ISNPS Research Areas

Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Systems	Computational Fluid Dynamics
Advanced Radioisotope Power Systems (ARPSs)	Boiling Heat Transfer
Nuclear Systems Cybersecurity	Heat Pipe and Thermosyphons
Small Modular Reactors and Microreactors	Reactor Thermal Hydraulics

Founding Director

Mohamed El-Genk, Distinguished and Regents' Professor of Nuclear, Mechanical and Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Founding Director of the Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies has been named the recipient of the 2010 Donald Q. Kern Memorial Award by the Transport and Energy Process Division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. This award given in honor of Donald Q. Kern, a pioneer in process heat transfer, is one of the most prestigious in the world in recognizing significant contributions to the fields of applied heat transfer or energy conversion or in the translation of research results into useful technological applications. Dr. El-Genk joined the recognized leaders in the field of heat transfer who received this award since 1974.

He has also been named named the recipient of the American Nuclear Society thermal-hydraulics Technical Achievement Award for 2015. The award is in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the understanding of terrestrial and space reactor thermal hydraulics phenomena and for his impact on the thermal hydraulics community as a researcher, educator, and leader.

Dr. El-Genk was named the recipient of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 2017 Heat Transfer Memorial Award for his outstanding contributions to boiling enhancement; immersion cooling of electronics; forced, natural, and combined convection in rod bundles; heat pipes and thermosyphons; impinging and swirling jets heat transfer; thermal-hydraulics of nuclear reactors; and thermal management of space nuclear power systems.

He has also been named the recipient of the ANS 2021 Reactor Technology Award in recognition of extraordinary contributions towards advancing space and micro reactor technologies

Dr. El-Genk is a fellow of the American Nuclear Society, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety, and an associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is a member of the Assembly of the International Heat Transfer Conference (IHTC), the Organizing, Steering and U.S. Scientific committees of the 2010 14th IHTC, and the Scientific Committee of the International Center for Heat and Mass Transfer.

The four corners of the logo represent the points of a
compass and symbolize the role space nuclear power
can play in the exploration of new frontiers; the large
and small circles represent the integrated space system
with a nuclear reactor at it's center; the radiating
spirals symbolize the transfer of thermal and electric
energy to support the space mission; and the logo's
overall appearance ofsimplicity reflects the emphasis on
space nuclear power systems that can operate without
failure and provide reliable power.

Contact ISNPS

Mailing Address:
Institute for Space & Nuclear Power Studies
MSC01-1120
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Phone: 505.277.5431
Fax: 505.277.5433

ISNPS Researchers Awarded Patent for Novel Miniature Dual-Stage DC Electromagnetic Pump

Mohamed S. El-Genk is Distinguished and Regents’ Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Founding Director of the Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies at the University of New Mexico (https://isnps.unm.edu/publications/topic/ ), and Dr. Ragai Altamimi, El-Genk’s former PhD student who is currently a member of technical staff at DOE Oak Ridge National Laboratory. They conceived a novel high-performance of a dual-stage miniature Direct Current (DC) Electromagnetic pump design and demonstrated its superior performance and operation characteristics. This invention has recently been granted US Patent No. 2026/0254336 A1 on 27 August 2026.

This pump design with no moving parts is for circulating high-temperature fluids such as Alkali Liquid Metals of Na, K and Li and NaK eutectics, and molten lead and Lead-bismuth eutectic. These fluids are used for cooling nuclear reactor power systems for space exploration missions and planetary surface power on the Earth moon and plant Mars, micro nuclear reactors for terrestrial power generation, remote mining operations, research test loops, and industrial applications operating at temperatures up to 500^oC. El-Genk has 10 US patents issued to his credit and more than seven patents’ applications pending and disclosures. (https://isnps.unm.edu/publications/topic/space_nuclear_power_and_propulsion_systems/).