Eric Lang

Eric Lang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of New Mexico (UNM). He joined UNM following a postdoctoral fellowship at Sandia National Laboratories (2020-2022) and earned his Ph.D. (2020), M.S. (2018), and B.S. (2016) in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on materials in extreme environments, particularly irradiation effects in nuclear and fusion reactor components.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering, University of Illinois–Urbana Champaign (2020)
  • M.S., Nuclear Engineering, University of Illinois–Urbana Champaign (2018)
  • B.S., Engineering Physics, University of Illinois–Urbana Champaign (2016)

The CHARISMA lab, led by Dr. Lang, investigates materials synthesis, radiation response, and structure-property relationships, leveraging resources like UNM's Nanoscale Characterization Facility and collaborations with Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Tennessee, and University of Michigan. Key projects include radiation effects in YHx for microreactors, creep-fatigue analysis of advanced alloys, and development of W-based composites for fusion applications.

Recent research trends emphasize in-situ characterization under irradiation, additive manufacturing for nuclear materials, and multi-scale analysis of defect evolution. The lab combines experimental and computational approaches to address challenges in nuclear fuel cycles, reactor safety, and fusion technology.

Notable affiliations include:

• Collaborations: Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Tennessee, University of Michigan
• Lab Members: Graduate researchers Abhishek KC, Christian Arguello, Dustin Ellis; undergraduate students Ryan Pena, Shane Evans, Alexander Lascheid, Kendall Trellue, Liam Pohlmann

Teaching activities at UNM include courses on Principles of Nuclear Engineering, Fusion Technology, and Radiation Damage in Materials.