PNNL

Dr. Susan Asmussen is a chemist in the Nuclear Chemistry and Engineering group at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) with expertise and experience in radiation chemistry, separations chemistry, and post-irradiation examination. Prior to joining PNNL, she served as a research chemist at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories in the Analytical Chemistry Branch.

At PNNL, as both a researcher and project manager, she contributes to multiple projects focused on aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle and waste management. Her work includes solvent extraction performed on microscale and macroscale systems, post-irradiation examinations of cladding, studies focused on long-term disposal of nuclear waste, and research supporting licensing efforts for both the current and next generation of nuclear fuels. Dr. Asmussen’s efforts support scientific advancement in the nuclear field and long-term disposal of nuclear waste.

• Post-irradiation testing of materials
• Radiation effects on materials
• Nuclear materials behavior
• Fuel dissolution and waste disposal chemistry
• Solvent extraction in macroscale and microscale systems

• Project management
• Radiation effects on materials
• Chemistry
• Materials science
• Analytical chemistry
• Separations chemistry

• PhD in chemistry, University of Western Ontario
• BS in chemistry, University of Western Ontario

• American Chemical Society
• American Nuclear Society
• ASTM International
• ASTM Subcommittee C26.13 Task Group Chair for ASTM C1562-10(2018) Standard Guide for Evaluation of Materials Used in Extended Service of Interim Spent Nuclear Fuel Dry Storage Systems

• Outstanding Performance Award for Sibling Pin Project, As Low as Reasonably Achievable Award, 2023
• Innovation in Research Team of the Year Award, Energy and Environment Directorate, 2023
• Outstanding Performance Award for Work on Sibling Pin Welding Task, 2022
• Outstanding Performance Award for Collaboration, Energy and Environment Directorate, 2020
• BESTie (Bringing Excellence in S&T) Award, Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, 2018
• Best Poster Award, Nuclear Process Science Initiative Annual Review, 2018
• Top Poster Presentation Award, Post-Doctoral Research Symposium, 2017

2024

• Asmussen, S.E., R.M. Asmussen, A.P. Goulet, R.W. Shimskey, and B.D. Hanson. 2024. "The Effect of Cerium, Neodymium, and Ytterbium Doping on UO2 Dissolution." Journal of Nuclear Materials 591. PNNL-SA-183605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2024.154916. 

2023

• Shimskey, R.W., J.R. Allred, S.E. Asmussen, H.T. Brown, S.K. Cooley, R.C. Daniel, and M.K. Edwards, et al. 2023. PNNL FY 2022 Sibling Pin Testing Results. PNNL-33781. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. PNNL FY 2022 Sibling Pin Testing Results. 

2021

• Lumetta, G.J., F.D. Heller, G.B. Hall, S.E. Asmussen, and S.I. Sinkov. 2021. "Optical Spectroscopic Investigation of Hexavalent Actinide Ions in n-Dodecane Solutions of Tri-butyl Phosphate." Solvent Extraction and Ion Exchange 39, no. 1:56-73. PNNL-SA-152512. https://doi.org/10.1080/07366299.2020.1805051. 
• Soderquist, C.Z., S.D. Branch, B.N. Gartman, M.S. Fountain, S.E. Asmussen, and S.R. Kimmig. 2021. Measurement of Iodine, Iodide, and Iodate in Hanford Tank Waste: Technology Transfer from PNNL to Hanford 222-S Laboratory. PNNL-32079. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. https://www.pnnl.gov/main/publications/external/technical_reports/PNNL-32079.pdf. 

2020

• Bryan, S.A., A.M. Lines, G.L. Nelson, A.J. Casella, S.E. Asmussen, H.B. Bryan, and J.M. Bello. 2020. "Real-Time Solution Analysis in Microfluidic Devices Using Optical Spectroscopy." In International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference and TOP FUEL 2019 - Light Water Reactor Fuel Performance Conference (Global 2019), September 22-27, 2019, Seattle, WA, 682-686. La Grange Park, Illinois:American Nuclear Society. PNNL-SA-145208. https://www.pnnl.gov/publications/real-time-solution-analysis-microfluidic-devices-using-optical-spectroscopy. 
• Lines, A.M., G.B. Hall, S.E. Asmussen, J.R. Allred, S.I. Sinkov, F.D. Heller, and N.B. Gallagher, et al. 2020. "Sensor fusion: comprehensive real-time, on-line monitoring for process control via visible, NIR, and Raman spectroscopy." ACS Sensors 5, no. 8:2467-2475. PNNL-SA-151230. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssensors.0c00659. 
• Lumetta, G.J., J.R. Allred, S.E. Asmussen, S.A. Bryan, G.B. Hall, F.D. Heller, and A.M. Lines, et al. 2020. "Progress in Real-time Monitoring for Controlling of the Composition of the Uranium-Plutonium Nitrate Product in a Tri-butyl Phosphate Based Flowsheet." In International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference and TOP FUEL 2019 - Light Water Reactor Fuel Performance Conference (GLOBAL 2019), September 22-27, 2019,Seattle, WA, 993-998. La Grange Park, Illinois:American Nuclear Society. PNNL-SA-142791. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1606193. 

2019

• Asmussen, S.E., A.M. Lines, D.R. Bottenus, F.D. Heller, S.A. Bryan, C.H. Delegard, and C.A. Louie, et al. 2019. "In Situ Monitoring and Kinetic Analysis of the Extraction of Nitric Acid by Tributyl Phosphate in n-Dodecane using Raman Spectroscopy." Solvent Extraction and Ion Exchange 37, no. 2:157-172. PNNL-SA-128863. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1558418. 
• Lumetta, G.J., J.R. Allred, S.E. Asmussen, S.A. Bryan, J.C. Carter, G.B. Hall, and F.D. Heller, et al. 2019. CoDCon Project: FY 2019 Status Report. PNNL-28983. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. CoDCon Project: FY 2019 Status Report.

2018

• Nelson, G.L., S.E. Asmussen, A.M. Lines, A.J. Casella, D.R. Bottenus, S.B. Clark, and S.A. Bryan. 2018. "Micro-Raman technology to interrogate two-phase extraction on a microfluidic device." Analytical Chemistry 90, no. 14:8345-8353. PNNL-SA-129484. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.analchem.7b04330.