The last nuclear power plants in Germany were taken offline in 2023. Solutions for decommissioning and the management of the resulting radioactive waste will remain necessary for decades to come. Since nuclear energy will continue to be used in neighboring European countries, it remains essential for Germany to possess expertise in reactor safety. Against this background, research at IFN-2 focuses on the safe management of highly radioactive waste, selected topics in reactor safety, and international safeguards. This work integrates experimental studies and simulations. To this end, we operate radiochemical laboratories and benefit from the excellent computational infrastructure at Forschungszentrum Jülich. Our activities are part of the Helmholtz Association’s NUSAFE (Nuclear Waste Management and Safety) research program and are complemented by national and international research projects. Training the next generation of experts is a key priority for us. To this end, doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers strengthen our team.

Institute director: Prof. Dirk Bosbach