Jacopo Buongiorno

Jacopo Buongiorno is an Italian-American nuclear engineer and professor renowned for his work in advanced nuclear reactor technologies and his influential advocacy for nuclear power as a critical component of global energy policy. He holds the TEPCO Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering position at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he directs significant research initiatives. His career is distinguished by contributions to reactor safety, heat transfer in extreme environments, and the development of innovative reactor concepts like micro-reactors and small modular reactors.

Biography

Jacopo Buongiorno was born in Italy and completed his early education there. He pursued his undergraduate studies in nuclear engineering at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, earning a Laurea degree. He then moved to the United States for graduate studies, receiving both his M.S. and Sc.D. degrees from the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Following his doctorate, he joined the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, operated by Bechtel for the United States Department of Energy and the United States Navy, where he worked on thermal-hydraulics and safety analysis for naval reactors. He returned to MIT as a faculty member, where he has since built his academic career.

Academic and research career

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Buongiorno leads the Center for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems (CANES) and has served as the Director of the MIT Reactor. His research program is extensive, focusing on the application of advanced heat transfer and fluid dynamics to nuclear systems. Key areas of investigation include the safety and performance of light water reactors, the design of Generation IV reactor concepts, and the development of novel fuels and materials. He has supervised numerous doctoral theses and contributed foundational work to the understanding of boiling heat transfer and two-phase flow under conditions relevant to both existing nuclear power plants and future advanced designs. His work often involves close collaboration with national laboratories like Idaho National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, as well as industry partners such as Westinghouse Electric Company and Framatome.

Nuclear energy advocacy

Buongiorno is a prominent and vocal advocate for the expansion of nuclear energy to address climate change and ensure energy security. He frequently engages with policymakers, industry leaders, and the public through testimony before bodies like the United States Congress, media appearances, and written commentaries. He co-authored the influential MIT study "The Future of Nuclear Energy in a Carbon-Constrained World," which provides a comprehensive roadmap for the role of nuclear power in decarbonization efforts. He argues for technological innovation in reactor design, such as small modular reactors, and for reforms in nuclear regulation and financing to enable deployment. His advocacy extends to international forums, where he discusses global energy strategy with organizations including the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Economic Forum.

Awards and honors

Throughout his career, Jacopo Buongiorno has received significant recognition from major professional societies. He is a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society (ANS), which awarded him the prestigious Landis Young Member Engineering Achievement Award. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) honored him with the Heat Transfer Memorial Award for his contributions to the field. He has also been the recipient of the Department of Energy Early Career Award and the MIT Junior Bose Award for Excellence in Teaching. His election to fellowship status in these societies underscores his standing as a leader in the intersecting disciplines of nuclear engineering and thermal science.

Selected publications

Buongiorno's scholarly output includes numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and technical reports that have shaped modern nuclear engineering research. Notable publications include studies on nanoparticle-enhanced heat transfer fluids (nanofluids) in the *International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer*, critical analyses of loss-of-coolant accident scenarios in *Nuclear Engineering and Design*, and comprehensive reviews of small modular reactor technology in *Progress in Nuclear Energy*. His co-authored reports, such as the MIT interdisciplinary studies on the future of nuclear energy and the future of geothermal energy, are widely cited in discussions of energy policy and technology innovation.

Category:Italian nuclear engineers Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology faculty Category:American Nuclear Society fellows