The Utah Nuclear Engineering Program (UNEP) is proud to announce that research by Dr. Tara Mastren and former Ph.D. student Dr. Connor Holiski has been featured by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Their work explores advanced isotope separation techniques with potential applications in cancer treatment, specifically in improving the production of medical isotopes like terbium-161.

This recognition by the DOE underscores the significance of UNEP’s contributions to nuclear medicine and isotope science. Their research could play a key role in enhancing the availability of isotopes used for both imaging and therapy in cancer treatment.

To learn more about this groundbreaking work, read the full feature on the DOE website.

Drs. Tara Mastren and Connor Holiski

About the Researchers

Mastren is currently is an Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Utah. Her teaching and research interests are in nuclear medicine, which targets radiotherapy for the treatment of cancer and Alzheimer’s, lanthanide and actinide chemistry, and isotope production. Holiski, who earned his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the U in 2024, is a Radiochemistry Postdoctoral Fellow at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He is currently working on various separations with new elements, collaborating with some of the brightest minds to tackle emerging challenges and driving groundbreaking discoveries.

Nuclear Engineering at the University of Utah

The Utah Nuclear Engineering Program (UNEP) is responsible for educating the next generation workforce in critical nuclear engineering fields and developing innovative procedures and technologies for the advancement of nuclear applications.

Our curriculum is designed for engineers and scientists involved in the nuclear power and radioactive waste industries, nuclear medicine, homeland security, radiation safety, and nuclear materials detection. We offer an undergraduate minor and two graduate degrees (M.S. non-thesis and Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering). 

Explore Nuclear Engineering→

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The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) hosted the 2025 Regions 8 & 9 Workshop for Student Chapter Leaders (WSCL) and Practitioner and Faculty Advisor Training Workshop from January 17–18 in San Diego, California. This annual event brings together student chapter leaders, ASCE younger members, and regional professionals for networking, leadership development, and insights into the Society’s resources.

Students from the University of Utah’s ASCE student chapter had the incredible opportunity to attend this year’s WSCL conference, where they connected with peers from other universities, ASCE Younger Member Forum (YMF) members, and seasoned professionals. The conference provided a platform for student leaders to build their networks, share experiences, and learn from the successes of other ASCE chapters.

A key highlight of the event was the leadership of Dr. Christine Pomeroy, faculty advisor of the University of Utah’s ASCE student chapter and professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CvEEN). As the workshop host, Dr. Pomeroy facilitated both the opening and closing sessions, setting the tone for the conference and guiding attendees in reflecting on key takeaways. She also presented on student chapter annual reports, providing valuable insights on best practices and reporting strategies. Additionally, Dr. Pomeroy led an overview of ASCE student chapter resources and facilitated a session on the ethical use of AI, equipping student leaders with tools to enhance their chapters’ effectiveness and professional integrity.

The 2025 WSCL conference was an invaluable experience for student leaders, equipping them with leadership skills and knowledge to strengthen their ASCE chapter at the University of Utah. With new insights and connections, they are excited to apply what they’ve learned to enhance their chapter’s activities and impact in the coming year.

ASCE students with Dr. Christine Pomeroy (center).

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Pictured above: Dr. Chris Pantelides Presents to the Structural Engineers Association of Utah (SEAU) in Layton Auditorium.

Civil and Environmental Engineering (CvEEN) professor Dr. Chris Pantelides was recently invited by the Structural Engineers Association of Utah (SEAU) to present his cutting-edge research on mass timber buildings. The presentation, titled “Mass Timber Frame with Buckling Restrained Braces,” took place on Tuesday, January 14.

A professor of structural engineering at the U for over 30 years, Pantelides’s work highlights the potential of mass timber as a sustainable alternative to traditional construction materials. By using engineered wood products like cross-laminated timber (CLT) and laminated veneer lumber (LVL), his research addresses challenges in seismic performance and structural resilience. These advancements not only improve safety but also promote environmentally friendly construction by reducing reliance on steel and concrete, which have a higher carbon footprint.

SEAU, established in 1980, is a premier organization dedicated to advancing structural engineering through collaboration, education, and public awareness. Dr. Pantelides’s invitation to speak underscores the significance of his contributions to the field and their potential impact on sustainable construction practices.

Chris Pantelides Presents to SEAU

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Pictured above, left to right:  Ph.D. student Fengze Yang and CvEEN Faculty Members Dr. Dylan Liu, Dr. Chris Pantelides, Dr. Cathy Liu, and Dr. Peter Zhu, and former CvEEN faculty Dr. Terry Yang.

From January 5–9, 2025, several faculty members and PhD students from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CvEEN) attended the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.

The TRB Annual Meeting is a leading global platform for transportation innovation, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to exchange evidence-based insights across all modes of transportation.

Notably, Dr. Cathy Liu presented groundbreaking research on optimizing Electric Bus Fleet Planning, Scheduling, and Charging and using machine learning to enhance traffic mobility analysis. Dr. Chris Pantelides also shared his important work on Understanding and Advancing the Seismic Resilience of Highway Bridges. Ph.D. student Fengze and Drs. Cathy Liu and Dylan Liu also presented their co-authored paper titled “Independent Mobility GPT (IDM-GPT): A Self-Supervised LLM Framework for Customized Traffic Mobility Analysis Using Machine Learning Models.”

We are proud of our faculty and students for contributing to one of the premier transportation research events. Their work highlights CvEEN’s commitment to advancing innovation and excellence in the field of transportation engineering.

Dr. Dylan Liu Presenting His Research at TRB.

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