PNNL

Robert Oelrich is the Nuclear Engineering group lead within the National Security Directorate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The Nuclear Engineering Group serves multiple internal and external projects with subject matter experts (SMEs) in nuclear, fuel, and materials performance for a wide range of nuclear applications.

Oelrich also serves as the chief engineer for the Tritium Technology Program, which supports selected activities in Defense Programs, and supports the Energy and Environment Directorate (EED) to expanding commercial activities at PNNL in support of the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy.

Oelrich joined PNNL in 2019 and has more than 30 years of experience in the international nuclear industry, development and testing of advanced uranium and alternative fuel concepts, test reactor irradiation and examination campaigns, and development of codes and methods for nuclear physics, thermal hydraulic and fuel performance analyses.

• Nuclear engineering
• Nuclear, thermal, and mechanical analyses of light water reactor sustainability (LWRs) and advanced reactors
• Irradiation performance of fuels and advanced materials
• Research and development of new advanced fuels and materials
• Nuclear fuel licensing
• International fuel fabrication facilities
• Senior management and leadership

• MBA, University of Pittsburgh
• BS in mechanical engineering, The Ohio State University

• American Nuclear Society
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers