K-State Nuclear Program Generates Workforce and Research Results

Kansas State University is cultivating next-generation workforce as it leverages its TRIGA Mark II nuclear reactor facility — one of only 25 university-operated research reactors in the country — to equip students with the skills and hands-on experience needed to power America’s future.

Beyond energy production training, K-State’s nuclear reactor is powering impactful research, developing innovative materials and methods that will help answer society’s pressing questions in fields from healthcare to agriculture to manufacturing.

Additionally, Kansas State University has been awarded $5 million in federal funding to support its nuclear research reactor, strengthening applied research, hands-on student training, and national security capabilities.

For site selectors and industry leaders, this matters. It reflects sustained federal confidence in the region’s research infrastructure and a talent pipeline equipped for highly regulated, technology-driven industries including energy, defense, and advanced manufacturing. This is the kind of long-term capacity that supports growth, innovation, and speed to market.

Read the full article at:
https://www.k-state.edu/seek/fall-2025/nuclear-engineering-reactor-powers-research-bachelors-degree/