WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) has designated a new Center of Excellence at the University of Texas at Austin as part of the Stewardship Science Academic Alliances (SSAA) Program. 

“These grants ensure a pipeline of world-class scientists trained in areas of relevance to our stockpile stewardship mission,” said Dr. Kathleen Alexander, Assistant Deputy Administrator for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation in NNSA’s Office of Defense Programs. 

The University of Texas at Austin Center for Astrophysical Plasma Properties (CAPP) will receive $7 million over five years to focus on atomic and radiation physics of matter in a wide range of temperatures and densities.

Launched in 2002, the SSAA program supports areas of fundamental research and development that are relevant to NNSA’s stockpile stewardship mission. The program helps develop the next generation of highly-trained technical scientists and engineers for the Nuclear Security Enterprise.