As Assistant Secretary at DoE, Baranwal managed nuclear research on reactors and new designs.
Nuclear expert Dr Rita Baranwal left her post as the US Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy within the Energy Department on January 9 and joined as the Vice President of Nuclear Energy and Chief Nuclear Officer at the Washington, DC-headquartered Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). EPRI announced Baranwal’s appointment on January 12.
Baranwal will lead a team of 200 researchers, scientists, engineers, and technical staff who offer objective, science-based nuclear research, and development to more than 80% of the world’s commercial nuclear fleet.
EPRI President and CEO Arshad Mansoor said: “We are thrilled to welcome a leader of Rita’s caliber as we collaborate with global nuclear operators to create a cleaner energy future.”
In a statement released by EPRI, Baranwal said: “I look forward to working with EPRI’s incredibly talented team to find answers to pressing nuclear energy challenges during the clean energy transition.”
Baranwal announced her last day at the Energy Department through a tweet from the official account.
In her role as Assistant Secretary, Baranwal managed the Department of Energy’s portfolio of nuclear research for existing and advanced reactors and new designs. Before that, Baranwal directed the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) initiative at Idaho National Laboratory. She also served as the Director of Technology Development and Application at Westinghouse where she led the creation and development of industry-changing technologies, managed characterization and hot cell laboratories. She is also a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society.
EPRI is an independent, non-profit organization that conducts research and development on the generation, delivery, and use of electricity for the benefit of the public.
Click here for EPRI’s statement.
