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May 6, 2026

Meet the 2026 NEEP graduates

Written By: Lili Sarajian

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It’s finals week, and our graduates are finishing up their last exams as they look forward to graduation. We would like to congratulate all of our graduates and recognize them for their dedication to their research, their studies, and the NEEP community. We look forward to following their success in the years ahead as their careers evolve. Read on to learn about some of our graduating seniors, including where they’re headed after graduation and what they value most about their time at UW!

Colin Smith

While pursuing his bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering, Colin took advantage of undergraduate research opportunities in the department by joining the HEAt Transfer and Safety Analysis (HEATS) Laboratory led by Associate Professor Juliana Pacheco Duarte. His work involved applying his knowledge of thermal hydraulics and reactor safety to advance the development of light water reactors. 

After graduation, Colin will head to Naperville, IL where he will join the Resident Inspector Development Program as a Project Engineer at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The program will prepare him to complete resident inspector qualifications before placing him at a U.S. nuclear power plant to provide federal oversight. 

Of all his accomplishments throughout his undergraduate career, Colin says he is most proud that his cumulative knowledge has allowed him to provide unique and important contributions. He credits his fellow nuclear engineering graduates Matthew Schaefer and Syn Hubbard for impacting him the most throughout his time at UW, as well as the UW–Madison chapter of the American Nuclear Society. 

Colin Smith at his internship with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Colin Smith at his internship with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Chase Stormoen

Originally from Browerville, Minnesota, Chase came to UW–Madison to study nuclear engineering. While completing his bachelor’s degree, he also conducted research in the Reactor Technology Integration Group (ReTI) led by Assistant Professor Ben Lindley. His work involved optimizing pressurized water reactor core loadings to match neuronic limits in uprated and extended cycle scenarios. Chase will continue working with Prof. Lindley while pursuing his master’s degree in nuclear engineering and engineering physics at UW–Madison.

Which accomplishment are you most proud of from your time at UW?
I published a research paper with a multitude of core designs utilizing advanced fuel types, uprated powers, and cycle extensions. I was really glad to see all the hard work I put into the project reflected in a paper published in an American Nuclear Society (ANS) journal. I’m also presenting at the ANS annual conference in Colorado at the end of May!

Who are some of the people that impacted you the most?
First and foremost, my friends. I think it would have been very difficult to complete this major if I didn’t meet classmates who were so helpful and collaborative in classes. They helped me, while I helped them in any way I could. The second is Prof. Ben Lindley. He was always very supportive of my work when I first started researching, even though I was inexperienced. He pushed me to do good work and was very supportive. 

What will you miss most?
Not too much, as I’m doing my masters, but I imagine one day I will miss the campus. I always like walking to my classes, whether it be in snow or sunshine. I’ve gotten used to walking and have become familiar with all the landscapes and buildings. 

How have your educational experiences equipped you for your next steps?
I’ve become more comfortable with learning new topics. Nuclear engineering goes in-depth into a lot of different subjects, so I feel comfortable with learning new and advanced topics. I feel like wherever I go after UW, I’ll be ready to learn whatever is required.

Chase Stormoen and his girlfriend at a Madison Hmong New Year event
Chase Stormoen with his cat Esmund

Landon Kohler

Soon to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering, Landon has gained a wealth of experience in plasma research throughout his time at UW–Madison. He worked at two major experimental facilities on campus, the Helically Symmetric eXperiment (HSX) and the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST), as well as the Plasma Turbulence and Spectroscopy Group led by Associate Professor Benedikt Geiger and Dr. George McKee. His research consisted of performing ion temperature gradient gyrokinetic simulations in stellarator geometries and analyzing tearing modes in tokamak plasmas.

Landon also spent time researching at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility in San Diego, California through a Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI). Throughout his internship, he studied the the toroidal distribution of boron and other impurities added to the plasma using an impurity powder dropper. He used a laser-induced breakdown spectrometer to take measurements of the upper divertor tiles and determine the impurity distributions.

Landon plans to continue his education at UW–Madison to pursue a PhD in nuclear engineering and engineering physics while researching particle and heat transport in W7-X. Landon credits his research experiences as an undergraduate student with solidifying his desire to continue pursuing plasma physics and fusion research in graduate school. He says he couldn’t have made it so far without the support of his friends and family. 

Landon Kohler standing with upper divertor tiles from DIII-D tokamak at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility where he completed a SULI internship
Landon Kohler presenting his research at the Undergraduate Symposium

Syn Hubbard

During his time as an undergraduate nuclear engineering student, Syn joined the Materials Degradation under Corrosion and Radiation (MaDCoR) Laboratory and conducted research in deconstructing nuclear metals, microstructures, and mechanical properties. Syn plans to pursue a PhD in nuclear engineering and engineering physics after graduation or look for industry positions in nuclear materials science. 

Which accomplishment are you most proud of from your time at UW?
I am most proud of being able to run complex instrumentation like the thermal conductivity microscope and scanning electron microscope by myself!

Who are some of the people that impacted you the most?
By far the most important person that has impacted me is my advisor Prof. Couet. He has provided me with numerous research opportunities both within and outside UW–Madison to help me succeed. I would also like to thank my classmates in my graduating year who have made the grind much more enjoyable and entertaining!

What will you miss most?
The educators and school environment! I will definitely miss the summer lake days at Madison and the great professors and classmates I had within the nuclear department. I could not have asked for a better college experience!

How have your educational experiences equipped you for your next steps?
The research experience I have directly gained with MaDCoR and also within the nuclear material classes at UW–Madison have prepared me to be competitive in PhD applications and take that next step into a research-oriented career. A lot of the professors have major connections within the industry which helped me land an internship at a national laboratory.

Image of cracked gold samples under a scanning electron microscope from Syn Hubbard’s research in the MaDCoR Laboratory

Asher Jewell

While pursuing his bachelor’s degree, Asher also worked with the Reactor Technology Integration Group (ReTI) led by Assistant Professor Ben Lindley. Through his research, he developed probabilistic risk assessment for integrated nuclear power and desalination. Asher has also been an active member of the UW–Madison chapter of the American Nuclear Society, and served as its president during his senior year. 

Asher also spent the summer before his senior year interning at Constellation Energy. After graduating, he will head to Pottstown, Pennsylvania to work for Constellation as an engineer at their Limerick Generating Station.

Which accomplishment are you most proud of from your time at UW?
Serving as our ANS chapter president, being part of revitalizing the club post-COVID, and building up the club’s community.

Who are some of the people that impacted you the most?
This whole journey has been about the people involved, and there are too many to thank to make this list exhaustive. Ben Lindley and Mike Wagner, for their guidance and support in my research (and Ben particularly for being a GOATed NE 405 professor). Paul Wilson, for his wisdom as ANS faculty advisor and dedication as Department Chair. Bao-Phong Nguyen and Ali Holden, the two previous ANS presidents, for their leadership and inspiration to always leave the club better than we found it. Jennifer Detlor, for being an encouraging and engaging professor in several classes.

Asher Jewell standing in front of dry cask storage containers for spent fuel during a visit to the Dresden Generating Station through his internship at Constellation last summer
Asher Jewell visiting the South Texas Project during the 2026 American Nuclear Society Student Conference