UNLV’s doctoral program in radiochemistry has long been a powerhouse for nuclear science, producing experts who now lead the nation’s most critical security and research missions. It also boasts a 100% job placement rate, says Wendee Johns, program manager of the Nuclear Security Science and Technology Consortium and UNLV's Radiochemistry Ph.D. program.
Founded in 2004, the program celebrated its first Ph.D. graduate in 2008 by commissioning a caricature. The tradition has stuck and now all 45 graduates are featured on the Radchem Wall of Fame in the chemistry building. Here, we highlight five of them.
Caricatures by Erica Deutsch
The Innovator: Keil Holliday, ’09
In the program’s early years, founding director Ken Czerwinski broke barriers by allowing students to work directly with radionuclides like plutonium and technetium. Keil Holliday embraced this "Ka-Boom!" level of innovation from the start. Today, Holliday is a permanent staff member at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), serving as the associate superblock director for plutonium—one of only two facilities in the country dedicated to defense plutonium research and development.
The Mystery Solver: Bradley Childs, ’17
Specializing in volatile technetium oxide compounds under Frederic Poineau, Childs’ Ph.D. studies were marked by a "mysterious red compound" that defied immediate identification. His curiosity, backed by a DOE Fuel Cycle Innovations award, propelled him to his current role as a research scientist in the Chemistry of Nuclear Materials Group at Lawrence Livermore.
The Global Strategist: Cassara Higgins, ’22
Known for her love of ultimate frisbee and her dog, Bailey, Higgins’ research under chemistry professor and Vice President of Research David Hatchett was as visually stunning as it was scientifically significant, featuring samples that shifted into vibrant blue-green hues. After presenting award-winning research in Sydney, Australia, she now serves as the acting first line manager for the Aqueous Nitrate Team at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), ensuring the reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile.
The Molten Salt Girl: Hannah Patenaude, ’24
With a dissertation focused on electrochemistry techniques for uranium and plutonium in molten salt fuel systems, Patenaude’s caricature as the “Molten Salt Girl” is a perfect fit. During her graduate studies, she founded the Women in Nucleus group and secured a prestigious Nuclear Energy University Program fellowship that supported her research. This path led her to Los Alamos National Laboratory as a Glenn T. Seaborg Institute Fellow, where she completed her doctoral work. Upon graduating, she accepted a Director’s Postdoctoral Fellowship to continue her specialized research on molten salts.
The Explorer: Joel Castillo, ’24
Whether he’s outdoors or in the lab, Castillo is always ready for an adventure. Working with professor Art Gelis, Castillo used MRI technology to measure uranium at temperatures as low as -90°F. His award-winning research, supported by the Nuclear Science and Security Consortium, has led him to a postdoctoral fellowship at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory within the Nuclear Chemistry and Engineering Group.
