Nuclear fission is the world’s main source of electricity with near-zero greenhouse-effect-inducing carbon dioxide emissions. The more than 440 commercial nuclear power plants operating in 31 countries provide over 11 per cent of the world’s electricity as continuous and reliable base-load power. Another 60 reactors are under construction. Durham Region is home to two nuclear power plants, both within a 30 km radius of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). To remain an important contributor to Ontario’s energy supply, CANDU reactors must satisfy ever-increasing economic and safety demands. In particular, increasingly detailed and accurate simulation models are required for the safety analysis of existing and future CANDU reactors. To that end, Eleodor Nichita, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science, is primarily focused on computational reactor and radiation physics to ensure the long-term safety of these and other nuclear power plants. In collaboration with the University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering and Ontario Power Generation, Dr. Nichita’s latest research focuses on modelling the static and dynamic behaviour of CANDU reactors and on developing CANDU computational benchmarks to be used to evaluate existing and emerging reactor-physics computational tools. His other research investigates the dynamic characteristics of Pressure-Tube Supercritical-Water-Cooled Reactors (which contribute to the design of the control and safety systems of the Canadian Generation IV advanced reactor concept); computational radiation dosimetry studies for the protection of radiation workers; and medical radionuclide production methods. Dr. Nichita’s motivation to confront two of the world’s most critical issues – energy and health, spurred his educational path. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics from the University of Bucharest in Romania, a Master of Science in Medical Physics from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and both a Master of Health Physics and a Doctorate in Nuclear Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. He then moved back to Canada and spent his first six years in the industry as a reactor core physicist for Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, before joining Ontario Tech University in 2004 as an assistant professor. A former President of the Canadian Nuclear Society, Dr. Nichita has earned several awards for his work.