Utah State University Signs Nuclear Research Partnership With Idaho National Laboratory
USU and INL Formalize Collaboration Under SUPER Agreement
LOGAN, Utah / IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Utah State University and Idaho National Laboratory have formalized a research partnership aimed at advancing nuclear energy solutions, with the two institutions signing a memorandum of understanding on May 11, 2026, in a ceremony at USU’s Logan campus.
USU President Brad L. Mortensen and INL Deputy Lab Director Todd Combs signed the agreement at the David B. Haight Center, marking what both institutions describe as a significant step in collaborative energy and security research. The partnership is being conducted through INL’s managing contractor, Battelle Energy Alliance, and carries the formal title Strategic Understanding for Premier Education and Research — abbreviated as SUPER.
The agreement formalizes and expands an existing working relationship between USU and INL, strengthening joint efforts across energy research, security technology, and academic programming. It also creates new pathways for USU students and faculty to engage directly with federal laboratory research initiatives.
“The partnership through SUPER places Utah State at the forefront of discovery for meeting Utah’s energy needs,” Mortensen said in a press release. He also referenced Utah’s Operation Gigawatt, the state initiative announced by Gov. Spencer Cox in October 2025 with a goal of doubling Utah’s energy-generating capacity by 2035. Plans under that initiative include the development of a nuclear facility in northern Utah.
Combs underscored INL’s enthusiasm for the agreement, noting it “marks an important step forward in our partnership and creates new opportunities to expand the capacity, efficiency and impact of critical research initiatives.” He added that joint workshops, conferences, and a shared faculty appointment program are anticipated under the deal.
Broad Research Scope Covers Nuclear, Critical Minerals, and Cybersecurity
While nuclear energy sits at the center of the SUPER agreement, the collaboration extends across a wide range of research areas. Among the areas of focus outlined in the agreement:
- Research and development related to nuclear power support services, including material recycling, product separation, waste monitoring, and radiation detection
- Environmental engineering and water-use modeling for nuclear systems and fuel cycle applications
- Tools for extracting and processing critical minerals, as well as energy storage systems with radiation shielding and damage testing components
- Automation, control systems, and cybersecurity for machinery and vehicles
The memorandum also leaves room for additional collaboration beyond the listed categories, allowing both institutions flexibility to pursue emerging research priorities as they develop.
Idaho National Laboratory sits northwest of Idaho Falls near Atomic City and operates as one of 17 national laboratories under the U.S. Department of Energy. It is among the country’s premier nuclear energy research facilities. Idaho has separately been competing to host a new Nuclear Innovation Campus that could significantly expand INL’s workforce and research footprint.
The agreement also signals growing regional momentum behind nuclear energy as both Idaho and Utah look to expand domestic power generation capacity. For USU, entry into the nuclear research space aligns the university with one of the most consequential energy policy conversations in the Mountain West.
Combs said INL views the collaboration as having implications well beyond the two institutions involved. “The critical work INL does with USU is of the utmost importance to our region, our nation and the future of energy and national security,” he said.
INL has been an active player in a range of national security and energy initiatives beyond nuclear power research. The laboratory recently joined a landmark partnership focused on countering drone threats to U.S. airspace, reflecting its expanding role in technology and defense research.
What Comes Next
With the memorandum now signed, USU and INL are expected to begin standing up joint workshops, research programs, and the shared faculty appointment structure described in the agreement. The partnership also positions Utah State to play a direct role in Utah’s Operation Gigawatt energy expansion efforts. No specific timeline for individual research project launches was announced. Further details are expected as the two institutions move from agreement signing to active collaboration.