- Dr. Michael Tonks was elected an American Nuclear Society fellow.
- The fellowship was endorsed by University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Kumar Sridharan, who nominated Tonks following 15 years of collaboration.
- As ANS fellow and chair of the Materials Science & Technology Division, Tonks will continue to promote collaboration and mentor future nuclear materials scientists.
Michael Tonks, Ph.D., the newly appointed chair of Material Science & Engineering, is celebrating another honor: He was recently selected as a fellow of the American Nuclear Society, known as ANS.
“To receive this award from my peers at ANS shows how valuable and impactful our work is,” said Tonks.
For over 70 years, ANS has promoted the development of nuclear sciences and technologies. As a professional organization, ANS offers a variety of collaborative services such as scholarships, workshops, and a wide selection of awards for members.
The society has grown over 12,000 aspiring scientists and active professionals. ANS members include students, doctors, engineers, educators and advocates.
Tonks was introduced to ANS while completing his postdoc at Idaho National Laboratory’s nuclear engineering department. Since 2008, Tonks has been an active participant in ANS meetings and a member since 2018.
The fellowship distinction is awarded to those who have made significant contributions to the advancement of nuclear science and technology. During his time at INL, he was involved in the development of commonly used fuel performance codes known as MARMOT and BISON. After leaving INL, he continued his efforts to predict nuclear material behavior. He has helped explore transforming the approach to nuclear material models and has become a pioneer on examining the performance of materials and fuels in reactor environments.
This year, ANS inducted six new fellows into the society. The selection process is based on nominations submitted by current fellows, along with a collection of support letters and final approval by the ANS Board of Directors.
University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Kumar Sridharan, Ph.D., nominated Tonks for the fellowship after working closely for 15 years together on collaborative projects and on the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society nuclear materials committee.
“I regard him as one of the most important and respected leaders in the field of nuclear materials modeling, both nationally and internationally,” Sridharan said. “He has been both a scientific and programmatic leader in this field for nearly two decades and has had an indelible positive impact on the next generation of nuclear materials scientists and engineers.”
Being an ANS fellow, and the newest chair of the ANS Materials Science & Technology Division, Tonks will continue encouraging collaboration and more opportunities for future scientists.
“Professor Tonks has been a prolific educator and mentor for the next generation of scientists and engineers in nuclear materials modeling,” said Sridharan.
ANS President Hash Hashemian, Ph.D., agrees.
“Dr. Tonks is recognized for transforming nuclear materials modeling through innovative simulation methods, and for his exceptional commitment to mentoring the next generation of nuclear engineers and researchers,” said Hashemian.
The 2026 fellowship class was presented during the ANS Annual Conference on June 1.