Three College of Engineering Ph.D. students were selected for the prestigious Training in Radiological and International Nuclear Security (TRAINS) Fellowship.
Emily Gunger, Enrique Medici and Hannah Patz were among five students selected nationwide for the highly competitive global nuclear security program recognizing graduate students who demonstrate strong academic achievement, research excellence and a clear commitment to advancing nuclear and international security.
The TRAINS Fellowship strengthens international collaboration in nuclear security by connecting graduate students with leading universities and national laboratories in the United States and Europe. Sponsored by the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the highly selective program provides advanced training in nuclear security and nonproliferation.
Fellows gain hands-on experience through coursework and facility tours at major research institutions in Europe and the United States, including training at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Savannah River National Laboratory.
Gunger, a third-year Ph.D. candidate from Fort Myers, studies nuclear engineering after earning her bachelor’s degree in astronomy and astrophysics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Her research focuses on improving large-scale particle detectors used in nuclear reactor monitoring.
“Being selected for the TRAINS Fellowship feels like a profound honor and a sincere acknowledgment of my dedication to radiological protection and nuclear security,” Gunger said. “It opens a unique window to deepen my technical expertise and collaborate with leading experts in the field.”
Her current research involves developing a measurement system known as the Florida-Livermore Attenuation and Scattering Experiment (FLASE), which studies how light travels through liquid-based neutrino detectors. By measuring how light fades and scatters within these systems, Gunger’s work helps researchers better understand how well detectors can observe neutrinos produced by nuclear reactors.
These detectors can act as a monitoring tool by measuring neutrinos emitted during reactor operations, providing a real-time and nonintrusive way to track reactor activity and fuel changes. The technology has important implications for nuclear safeguards and international security by offering new methods to monitor nuclear materials and ensure they are used responsibly.
Through the TRAINS Fellowship, Gunger hopes to expand her technical knowledge while engaging with experts across the nuclear security field.
Her mentor, Associate Professor Andreas Enqvist, Ph.D., said Gunger’s early involvement in neutrino research and her strong academic record made her an exceptional candidate for the fellowship and reflect the kind of interdisciplinary expertise the field of nuclear security requires.
“Emily’s work bridges cutting-edge neutrino detector research with the broader mission of nuclear nonproliferation,” Enqvist said. “Her technical accomplishments, academic excellence and commitment to advancing nuclear safeguards make her exceptionally well prepared to contribute to the goals of the TRAINS Fellowship.”
For Medici, the fellowship represents more than just a professional milestone; it highlights a deep personal achievement.
Originally from Italy, Medici immigrated to South Florida with his family in 2010 and later chose the University of Florida for its strong academics. He earned his undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering at UF and is now continuing his doctoral studies, where he conducts research at the intersection of engineering and national security.
“Personally, it reminds me that all of the effort and work I put into my research and the potential I have shown to be an emerging leader in the field of national security have been recognized and rewarded,” Medici said. “Professionally, it serves as a stepping stone for a successful progression of my Ph.D. and career.”
Medici’s dual U.S.-Italian citizenship aligns with the TRAINS Fellowship mission, which bridges nuclear-security education and research between the United States and Europe. Combined with his research focus on nuclear national security and experience through multiple national laboratory internships, he felt like the program was a natural fit.
His mentor, Professor Kyle C. Hartig, Ph.D., said Medici’s technical expertise and collaborative approach make him well-suited for the fellowship’s multidisciplinary and international focus.
“Enrique has made impressive contributions at the intersection of nuclear engineering and national security,” Hartig said. “Those qualities, combined with his strong technical foundation and commitment to real-world impact, make him an excellent representative for UF and a very deserving recipient of this fellowship.”
Patz, a third-year Ph.D. candidate and UF nuclear engineering alumna from DeBary, Florida, was also selected for her strong research background and growing focus on nuclear security and safeguards. Her research centers on improving a detector used in nuclear forensics to better identify and locate radioactive material within samples.
“Professionally, being part of TRAINS allows me to build my network, connect with others in my field and hear different perspectives on complex problems within nuclear sciences,” said Patz.
Through her work with the Consortium for Nuclear Forensics, Patz has completed research and training at multiple national laboratories, including Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Savannah River National Laboratory.
She said the fellowship aligns with her long-term career goal of working in nuclear security and safeguards, particularly by exposing her to international policy, governance and regulatory frameworks that extend beyond the technical focus of her research.