Minghui Chen

Dr. Minghui Chen serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering within the School of Engineering at the University of New Mexico. He joined UNM in 2019 as an Assistant Professor and has established himself as a leading researcher in advanced nuclear reactor thermal hydraulics. His work is centered on experimental investigations to enhance the safety and performance of next-generation nuclear systems.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences from the University of Michigan (2018), an M.S. in Nuclear Engineering from The Ohio State University (2015), and a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering and Technology from Harbin Engineering University (2011).

Research Interests: Dr. Chen specializes in nuclear reactor thermal hydraulics and safety, with a focus on high-temperature thermal-fluid systems including molten salt, supercritical CO2, liquid metal, and helium. His research encompasses innovative heat exchanger design, optimization, modeling, and testing, as well as advanced thermal power cycles and thermal energy storage. He targets advanced reactor concepts such as Molten Salt Reactors, Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors, High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors, Concentrated Solar Power, and Micro-Reactors.

Scientific Awards:

• Distinguished Early Career Award from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy
• UNM School of Engineering Early Career Research Excellence Award (2024)

Dr. Chen leads the Laboratory for Advanced Reactor Engineering and Safety (LARES), which conducts experimental thermal-hydraulics research including separate and integral effects tests for advanced reactors. The lab's overarching goal is to develop technologies that enhance the performance of high-temperature thermal-fluid systems for commercializing advanced reactors.

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