Summary of Research
Neutron-induced reaction network data for unstable nuclei remain severely limited despite their importance in stockpile stewardship applications, leaving current libraries reliant on high-uncertainty theoretical predictions. My doctoral work addresses this gap by leveraging aqueous isotope harvesting at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) to develop high-purity rare-isotope targets for precision reaction measurements. At FRIB, heavy-ion beam irradiation of a flowing water target enables the collection, purification, and distribution of radionuclides that cannot be readily produced elsewhere. By developing harvesting and purification schemes that overcome the limitations of traditional isotope production methods, radioisotopic purities exceeding target requirements can be generated for high-precision experimentation at advanced nuclear science facilities. The resulting data for radioactive targets will strengthen nuclear libraries, thereby improving computational predictive models used to interpret and inform stewardship science.
Publications
Satija, S.; Kleinfeldt C.R.; Bodnar, V.S.; Blanco, J.R.; Austin, K.; Vyas, C.K.; Medvedev, D.G; Cutler, C.S.; Severin, G.W. Production and Performance of a 172 Hf/ 172 Lu generator. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-58603-x
Austin, K.M.; Frizzell, J.K.; Neighmond, A.A.; Moppel, I.J.; Ryno, L.M. L-Arabinose Alters the E. coli Transcriptome to Favor Biofilm Growth and Enhances Survival During Fluoroquinolone Stress. Microorganisms 2025, 13, 1665. https://doi.org/10.3390/ microorganisms13071665
Austin, K.; Glennon, K.; Shusterman, J. Evaluating Microfluidic Extraction of Pu from Fission Products under Oxidized Conditions. Poster presentation at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Summer Student Showcase, Livermore, CA, 2026.
Austin, K.M.; Severin, G. Aqueous Harvesting of 47Ca for the Generation of 47Sc. Oral poster presentation at the Basic Training School on Accelerator Applications in Nuclear Physics, National Accelerator Center, Seville, Spain, June 2025.
Austin, K.M.; Moppel, I.; Ryno, L.M. Transcriptomic analysis of L-arabinose treatment on E. Coli biofilm and planktonic cells. Oral poster presentation at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas, March 2024.
Awards
Research Enhancement Award, Michigan State University, 2025
High Honors, Oberlin College, 2024
Biochemistry Award, Oberlin College, 2024
American Chemical Society certified bachelor's degree in chemistry and biochemistry, Oberlin College, 2024
Nuclear Chemistry Summer School Fellow, Division of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology of the American Chemical Society, 2023