Riley Fisher

Riley Fisher is a third-year undergraduate student in the department of Nuclear, Plasma, & Radiological Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Prior to joining the SoTeRiA lab in September of 2022, Riley has taken courses that have created strong foundational knowledge in mathematics, statistics, physics, and energy systems. Riley is an active member in UIUC’s American Nuclear Society chapter, having participated in multiple outreach and volunteer events, and worked previously as an undergraduate teaching assistant for NPRE 101: Introduction to Energy Sources in the Spring of 2022 and 2023. In April of 2023, Riley earned an award for Best Nuclear Policy and Advocacy Presentation at the American Nuclear Society Student Conference for his work “Nuclear Engagement Education with Context of Impacted Tribal Nations.” Following this work, Riley was awarded the Department of Energy University Nuclear Leadership Program Scholarship, and was invited to attend the Nuclear Engineering Science and Technology (NEST) Small Modular Reactor Summer School at Idaho National Labs. Currently, Riley works on creating methodology to quantify risk associated with the implementation of digital twin technology in advanced reactors.

In addition to his involvement in the STEM field, Riley actively partakes in the performing arts. He serves as one of the section leaders on the Marching Illini student staff, holds the role of Treasurer in the Alpha Xi Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, and toured with the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps in their 2022 competitive season.