Markus Piro

Dr. Markus Piro is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Physics at McMaster University, specializing in Nuclear Engineering and Energy Systems. He teaches ENG PHYS 3D04, focusing on fission/fusion energy systems, reactor design, and radiation interactions. His research emphasizes thermodynamic modeling of nuclear fuels, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and severe accident analysis in reactors like CANDU and molten salt systems. Key projects include phase equilibrium studies of advanced fuels, corrosion mechanisms, and coupling CFD with thermodynamic simulations for reactor safety.

He leads the Nuclear Fuels And Materials Group, developing tools like Thermochimica and collaborating on fuel design, cladding interactions, and accident mitigation strategies. Recent work includes investigations into Nd-C/Ce-C TRISO coatings, molten salt reactor chemistry, and FeCrAl cladding behavior under accident conditions.

Dr. Piro’s computational expertise spans reactor hydraulics, thermal-hydraulic modeling, and material compatibility studies. He actively contributes to international initiatives like the TAF-ID database and engages in experimental validation of corium behavior. Current activities include accepting graduate students and advancing multiphysics simulation frameworks for next-gen reactors.