Inside a nuclear reactor, materials must withstand heat, radiation, and corrosion for years. Understanding how these conditions can change reactor components is essential to assessing how long they can remain safely in service and to developing new reactors altogether.

As Canada looks to expand nuclear energy, a new research institute at Queen’s is bringing together expertise, infrastructure, and partnerships to tackle these challenges. Recently launched, the Materials at Extremes Nuclear Research Institute (MAX-Nuclear) aims to support safe and sustainable nuclear technologies today, while advancing new ones that could move Canada toward a net-zero future.

MAX-Nuclear is one of four Tier 1 Research Institutes at Queen’s. It builds on a nuclear materials research program that began at Queen’s in 2002 and is led by Scientific Director Mark Daymond, Canada Research Chair in Nuclear Materials and Mechanics of Materials.

The institute studies how existing and emerging materials perform under the demanding conditions in current and next-generation nuclear reactors, including small modular reactors (SMRs). Its researchers bring expertise in corrosion, materials used in reactor structures, computational modelling, and the effects of radiation. This work can help guide decisions about current and future reactor design and maintenance in Canada and abroad.

Building on Queen’s nuclear research strengths

At the core of MAX-Nuclear is the Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory (RMTL). There, specialized equipment lets researchers simulate key aspects of reactor conditions in a controlled setting. Tests and detailed imaging then allow them to connect microscopic changes within a material to its overall performance. Opened in 2015 with support from a $20 million investment from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Research Fund, the RMTL has since attracted another $20 million in funding.  

"Building the nuclear materials research program at Queen’s to this level has been a deliberate process centred around recruiting outstanding people, establishing the Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory, and continuing to earn the trust of our industry and government partners," says Dr. Daymond. "MAX-Nuclear strengthens our standing both nationally and internationally, bringing our researchers together under one banner to speak with a credible voice and help shape the research that will support the operation of existing reactors, and that next-generation reactors will depend on."

MAX-Nuclear’s research community includes 16 core and associate faculty members from Queen’s and the Royal Military College. Among them is Yanwen Zhang, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Impact of Radiation in Energy and Advanced Technologies, who joined Queen’s in 2024. Supported by an $8 million CERC program, Dr. Zhang seeks to predict how metal alloys deteriorate inside reactors. This knowledge could support safer, longer-lasting components, including the cladding that protects reactor fuel.

Researchers, students, staff, and members affiliated with MAX-Nuclear gather together to mark the launch of the new Queen's research institute in October 2026.

Connecting research to Canada’s nuclear future

Bringing this expertise and infrastructure together through MAX-Nuclear helps researchers pursue larger projects and build partnerships as Canada’s nuclear sector evolves. The institute works with other universities, government, industry, and international research networks to connect its research with the needs of Canada’s nuclear sector and help strengthen Canada’s role in the global energy transition.

"MAX-Nuclear builds on Queen’s longstanding strengths in nuclear materials research and demonstrates how bringing together leading researchers, specialized infrastructure, and industry partnerships can help address some of Canada’s most pressing challenges," says Nancy Ross, Vice-Principal (Research and Innovation). "By advancing safer, more sustainable nuclear technologies and training the next generation of researchers, the institute will contribute to Canada’s clean energy future while strengthening our leadership in research and innovation."

Training the next generation of nuclear researchers is another part of the institute’s mandate. With more than 70 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research associates, and technical staff involved in its work, MAX-Nuclear offers graduate internships and interdisciplinary professional development to help prepare emerging researchers for careers in energy and nuclear materials.

Learn more about MAX-Nuclear and nuclear materials research at Queen’s.