In December 2024, Kaelee Novich successfully defended her PhD dissertation entitled, “Additively manufactured DIC patterns for extreme environments and the emerging technology impact on the licensing of nuclear reactors.” Kaelee took a unique approach to her materials science doctoral degree – relating her technical research to policy analysis. In order to meet current and future energy demand, the U.S. will have to expand the nuclear reactor fleet. However, there have been no new reactors in the last 30 years besides the Vogtle Expansion Project. The U.S. Congress highlighted lack of modern reactor licensing as an issue to nuclear energy expansion. Kaelee’s dissertation focused on the advancement of in-pile, in-situ reactor monitoring through the use of digital image correlation (DIC), an optimal method to measure materials deformation. New technologies, like DIC, can improve the licensing process through improving safety inspections for current and future reactor systems.
In June of 2023, Kaelee transitioned from nuclear energy to nuclear security after participating in a graduate fellowship through the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Today, Kaelee is a full time technical program analyst at Leidos and supports the Depleted Uranium Modernization Program at NNSA. Kaelee often briefs elected and appointed government officials regarding the U.S. Nuclear Stockpile and visits national laboratories to learn from subject matter experts in the field.
Kaelee grew up in Nampa, ID and attended Columbia High School, where she graduated as valedictorian of her class. From 7th grade, Kaelee was fascinated by CAD modeling and joined Boise State University in Fall 2020 as a mechanical engineering student. Kaelee learned about the materials science and engineering field during her sophomore year while taking a class with Dr. Amy Moll. After three weeks in the course, Dr. Moll introduced Kaelee to Dr. Brian Jaques, who then offered her an undergraduate research position in the Advanced Materials Laboratory (AML). Kaelee was instantly interested in nuclear energy and spent the majority of her higher education finding ways to get more involved in the field through starting an American Nuclear Society student chapter at Boise State. In Spring 2020, Kaelee graduated magna cum laude with a BS in mechanical engineering and honorable distinction from the Honors College. During this time, Kaelee was also awarded Boise State’s most prestigious undergraduate honor, Top Ten Scholar.
Besides her research studies, Kaelee competed in competitive speech and debate from 2016-2020 and was the 2019 national champion in Discussion Debate. She continues to support the Talkin’ Broncos through virtual coaching sessions with the team and being a volunteer debate judge at nearby tournaments. Kaelee also likes the outdoors and enjoys camping, hiking, and hunting with her family.
