The John and Marcia Price College of Engineering is pleased to announce that Dr. Supathorn (Supy) Phongikaroon will join the University of Utah as Professor of Nuclear Engineering beginning August 2025. He will hold the EnergySolutions Presidential Endowed Chair in Nuclear Engineering and serve as the new Director of the Utah Nuclear Engineering Program (UNEP).
Dr. Phongikaroon is nationally recognized for his academic leadership, innovative research, and dedication to students. He became Director of the Nuclear Engineering Program at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2018, serving first as Associate Professor. He was awarded the Qimonda Professorship from 2019 to 2020, and has held the title of Engineering Foundation Professor since 2021. Under his leadership, VCU’s Nuclear Engineering Program rose to No. 18 in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report national rankings.
“I’m thrilled to join UNEP at such an exciting time for Utah, where there’s so much momentum around nuclear energy,” said Phongikaroon. “With the University of Utah’s research reactor as a unique asset, we have a real opportunity to blend cutting-edge nuclear science with new energy applications and advanced medical research.”
A visionary academic and skilled collaborator, Dr. Phongikaroon has cultivated strong partnerships with national laboratories and industry, expanded online learning opportunities, and shaped a curriculum that emphasizes career preparation and real-world relevance for over 400 students. Through his direction, VCU established itself as a leader in nuclear energy and technology, with a strong focus on pedagogy, advanced reactor design, fusion, corrosion, radioisotope production, and non-proliferation.
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