Mummah named to Nuclear News’ 40 Under 40 list

Research and development engineer Katie Mummah of Los Alamos National Laboratory has been recognized as a rising leader in nuclear science, an honor reserved for 40 American Nuclear Society (ANS) members younger than 40. Awardees were selected by ANS Nuclear News publication staff, who reviewed nominations from workplaces and society colleagues.

See the 40 Under 40 list

Mummah is part of the Nuclear Systems group within Global Security’s Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation division, where she and her team support the Laboratory’s mission to prevent the illicit spread of weapons-usable nuclear materials. Her technical work spans nonproliferation, nuclear fuel cycle modeling and neutronics. Her primary focus is on deploying advanced nuclear reactors while maintaining a strong commitment to nonproliferation.

What she did: Mummah’s achievements cover fuel cycle simulation, safeguards and science communication. Her research at Los Alamos integrates system-scale nuclear fuel cycle modeling with international safeguards analysis to enhance the capabilities and reach of both fields. Her skill in translating complex technical concepts has strengthened the broader nuclear community, particularly through her mentorship of students and early-career professionals.

Of note:

• Recipient of an ANS Presidential Citation and the Wisconsin Initiative for Science Literacy Award for Communicating Ph.D. Research to the Public.
• Served as the chair of the ANS Student Sections Committee during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Earned a doctorate in nuclear engineering and engineering physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; her thesis explored innovative applications of nuclear fuel cycle simulators for international safeguards.

LA-UR-25-32001