##  [Nuclear, Chemical and Isotopic Science and Technology](/science-technology/nuclear-chemical-isotopic-science-technology) 

# OUR RESEARCH

## **Nuclear, Chemical** and **Isotopic Science** and **Technology**



 



 

 



 

 



 

 

## What We Do

At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), our research addresses scientific understanding, capabilities and technologies in nuclear and particle physics, radiochemistry, cosmochemistry, forensic science and isotope systems to support our national security mission.

Leveraging unique experimental and computational tools, we study nuclear reactions, the limits of nuclear stability, actinide behavior, heavy-element chemistry, isotope geochemistry and environmental science. A dual focus on national security and fundamental science enables us to push the frontiers of discovery, such as cosmochemistry research that simultaneously explores the solar system’s history and supports LLNL’s nuclear forensics research.



 



 

 



 

 ![LLNL physicists experiment with antineutrino detectors](https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/styles/orig/public/2024-05/scorpius-pulser.jpg?itok=QJWj-GKx "Technologist assembling an ASD Scorpius pulser stage assembly")

  Technologist assembling an ASD Scorpius pulser stage assembly  

 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

## Who We Are



 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

Our multidisciplinary teams include nuclear and particle physicists, chemists and forensic and computer scientists supporting missions such as nuclear deterrence, counterterrorism, environmental remediation and space exploration. Meet some of the people who work in nuclear, chemical and isotopic science and technology:



 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

 [![Maria Anastasiou](/sites/www/files/styles/scalecrop200x200/public/2025-12/maria-anastasiou-headshot.jpg?itok=RLHcCM05)](#) [Maria Anastasiou](#) 

 Staff Scientist 

Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 ![Maria Anastasiou](/sites/www/files/styles/scalecrop200x200/public/2025-12/maria-anastasiou-headshot.jpg?itok=RLHcCM05) 

 

Maria Anastasiou

 Staff Scientist 

Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division

 

 

Physicist Maria Anastasiou leverages LLNL’s accelerators to study nuclear reactions — from supernova explosions in stars, to reactions that are important to the Lab’s efforts in nuclear forensics and maintaining a safe, secure and effective stockpile. She earned a doctoral degree at Florida State University, with a research focus on experimental nuclear astrophysics, before joining LLNL as a postdoc in 2019. In 2022, she converted to a staff scientist position.

Maria values the flexibility she finds at LLNL, where she can shift her research focus to new areas, such as her transition from astrophysics research to developing alternative ways to measure nuclear reaction probabilities. She also enjoys using the Lab’s research tools to fine tune experimental techniques, including particle accelerators and detector configurations. For example, she uses instruments at the Lab’s [Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (CAMS)](https://cams.llnl.gov/) to irradiate target material and she leverages high-sensitivity AMS and gamma spectroscopy techniques to measure isotopes produced during the irradiation.

In addition, she’s eager to mentor future scientists, which motivated her to collaborate with four Lab scientists to launch a new [internship program at LLNL](https://www.llnl.gov/article/51856/becoming-nuclear-scientist-llnl-traineeship-inspires-sjsu-students) where undergraduate students from a nearby university participate in hands-on nuclear science research at CAMS. The interns approach their research collaboratively, each taking on a different aspect of a project, such as preparing targets, conducting irradiation experiments, and analyzing nuclear reaction data. Maria’s perspective on the workplace culture at LLNL reflects this same theme — she values a highly collaborative environment, where she can interact with a variety of experts including chemists, materials scientists and data scientists.



 

 

 

 



 

 [![Silvina “Silvi” Di Pietro](/sites/www/files/styles/scalecrop200x200/public/2025-06/silvi-di-pietro-ncist.jpg?itok=De2yN73m)](#) [Silvina “Silvi” Di Pietro](#) 

 Research Staff Scientist 

Materials Science Division

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 ![Silvina “Silvi” Di Pietro](/sites/www/files/styles/scalecrop200x200/public/2025-06/silvi-di-pietro-ncist.jpg?itok=De2yN73m) 

 

Silvina “Silvi” Di Pietro

 Research Staff Scientist 

Materials Science Division

 

 

Silvina “Silvi” Di Pietro received her Ph.D. in environmental chemistry from Florida International University in 2021. She joined the Class of 2021 National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Graduate Fellowship Program as a postdoctoral scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Upon successfully completing her NNSA postdoctoral appointment, she transitioned to a research position at LLNL. Currently, she is working on both the Nuclear Materials Program’s Chemical Operations team as a certified fissile material handler and the Simulating Processing of Actinides and Developing Expertise (SPADE) project within the experimental team.

During her graduate studies, she was a Department of Energy (DOE) Fellow at the [Applied Research Center](https://fellows.fiu.edu/silvina-di-pietro-chemistry/) (ARC). At the ARC, she assisted in the development of ammonia gas injection for uranium remediation at the DOE’s Hanford Site in Washington State. In 2022, Silvi was selected by the highly competitive CAS Future Leaders program sponsored by the American Chemical Society, the 2018 Innovators in Nuclear Technology R&D awarded by the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy and the 2016 Roy G Post Scholarship Foundation awarded by the Waste Management Symposia. She has been an International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)’s Division VI “Chemistry and the Environment” member since 2021.

When she’s not pushing the limits of chemistry, Silvi enjoys cycling, hiking, painting, traveling, watching soccer games and exploring art museums.



 

 

 

 



 

 [![Ruth Kips](/sites/www/files/styles/scalecrop200x200/public/2023-09/ruth-kips-biopic.jpg?itok=vjZkQHmt)](#) [Ruth Kips](#) 

 Group Leader and APL 

Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 ![Ruth Kips](/sites/www/files/styles/scalecrop200x200/public/2023-09/ruth-kips-biopic.jpg?itok=vjZkQHmt) 

 

Ruth Kips

 Group Leader and APL 

Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division

 

 

Nuclear engineer and analytical chemist Ruth Kips travels around the world working with allied nations to advance their nuclear forensic science and capabilities — and counter risks of nuclear smuggling. As the Lab’s associate program lead for nuclear smuggling detection and deterrence, Ruth delivers workshops on the importance of nuclear forensics and collaborates with partner countries on sample analysis.

The workshops are part of the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)’s [Global Material Security (GMS) program](https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/nonproliferation), aimed at preventing terrorists from acquiring nuclear or radiological material.

“Including nuclear forensics in the GMS portfolio enhances its detection capabilities at border crossings, seaports and airports,” Ruth says. “If nuclear material is found outside of regulatory control, the partner country can determine what the material is and where it came from. Forensics experts can determine what it is, its intended use and the threat level.”

With a master’s degree in nuclear engineering, a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry, several years conducting research in uranium-particle analysis, and a stint at the [International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)](https://www.iaea.org) as an inspector verifying that countries adhere to nuclear nonproliferation treaty commitments, Ruth holds a wealth of experience in each stage of the nuclear fuel cycle.



 

 

 

 



 

 [![Nicolas Schunck](/sites/www/files/styles/scalecrop200x200/public/2023-03/biopic-nicolas-schunck.jpg?itok=HZ4DDTRC)](#) [Nicolas Schunck](#) 

 Staff Scientist 

Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 ![Nicolas Schunck](/sites/www/files/styles/scalecrop200x200/public/2023-03/biopic-nicolas-schunck.jpg?itok=HZ4DDTRC) 

 

Nicolas Schunck

 Staff Scientist 

Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division

 

 

When he was growing up, Nicolas Schunck recalls always wanting to know ‘why’ things are the way they are. He says, “My desire to seek answers and bring a sense of order to the universe has inspired and fueled my scientific career as a theoretical nuclear physicist.”

Nicolas’s research for the Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division in the Physical and Life Sciences Directorate focuses on the fundamental mechanisms of nuclear fission and the development of theoretical methods to describe the structure and decay of heavy atomic nuclei. He has more than a decade of experience in high-performance computing applications on leadership-class computers and is active in the development and exploration of machine learning techniques to improve computational nuclear theory. For the last several years, Nicolas has served as principal investigator for the Fission in R-process Elements topical collaboration in nuclear theory, joining with five different institutions to better understand where and how heavy elements are formed in the universe. He has developed both a national and an international network of collaborations. Before joining Livermore as a staff scientist, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Surrey (UK), Universidad Autonoma de Madrid and University of Tennessee.

Nicolas holds a Ph.D. in theoretical nuclear physics, an M.S. in nuclear physics and a B.S. in physics from the University of Strasbourg (France).



 

 

 

 



 

 [![Quinn Shollenberger](/sites/www/files/styles/scalecrop200x200/public/2024-11/quinn-shollenberger.jpg?itok=ao7yjs4t)](#) [Quinn Shollenberger](#) 

 Isotope Cosmochemist 

Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 ![Quinn Shollenberger](/sites/www/files/styles/scalecrop200x200/public/2024-11/quinn-shollenberger.jpg?itok=ao7yjs4t) 

 

Quinn Shollenberger

 Isotope Cosmochemist 

Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division 

 

 

Quinn Shollenberger analyzes isotopes in meteorites and returned asteroid material to better understand our solar system. She also leverages her expertise in mass spectrometry to conduct mission-critical nuclear forensics research.

She started her journey at LLNL as an intern after earning her bachelor’s degree, diving into exciting cosmochemistry and nuclear forensics research projects. While pursuing a doctoral degree in cosmochemistry at the University of Münster in Germany, she returned to LLNL as a graduate intern. This experience led to a postdoctoral researcher role, and later a staff position at LLNL.

During her time as a postdoc, she received an internal funding award that enabled her to [study a tiny sample from the Ryugu asteroid](https://www.llnl.gov/article/48926/asteroid-sample-lands-llnl) to learn about isotopic reservoirs in our early solar system. Quinn continues to develop and apply new analytical techniques, using sophisticated mass spectrometry instruments to measure a sample’s isotopic composition.

She enjoys working in a highly collaborative, multi-focus research environment, where she can explore big questions, like the formation of our solar system, while applying the same research methods to reduce the threat of smuggled nuclear materials.

For Quinn, the people she gets to work with are a big part of why she likes her job. She’s excited to collaborate with other LLNL cosmochemists and nuclear forensics experts, and she values connections with scientists from other institutions. On-site recreational activities, like lunchtime sand volleyball, also enrich her work environment.



 

 

 

 



 

 [![Jingke Xu](/sites/www/files/styles/scalecrop200x200/public/2023-11/biopic-jingke-xu-3x.jpg?itok=awJC30sY)](#) [Jingke Xu](#) 

 Staff Scientist 

Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 ![Jingke Xu](/sites/www/files/styles/scalecrop200x200/public/2023-11/biopic-jingke-xu-3x.jpg?itok=awJC30sY) 

 

Jingke Xu

 Staff Scientist 

Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division

 

 

Jingke Xu felt inspired to become a scientist at a young age because he enjoyed pondering problems that may or may not have answers. “As a scientist, every day brings something new — sometimes exciting and sometimes challenging,” he says. “I also try to apply scientific thinking to everyday life, both at the technological level and at the sociological level.” As a father, he enjoys explaining science to a young daughter, who asks, “Why?” dozens of times a day.

While studying for his doctorate, Jingke worked on the detection of ghostly neutrinos from the Sun and the yet-to-be-discovered dark matter. Now, working as an experimental particle physicist in the Laboratory’s Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division, Jingke develops new particle detection instruments and pushes existing technologies to their limits. He collaborates with scientists from universities and other national laboratories to hunt for rare particle interaction events. “LLNL provides a wonderful platform for me to pursue not only science but the applications of science,” he says.

Jingke holds a Ph.D. in particle physics from Princeton University and a B.S. in physics from the University of Science and Technology of China.



 

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

## Our Latest News



 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

 
  var domain_url = "https://contenthub.llnl.gov";


 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

[See All Latest News](https://www.llnl.gov/news)



 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

## Our Current Projects



 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

Our research teams explore nuclear and particle physics, chemistry and isotopic signatures, developing cutting-edge tools to uncover new chemical signatures or study nuclear reactions to make the world a safer place.



 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

  ![A qubit that looks like a silver with black lines arranged inside.](/sites/www/files/styles/orig/public/2025-03/quantum-qubit.jpg?itok=MTFHVrMY)

 

 ## [Simulating Nuclear Reactions with Novel Quantum Computing Solutions](https://str.llnl.gov/str-julyaugust-2024/revolutionizing-quantum-science)

Researchers are developing quantum computing algorithms to simulate nuclear dynamics, enabling realistic simulations of reactions that are too difficult to measure experimentally or model with classical supercomputers. For example, scientists are using existing noisy quantum devices to simulate neutron interactions and [particle scattering](https://www.llnl.gov/article/52451/quantum-computers-successfully-model-particle-scattering), paving the way to compute nuclear reactions using future fault-tolerant quantum platforms, with applications in astrophysics and nuclear science research.



   

 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

  ![Cross-section of a time projection chamber.](/sites/www/files/styles/orig/public/2026-03/dark-matter-xenon-detector.jpg?itok=JF-hP6RC)

 

 ## [Searching for Dark Matter](https://str.llnl.gov/str-september-2025/casting-light-dark-matter)

Our researchers are exploring dark matter, which plays a crucial role shaping the structure and appearance of our universe. In an effort to detect and characterize these tiny particles, LLNL physicists are collaborating with scientists at other institutions to design and test large, highly sensitive liquid xenon detectors, which can capture data regarding how dark matter interacts with xenon — bringing them closer to understanding this mysterious form of matter.



   

 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

  ![A scientist working with a piece of lab equipment.](/sites/www/files/styles/orig/public/2026-02/cosmochemistry-1.jpg?itok=_JBgDfhv)

 

 ## [Analyzing Asteroids to Understand Our Origins](https://str.llnl.gov/str-september-2025/cosmochemists-grasp-early-solar-system)

Our cosmochemists study asteroid fragments collected in space to piece together the history of our Solar System. Unlike extraterrestrial material that is altered as it passes through Earth’s atmosphere and lands on Earth’s surface, these pristine asteroid samples were gathered by uncrewed spacecrafts. Researchers use LLNL’s powerful mass spectrometry instruments to measure the material’s elemental composition and isotope ratios. They collaborate with data scientists to analyze findings, providing insight into how the asteroids formed and changed over time.



   

 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

 

 

## Our Facilities, Centers and Institutes



 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

The Laboratory is home to several state-of-the-art facilities and centers to help researchers tackle the hardest and most complex nuclear deterrence and homeland security missions.



 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

         

### CAMS

#### Center for Mass Spectrometry

CAMS researchers use diverse analytical techniques and state-of-the-art instrumentation to develop and apply ultra-sensitive isotope ratio measurements and ion beam analytical techniques.

[Learn More About CAMS](https://cams.llnl.gov/)



 

 ![large testing chamber](/sites/www/files/styles/orig/public/2023-03/llnl-facilities-centers-institutes-cams.jpg?itok=bDpkkfhg)

 

 

 

 

 

 

### CFF

#### Contained Firing Facility

The Contained Firing Facility (CFF) handles large-scale, non-nuclear, hydrodynamic experiments with full containment of hazardous materials. Unique diagnostics record experimental results for nuclear weapons and explosives research and development.

[Learn More About CFF](https://sd.llnl.gov/facilities/hydrodynamic-explosives-testing/site-300-experimental-test-site)



 

 ![Scientist standing next to large equipment with view ports](/sites/www/files/styles/orig/public/2023-03/llnl-facilities-centers-institutes-cff.jpg?itok=gc0Bk5JQ)

 

 

 

 

 

 

### EMC

#### Energetic Materials Center

The Energetic Materials Center conducts research and development on the performance of high explosives in support of the Laboratory’s defense, nuclear deterrence and homeland security missions.

[Learn More About EMC](https://str.llnl.gov/2021-08/leininger)



 

 ![rendering of particals through glass](/sites/www/files/styles/orig/public/2023-03/llnl-facilities-centers-institutes-emc.jpg?itok=TIj8laWi)

 

 

 

 

 

 

### FSC

#### Forensic Science Center

The Forensic Science Center (FSC) is home to nationally recognized scientists and capabilities to prepare for, characterize and respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats.

[Learn More About FSC](https://forensicscience.llnl.gov)



 

 ![Scientist checking on experiment](/sites/www/files/styles/orig/public/2023-03/llnl-facilities-centers-institutes-fsc.jpg?itok=dRaYdFfH)

 

 

 

 

 

 

### Seaborg

#### Glenn T. Seaborg Institute

The LLNL branch of the Seaborg Institute conducts collaborative research with the academic community in radiochemistry and nuclear science, contributing to the education and training of students, postdocs and faculty.

[Learn More About the Seaborg Institute](https://seaborg.llnl.gov)



 

 ![Scientist checking on experiment](/sites/www/files/styles/orig/public/2023-03/llnl-facilities-centers-institutes-seaborg.jpg?itok=ERAXU6qK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

### Livermore Center for Quantum Science

The Livermore Center for Quantum Science fosters a thriving quantum research community at LLNL, enabling multidisciplinary teams to harness the power of quantum-enabled technology to solve increasingly complex national security challenges.

[Learn More About Quantum Research at LLNL](https://quantum.llnl.gov/)



 

 ![A researcher working on a quantum testbed.](/sites/www/files/styles/orig/public/2025-03/quantum-testbed-slider.jpg?itok=4UjGwyxz)

 

 

 

 

 

 

### PE

#### Polymer Enclave

The Polymer Enclave accelerates the design-to-deployment of additively manufactured weapon components critical to modernizing the U.S. nuclear stockpile.



 

 ![Polymer Enclave machine room](/sites/www/files/styles/orig/public/2023-03/llnl-facilities-centers-institutes-pe.jpg?itok=js-Eak10)

 

 

 

 

 

 

### SSI

#### Space Science Institute

The Space Science Institute’s (SSI) multidisciplinary teams address key questions in astrophysics and planetary science by analyzing, modeling and interpreting data obtained by existing observatories. We also analyze extraterrestrial materials on-site and develop technology and instrumentation for future observatories.

[Learn More About SSI](https://space-science.llnl.gov)



 

 ![Scientist holding material at space science institute](/sites/www/files/styles/orig/public/2023-03/llnl-facilities-centers-institutes-ssi.jpg?itok=h_IhkL9b)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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## Related Organizations



 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

World-class science takes teamwork. Explore the organizations that contribute to our nuclear, chemical and isotopic science and technology research by clicking the images below.



 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

[ ![Employees working on a weapon.](https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/styles/scalecrop200x200/public/2023-01/about-our-organizations-wci.jpg?itok=x1QJFTAZ "Strategic Deterrence")](https://sd.llnl.gov/)  
[Strategic Deterrence](https://sd.llnl.gov/)



[ ![Individuals monitoring an emerging incident.](https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/styles/scalecrop200x200/public/2026-09/star-org-image.jpg?itok=NX7munYy "Strategic Threat Analysis and Response")](https://star.llnl.gov/nuclear-threat-reduction)  
[Strategic Threat Analysis and Response](https://star.llnl.gov/nuclear-threat-reduction)



[ ![LLNL Physical and Life Sciences](https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/styles/scalecrop200x200/public/2023-01/about-our-organizations-pls.jpg?itok=k6mDYvq2 "Physical and Life Sciences")](https://pls.llnl.gov/research-and-development/nuclear-and-chemical-sciences)  
[Physical and Life Sciences](https://pls.llnl.gov/research-and-development/nuclear-and-chemical-sciences)





 



 

 



 

 



 

 

 

## Join Our Team

We offer opportunities in a variety of fields, not just science and technology. We are home to a diverse staff of professionals that includes administrators, researchers, creatives, supply chain staff, health services workers and more. Visit our careers page to learn more about the different career paths we offer and find the one that speaks to you. Make your mark on the world!



 



 

 



 

[View Open Jobs ](https://www.llnl.gov/join-our-team/careers/find-your-job)