PNNL

Jess Rigby is a materials scientist in the Wasteform Development Laboratory at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. As part of the Radiological Materials group, she supports the Energy and Environment Directorate’s Office of Environmental Management. Rigby is integral to the rapid research response team supporting the startup of the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant. In support of the Hanford mission, Rigby oversees cold cap melt dynamics research and is exploring alternative reductants and raw materials for the vitrification of radioactive waste at the Hanford Site.

• PhD in materials science, Sheffield Hallam University
• BS in theoretical and mathematical physics, The University of Sheffield
• MS in advanced engineering and management, Sheffield Hallam University

• ASSEAL and IMechE Women in Engineering Scholarship
• Oldfield Award, Society of Glass Technology

2025

• Rigby J.C., J. Marcial, R. Pokorny, J. Klouzek, J. Klouzek, K. Han, and N.M. Washton, et al. 2025. "Boron Nitride: Novel ceramic reductant for low-activity waste vitrification." Journal of the American Ceramic Society 108, no. 2:Art No. e20192. PNNL-SA-193254. doi:10.1111/jace.20192

2023

• Westesen A.M., K.J. Murray, A.A. Bachman, C. Burns, T.S. Scott, J.C. Rigby, and R.A. Peterson. 2023. Evaluation of High Level Waste Sludge Processing Behavior. PNNL-35514. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Evaluation of High Level Waste Sludge Processing Behavior

2022

• Rigby J.C., D.R. Dixon, D.A. Cutforth, J. Marcial, J. Klouzek, J. Klouzek, and R. Pokorny, et al. 2022. "Melting behaviour of simulated radioactive waste as functions of different redox iron-bearing raw materials." Journal of Nuclear Materials 569. PNNL-SA-169343. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.153946