Paul WilsonView profile
Professor
Paul Wilson serves as the Grainger Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Chair of the Department of Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research develops computational tools for modeling nuclear energy systems with applications in radiation shielding, waste management, non-proliferation, and energy policy. Education: PhD in Nuclear Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1999) Dr.-Ing in Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Karlsruhe (1998) MS in Nuclear Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1995) B.A.Sc. in Engineering Science (Nuclear Power option), University of Toronto (1992) Wilson's research spans computational nuclear engineering with emphasis on Monte Carlo methods, nuclear fuel cycles, and proliferation analysis. His Computational Nuclear Engineering Research Group (CNERG) develops simulation tools for radiation transport, waste transmutation, and fusion systems. Key projects include the Infinity Two fusion pilot plant design and Cyclus nuclear fuel cycle simulator. Recent publications reveal strong focus on fusion energy systems (particularly stellarator-based designs like Infinity Two), machine learning applications in nuclear security, and advanced neutronics modeling. His work bridges computational methods with real-world nuclear challenges including waste management and non-proliferation. Scientific awards: Fellow of the American Nuclear Society (2023) American Nuclear Society Young Member Advancement Award (2019) American Nuclear Society Arthur Holly Compton Award (2018) Grainger Professor of Nuclear Engineering (2016) American Nuclear Society Presidential Citation (1996) Wilson advises graduate students through thesis research courses (N E 790/890/990) and has secured significant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. His consultancy roles include work with CEA Saclay, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Energy Future. He previously served on the Generation IV Technology Roadmap Committee (2001-2003). He leads the Computational Nuclear Engineering Research Group (CNERG), which develops open-source tools including PyNE and Cyclus. The group's work spans fusion pilot plant design, nuclear security applications, and fuel cycle simulation for next-generation nuclear systems.
