BIO

Kevin D. Vallejo is currently an Epitaxy Physicist in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Idaho National Laboratory. He obtained his Ph.D. from Boise State University in 2021. He was the recipient of the INL Russell L. Heath Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship, and before coming to INL he was a U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Graduate Research Fellowship. His work focuses on the synthesis of novel single-crystal materials using molecular beam epitaxy for quantum computing, nanostructures, and nuclear fuel applications. Outside of work, he participates in research and writing of poetry and fundamental philosophy of physics.

ABSTRACT

By controlling the environment in which atoms travel and encounter each other, my work aims to make samples of new materials for nuclear fuels. These samples have the power to accelerate nuclear reactor development while also helping us unravel new physics of heavy atoms with very dense electron clouds.