Charlie Hirst

Charlie Hirst is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he leads the Wisconsin Ion Beam Laboratory's development of in situ ion irradiation experiments for nuclear fission and fusion materials research.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Nuclear Science and Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2022)
• MEng from University of Oxford (2015)

Dr. Hirst's research focuses on radiation damage mechanisms in nuclear materials through innovative in situ experiments combining mechanical testing, thermal analysis, and atomistic simulations. His work investigates defect evolution under coupled extremes of radiation, stress, and temperature to develop resilient materials for next-generation reactors, with emphasis on stored energy measurements, irradiation creep, and defect recovery stages.

His publication portfolio shows strong interdisciplinary trends spanning nuclear forensics, superconducting magnet safety, and advanced characterization techniques. Key methodological themes include differential scanning calorimetry, machine learning analysis of microscopy data, and gradient irradiation experiments targeting both fission and fusion applications.

His notable awards include:

• 2025 Steven J. and Teresa M. Zinkle Nuclear Materials Assistant Professorship
• 2020 MIT Exponent Fellowship
• 2019 ORNL MeV Summer School Best Team Project
• Multiple University of Oxford academic prizes (2012-2015)
• Industry-sponsored materials science awards from TATA Steel and Rolls Royce

Dr. Hirst advises graduate researchers through N E 890 (Pre-Dissertator's Research) and N E 790 (Master's Research), while teaching core courses like N E 231 (Introduction to Nuclear Engineering). His research program integrates university resources with national laboratory collaborations for advanced materials testing.

He directs the Wisconsin Ion Beam Laboratory's experimental development for mechanical testing and thermal analysis under irradiation, maintaining active partnerships with MIT, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and international fusion research initiatives to advance nuclear materials science.