UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Elia Merzari, professor of nuclear engineering and of mechanical engineering in the Penn State College of Engineering and a nationally recognized expert in reactor thermal-hydraulics, has been named associate head of the Ken and Mary Alice Lindquist Department of Nuclear Engineering.
Merzari, who joined Penn State in 2019 following a decade at Argonne National Laboratory, brings to the role a research background in computational fluid dynamics, high-performance computing and advanced reactor design. He currently serves as the thermal-fluids lead for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Elia Merzari as associate department head,” said Jon Schwantes, acting department head of the nuclear engineering department. “His deep expertise in reactor physics, his leadership experience at national labs and top-tier academic institutions and his commitment to advancing nuclear science make him an exceptional addition to our team. Dr. Merzari brings a visionary approach that will strengthen our research enterprise, support our faculty and students and help Penn State maintain its role as a national leader in nuclear engineering for years to come.”
Merzari has recently been recognized with several prestigious honors, including being named a fellow of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) and receiving ANS NURETH Scholar Award, both in 2023.
“Over the past several years, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with faculty, alumni, staff and students across our department through both research collaborations and service roles,” Merzari said. “I believe we are at a pivotal moment: Our research portfolio is growing rapidly, we’re implementing significant curriculum updates, including a new minor, and there is strong momentum around workforce development and national leadership in nuclear engineering.”
Merzeri said that the timing of the FRONTIER initiative, a collaboration between Penn State and Westinghouse Electric Company that aims to develop a new nuclear research facility on the University Park campus, made the associate department head role a natural next step.
“Stepping into the associate department head role now allows me to help sustain and amplify FRONTIER’s progress, ensuring we remain at the forefront of research, education and service,” Merzari said. “I am especially eager to work more closely with junior faculty to help them achieve their goals and to further advance Penn State’s leadership in nuclear engineering.”
Merzari said he views leadership primarily as a form of service: He plans to shepherd a supportive environment where others can thrive by listening and removing obstacles. Merzari emphasized the importance of transparency, proactive communication and inclusive decision-making that draws on diverse perspectives. At the heart of his approach, he said, is a strong belief that the department’s greatest strength lies in its people.
“I believe in giving people the space to take intellectual risks,” Merzari said. “This means supporting seed funding for bold ideas and facilitating collaborations across disciplines. I also want to ensure our faculty have the resources, mentoring and professional connections they need to thrive.”
As one of his focus points, Merzari plans to build on current successes of nuclear graduate education, such as to integrate more structured professional development into graduate experiences.
“We are fortunate to have Dipanjan Pan as head of graduate studies,” Merzari said. “Last year, Pan introduced ‘Grad Day,’ an excellent opportunity for networking and professional development.”
To further support grad students, Merzari said he aims to introduce new opportunities, such as a workshop series on nuclear engineering topics.
Merzari emphasized Penn State’s leadership in several core areas of nuclear engineering, including advanced manufacturing, nuclear materials and reactor operations. The Radiation Science and Engineering Center (RSEC), which celebrated its 70th anniversary this year, has a central role in Penn State’s leadership potential in nuclear engineering on a global scale, Merzari said.
“The RSEC is a cornerstone of Penn State’s nuclear identity,” Merzari said. “Over the decades, countless students have trained there as operators, conducted research and used this remarkable reactor to deepen their understanding of nuclear power.”
Merzari added that RSEC is more than a research site: It serves as an important center for outreach, hosting thousands of visitors annually. The addition of the new Small-Angle Neutron Scattering facility, Merzari said, will further distinguish it from other research reactors by providing exceptional and one-of-a-kind capabilities. Merzari credits Kenan Ünlü, director of RSEC, for the continued excellence and success of the facility.
Looking ahead, Merzari is optimistic about expanding both RSEC’s role and Penn State’s leadership capabilities in nuclear engineering.
“We are eager to find new ways to leverage the reactor, particularly in workforce development initiatives and as a tool for validating multiphysics models,” Merzari said. “With energy demands rising, Penn State’s leadership role in clean power has become even more critical. I believe we are well-positioned to lead by uniting cutting-edge technical expertise with forward-thinking leadership.”