Samuel Briggs

Samuel Briggs serves as an Associate Professor in the School of Nuclear Science and Engineering within Oregon State University's College of Engineering. He joined the university in 2018 after completing a postdoctoral appointment at Sandia National Laboratories. Dr. Briggs holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2016), where he also earned his M.S. (2013), and a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Oregon State University (2011).

His research focuses on microstructural characterization of radiation damage in materials, with particular emphasis on studying damage structures and precipitation in metals using transmission electron microscopy, atom probe tomography, and diffraction-based techniques. Dr. Briggs leads the Nuclear Materials Degradation Research Group which investigates materials degradation in extreme environments relevant to advanced nuclear reactor systems, including liquid metal- and molten salt-cooled thermal and fast reactors.

Dr. Briggs has established several specialized research facilities including the Glovebox for Experimental Liquid Sodium (GELS), Molten Salt Load Frame (MSLF), Salt Prototyping and Development Environment (SPaDE), Gaseous Load Frame & Autoclave, and High-Temperature Tube Furnace. These facilities enable testing of materials in environments simulating conditions found in next-generation nuclear reactors.

His research group includes students with academic homes in both the School of Nuclear Science and Engineering and the Materials Science Program, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of his work. Current graduate students include Jake Quincey, Xavier Quintana, and Gabriel Holesinger, while previous students include Dustin Mangus, Peter Beck, Adam Koziol, Seth Walton, Thomas Wood II, and Ian Arndt.

Dr. Briggs' work has significant implications for enabling the construction and safe, long-term operation of next-generation nuclear reactors through robust understanding of materials degradation phenomena and development of advanced materials with improved performance in extreme environments.