S. in Glass Engineering Science, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University (2004)

Her research program focuses on sorbent synthesis for radionuclide capture, particularly for iodine and other hazardous species in complex gas streams. She develops high-temperature metallic glasses based on tungsten and tantalum for extreme environments, and designs electrochemical systems for water treatment using nanostructured electrodes. Her salt waste processing work addresses critical challenges in electrochemical reprocessing of used nuclear fuel, creating sustainable waste management solutions through phosphate-based dechlorination and zeolite occlusion techniques. These efforts combine sol-gel chemistry, nanomaterials engineering, and electrochemical analysis to tackle nuclear waste remediation.

Analysis of her publication record reveals strong emphasis on nuclear materials (65% of recent work), electrocatalysis (20%), and biomedical materials (15%). Key technical threads include metallic glass corrosion resistance, iodine sorbent regeneration cycles, and titanium dioxide nanotube applications for water disinfection. Her methodology integrates computational modeling with experimental validation across multiple length scales.

While no specific scientific awards are documented in the source material, her research demonstrates sustained funding through nuclear energy programs and materials science initiatives. Her advising activities focus on graduate students in materials engineering, with emphasis on experimental techniques for nuclear applications.

Her laboratory operations center on materials synthesis facilities for sol-gel processing, metallic glass production via gas atomization, and electrochemical testing rigs for waste treatment validation. Current efforts target scalable sorbent production and integration of metallic glasses into nuclear facility waste processing systems.