Promoting long-term sustainability of nuclear power programs and infrastructure through capacity building, global dialogue and technical engagement in the fields of nuclear science and power reactor technology.

The Nuclear Program at UMass Lowell in collaboration with Czech Technical University in Prague developed the Intercontinental Nuclear Institute (INI). The program falls under the umbrella of the U.S. - Czech Civil Nuclear Cooperation Centre (CNCC) and has the assistance of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). INI is a training program designed for young professional working in the nuclear energy sector to advance and broaden their knowledge in the field. The annual summer institute, established in 2015, now has nearly 100 alumni around the world. The original co-directors Prof. Aghara and Prof. Radek Škoda of the Czech Technical University continue in their leadership role. The institute held on two continents, consists of four weeks of intensive hands-on training in reactor system fundamentals, operations and technology, advanced reactor design, radiation detection, dosimetry and protection, fuel cycle management and nuclear materials safety, as well as security and non-proliferation.

Conference Dates

  • October 12-23, 2026: Prague, Czech Republic
  • October 24 - November 6, 2026: UMass Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA

For more detailed information, please visit the Intercontinental Nuclear Institute Website.

2018 Poster Session Image by Allison Anderson
Poster Board Symposium and Reception

Who We Are

The Intercontinental Nuclear Institute (INI) is a 4-week summer fellowship training program for graduate students and young professionals designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of nuclear power plants, as well as the technical knowledge and skills needed to enter the growing global nuclear energy workforce.

The INI was developed through a partnership between UMass Lowell and the U.S.–Czech Civil Nuclear Cooperation Centre (CNCC) in Prague. The initiative is supported and recognized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of State and the Czech Government.

The INI was first offered in 2015 by co-directors Assoc. Prof. Sukesh Aghara of the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) and Assoc. Prof. Radek Škoda of Czech Technical University (CTU). In 2019, the program ushered in 28 new INI fellows who joined the prestigious group of now 132 alumni representing 25 countries: Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ghana, Egypt, Hungary, Jordan, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Czech Republic and the U.S.

The program leverages existing expertise and resources at both UML and CTU and in both the U.S. and the Czech Republic. Our aim is to engage a network of young professionals who will bridge the technology and knowledge gaps in the nuclear power sector, share best industry practices and spark interest that could lead to the next innovation in nuclear energy research.

Prof. Aghara is supported by several UMass Lowell faculty and staff members, including Research Prof. Marco Marzo (Secretary General, ABACC; previously associate director of INSSL) and Prof. Emeriti John R. White and Gilbert J. Brown (both of chemical engineering), Steve Snay (Director of Radiation Safety), Leo Bobek (Director, UMass Lowell Research Reactor) and several student reactor operators.

Distinguished speakers are invited to address the fellows during the INI banquet. In past years, Thomas (Sam) Sotirios, Program Manager Office of DOE, Nuclear Energy, Office of International Nuclear Safety and retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Clarke Orzalli, who served in the navy's nuclear submarine fleet addressed invited fellows, faculty, and corporate partners.

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