Stephen T. Lam

Stephen T. Lam is an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he also serves as Director of the Nuclear Engineering Program and RHSA Mentor within the Francis College of Engineering. His research focuses on accelerating materials development for nuclear and clean energy applications through computational methods.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Nuclear Science and Engineering (2020) and an MS in Nuclear Science and Engineering (2017) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a BS in Chemical Engineering (2013) from the University of British Columbia. Prior to his academic career, Lam worked in the petroleum and chemical processing industries and holds a Professional Engineer license in Canada.

• Ph.D.: Nuclear Science and Engineering (2020), Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• MS: Nuclear Science and Engineering (2017), Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• BS: Chemical Engineering (2013), University of British Columbia

Lam's research integrates multi-scale simulation, experimental validation, and data analytics to address materials challenges in nuclear and clean energy systems. His work spans molten salt chemistry for advanced reactors, neural network interatomic potentials, and fusion energy materials. He leads the Lam Research Group, which combines predictive simulation, data analytics, and experiments to accelerate materials development.

His recent publications demonstrate expertise in molten salt structure, neural network potentials, and fusion materials, with emphasis on fluoride and chloride salt systems for nuclear applications. The research shows strong interdisciplinary collaboration across computational chemistry, materials science, and nuclear engineering.

Among his notable recognitions are the Early Career Research Award (2024) from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Distinguished Faculty Advancement Award (2024) from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory. He has also received multiple early-career research awards from national laboratories and professional societies.

• Early Career Research Award (2024), U.S. Department of Energy
• Distinguished Faculty Advancement Award (2024), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
• Best Presentation (2017), Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Postgraduate Scholarship (2017)

Lam actively mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, with current advisees working on AI-assisted materials design, molten salt chemistry, and fusion energy applications. He teaches courses in nuclear materials, nuclear science and engineering, transport phenomena, and fundamentals of electricity.

The Lam Research Group maintains strong collaborations with national laboratories and industry partners, focusing on developing computational tools to improve understanding of material properties and accelerate materials discovery for next-generation energy technologies.