Nuclear engineering alum picked for Forbes’ 30 under 30

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A Purdue University alumnus was selected by Forbes magazine for its annual “30 Under 30” list of outstanding researchers who are younger than 30.

Ian Hamilton, who earned his master’s degree last year in nuclear engineering from Purdue, was selected for his work in creating a source of energy from the decay products of spent nuclear fuel.

Hamilton and three other Purdue undergraduate students initially founded Atlas Energy Systems, LLC, to expand and commercialize that nuclear research. He continues as CEO of the company.

He also continues his research developing technologies utilizing spent nuclear fuel through the Chain Reaction Innovations program at Argonne National Laboratory. Hamilton was one of only five chosen to join the program in 2017.

A video is available at https://youtu.be/0Ke8ReW86s4.

Hamilton has shown great experience as an entrepreneur, said Seungjin Kim, the Capt. James McCarthy, Jr. and Cheryl E. McCarthy Head of the School of Nuclear Engineering. 

 “This is a great example of taking initiatives in transforming innovative ideas into an entrepreneurial success,” Kim said. “I met Ian at Argonne National Laboratory in December, and he is already moving forward with turning other new ideas into practical products.”

Hamilton got his BS at Purdue in Materials Engineering in 2015.

Forbes magazine’s list spotlights “the impressive, the inspiring and the (genuinely) enviable.” It includes “600 young stars in 20 different industries.” This is the seventh year that Forbes has published the list. 

Writer: Brian L. Huchel, 765-494-2084, bhuchel@purdue.edu 

Source: Seungjin Kim, 765-494-5742, seungjin@purdue.edu