PNNL

Paul Bredt has been with PNNL since 1993, leading increasingly complex assignments in the area of nuclear science and technology. He served as director of the Nuclear Sciences Division within the Energy and Environment Directorate, from March 2013 through July 2024. He transitioned in August 2024 to focus on special projects in a role as a research principal.

As division director, Bredt was instrumental in renewing PNNL's nuclear science strategy and revitalizing the capabilities of the Radiochemical Processing Laboratory, PNNL's cornerstone Hazard Category II nuclear facility. His research interests include expanding PNNL's work on advanced nuclear fuels and molten salt chemistry. 

Prior to this, he led the Environmental Health and Remediation Market Sector, a $50M portfolio serving government and industrial sponsors. For the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management, Bredt has served as a deputy national technology advisor, initiative lead for Advanced Unit Operations and Scaling, and advisor to the Tank Waste Corporate Board. 

He has extensive line management experience, having led PNNL's Advanced Processing and Applications Group from 2005 to 2009 and the Separations and Radiochemistry Team prior to that. Bredt has served in several other key assignments at PNNL, including program manager for the Environmental Management Science Program and task manager for several high-visibility Hanford remediation projects. In his spare time, he enjoys ancient Roman history and flying quadcopters.

PhD in Chemistry, University of California, Irvine

MS in Chemistry, University of California, Irvine

BS in Chemistry, University of California, Irvine

2010

• Chun J., P.R. Bredt, E. Hansen, P.S. Bhosale, and J.C. Berg. 2010. "Impact of Rheological Modifiers on Various Slurries Supporting DOE Waste Processing." In Waste Management 2010: Improving the Future by Dealing with the Past, March 7-11, 2010, Phoenix, Arizona, Paper No. 10099. Phoenix, Arizona:WM Symposia.

2009

• Bredt P.R., A.R. Felmy, P.A. Gauglitz, A.P. Poloski, J.D. Vienna, B.A. Moyer, and D. Hobbs, et al. 2009. "Scientific Opportunities to Reduce Risk in Nuclear Process Science - 9279." In Waste Management '09: Waste Management for the Nuclear Renaissance, 3, 1482-1495. Tucson, Arizona:WM Symposia.
• Bredt P.R., A.R. Felmy, P.A. Gauglitz, A.P. Poloski, J.D. Vienna, B.A. Moyer, and D. Hobbs, et al. 2009. "Scientific Opportunities to Reduce Risk in Nuclear Process Science." In Waste Management 2009. Tucson, Arizona:Arizona Board of Regents. 

2008

• Bredt P.R., A.R. Felmy, P.A. Gauglitz, D.T. Hobbs, S. Krahn, N. Machara, and M. Mcilwain, et al. 2008. Scientific Opportunities to Reduce Risk in Nuclear Process Science. PNNL-17699. Richland, Washington: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 

2006

• Poloski A.P., P.R. Bredt, R.C. Daniel, and A.E. Saez. 2006. "The Contribution of Frictional Contacts to the Shear Strength of Coarse Glass Bead Powders and Slurries." Rheologica Acta 46, no. 2:249-259. PNNL-SA-47852. doi:10.1007/s00397-006-0105-3
• Poloski A.P., R.C. Daniel, D.R. Rector, P.R. Bredt, E.C. Buck, J.C. Berg, and A.E. Saez. 2006. Characterization and Correlation of Particle-Level Interactions to the Macroscopic Rheology of Powders, Granular Slurries, and Colloidal Suspensions. PNNL-16133. Richland, Washington: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 

2002

• Bredt P.R., C.C. Ainsworth, F.J. Brockman, D.M. Camaioni, O.B. Egorov, A.R. Felmy, and Y.A. Gorby, et al. 2002. Science to Support DOE Site Cleanup: The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Environmental Management Science Program Awards -- Fiscal Year 2002 Mid-Year Progress Report. PNNL-13928. Richland, Washington: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 
• Poloski A.P., P.R. Bredt, A.J. Schmidt, R.G. Swoboda, J.W. Chenault, and S.R. Gano. 2002. Thermal Conductivity and Shear Strength of K Basin Sludge. PNNL-13911. Richland, Washington: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 

2001

• Bredt P.R., and R.G. Swoboda. 2001. Rheological Studies on Pretreated Feed and Melter Feed from AW-101 and AN-107. PNNL-13353. Richland, Washington: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 
• Bredt P.R., F.J. Brockman, D.M. Camaioni, A.R. Felmy, J.W. Grate, B.P. Hay, and N.J. Hess, et al. 2001. Science To Support DOE Site Cleanup: The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Environmental Management Science Program Awards. PNNL-13564. Richland, Washington: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 
• Bredt P.R., L.K. Jagoda, and D.E. Rinehart. 2001. Rheological Studies on Pretreated Feed and Melter Feed from C-104 and AZ-102. PNNL-13359. Richland, Washington: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 

2000

• Bredt P.R., C.D. Carlson, C.H. Delegard, K.H. Pool, A.J. Schmidt, D.B. Bechtold, and J.Y. Bourges, et al. 2000. "Studies of Chemical Processing of K Basins Sludge." In WM '00 Proceedings, February 27-March 2, 2000. Waste Management Conference, Inc. PNNL-SA-32560. 
• Bredt P.R., C.H. Delegard, A.J. Schmidt, and K.L. Silvers. 2000. Testing and Analysis of Consolidated Sludge Samples from the 105 K East Basin Floor and Canisters. PNNL-13341. Richland, Washington: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 
• Bredt P.R., C.H. Delegard, A.J. Schmidt, K.L. Silvers, B.M. Thornton, and S.R. Gano. 2000. Particle Size (Sieving) and Enthalpy (Acid Calorimetry) Analysis of Single-Pull K East Basin Floor and Pit Sludges.PNNL-13373. Richland, Washington: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 
• Bredt P.R., J.M. Tingey, and A.J. Schmidt. 2000. Compilation and Integration of K Basin Sludge Particle Size Analysis Data. PNNL-13376. Richland, Washington: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 
• Delegard C.H., S.A. Bryan, A.J. Schmidt, P.R. Bredt, C.M. King, R.L. Sell, and L.L. Burger, et al. 2000. Gas Generation from K East Basin Sludges - Series I Testing. PNNL-13320. Richland, Washington: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 
• Fiskum S.K., P.R. Bredt, J.A. Campbell, O.T. Farmer, L.R. Greenwood, E.W. Hoppe, and F.V. Hoopes, et al. 2000. Inorganic, Radioisotopic, and Organic Analysis of 241-AP-101 Tank Waste. PNNL-13354. Richland, Washington: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

1999

• Schmidt A.J., C.H. Delegard, K.L. Silvers, P.R. Bredt, C.D. Carlson, E.W. Hoppe, and J.C. Hayes, et al. 1999. Validation Testing of the Nitric Acid Dissolution Step Within the K Basin Sludge Pretreatment Process. PNNL-12120. Richland, Washington: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 
• Schmidt A.J., G.S. Klinger, and P.R. Bredt. 1999. Evaulation of Ion Exchange Materials in K Basin Floor Sludge and Potential Solvents for PCB Extractions from Ion Exchange Materials. PNNL-12108. Richland, Washington: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.