Los Alamos Hosts NuChemE Pipeline Students for Firsthand Look at Legacy Cleanup
Members from the New Mexico State University NuChemE Pipeline Summer Program visit Area G to learn about waste operations, characterization and shipment activities.
LOS ALAMOS, NM – New Mexico State University’s (NMSU) 2026 NuChemE Pipeline Summer Program provided undergraduate students from across the country a rare, firsthand look at the complex and significant environmental cleanup efforts at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office (EM-LA) and its legacy cleanup contractor, Newport News Nuclear BWXT-Los Alamos LLC (N3B), showed students key sites that address legacy contamination and waste from nuclear weapons production and research during the Manhattan Project and Cold War era at LANL.
“We are excited about the opportunity for our students to see first-hand the environmental remediation work that is being done at Los Alamos National Laboratory,” said Catherine Brewer, chemical & materials professor at New Mexico State University and NuChemE Pipeline program director. “Nuclear is a challenging STEM field to get your foot in the door. Without any experience or knowledge, students are likely to not even try to open the door. That’s why we are so appreciative of the support from the Department of Energy and its contractors, like N3B, who help show our students what a career in nuclear and environmental remediation can look like.”
The NuChemE Pipeline, which is supported by DOE’s Office of Environmental Management (EM), was created to address a longstanding gap between what students know about nuclear materials, radioisotopes and DOE operations, and the level of understanding expected during recruitment. By giving students direct access to cleanup sites and nuclear facilities, the program helps them gain confidence, correct misconceptions and understand how environmental management work is carried out in practice.
During the recent tour, students learned how EM-LA and N3B conduct groundwater and soil remediation, manage legacy waste and continue long‑term environmental monitoring at LANL. For many participants, this was their first time seeing environmental cleanup operations and the technical, regulatory and historical context behind them.
N3B President and General Manager Brad Smith, who welcomed the students to Los Alamos and provided an overview of the LANL legacy cleanup mission prior to their arrival, said the NuChemE Pipeline project is setting the standard for programs designed to recruit the next generation of nuclear and environmental cleanup professionals.
“I’ve been doing this work for a longtime. Soon, I will be handing over the reins to young adults like those participating in this program,” said Smith. “I’m extremely proud of what the N3B team has accomplished during our tenure. It’s not often a person can wake up and realize the work they are performing today will ensure a safer tomorrow. I look forward to welcoming the next generation of young professionals to a career that is meaningful and rewarding.”
This year’s class includes 12 students from 11 universities across the country, majoring in chemical engineering, chemistry, geology, environmental science, and business information systems. Most are juniors and seniors and many have never studied nuclear topics before. The LANL legacy cleanup tour anchors a broader practical itinerary that includes visits to LANL’s Chemistry Division, museums on nuclear history in Los Alamos and Albuquerque, the University of New Mexico Nuclear Engineering Department, Urenco USA, the only commercial enrichment facility operating in the US; the DOE’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and Savannah River Site, and Plant Vogtle, the largest nuclear power plant in the country.
The NuChemE Pipeline also strengthens specialized chemistry capabilities and interdisciplinary nuclear training at the three project partner institutions, two of which are also Hispanic Serving Institutions – NMSU, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and Georgia Institute of Technology. Long‑term plans for the NuChemE Pipeline include developing a remote graduate certificate in nuclear chemical engineering at NMSU to expand access to DOE-EM careers for students in science, engineering and business fields.
By combining hands‑on learning with exposure to real‑world cleanup work, the program aims to build a diverse, well‑prepared pipeline of future scientists, engineers and professionals ready to support DOE‑EM’s environmental stewardship responsibilities.
###
About N3B
Newport News Nuclear BWXT-Los Alamos, LLC (N3B) performs the Los Alamos Legacy Cleanup Contract for the U.S. Department of Energy Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office, addressing environmental impacts from Manhattan Project and Cold War-era operations at Los Alamos National Laboratory while supporting the communities where its employees live and work.