Alcorn Health Physics, Advanced Technologies students attend Nuclear Instrumentation Training in Texas

Alcorn Health Physics, Advanced Technologies students attend Nuclear Instrumentation Training in Texas 13_Advanced Tech

Alcorn State, Miss. (January 25, 2013) – Alcorn State University’s Health Physics students recently attended nuclear instrumentation training in Sweetwater, Texas. The two-day hands-on training was offered by the Ludlum Measurements, Incorporated. Activities focused on instruments calibration, repair, and maintenance – some of the tools that are mandatory for health physicist professionals’ career. The following students attended the training: sophomores Michael Yeaboah, Margret Normishei, Joseph Dimpah, juniors Matthew Carradine, Innocent Tsorxe, Harrison Agordzo, seniors George Osei, Maxwell Gidi, Christopher Franklin, and graduate student Teneka Williams.

Initiated in 2007 with just two students, Alcorn’s Health Physics Program has grown its enrollment to an average 45 students. The program has also developed advanced research facilities and capabilities.

The HP subdivision operates two laboratories – Nuclear Instrumentation Laboratory (NIL), primarily developed for student training, and Radiation Detection and Monitoring Laboratory (RDML) that focuses on research.

“Both labs were developed using Department of Energy (DOE) funds,” shared Jeremiah Billa, faculty in the Department of Advanced Technologies and director of the laboratories, who secured the grant in 2012. “And now, Alcorn students have an opportunity to acquire substantial radiation instrumentation training during their educational training period”.

“Nine of our students participated in the Grand Gulf Outage program in 2011-2012, and almost eight of our graduates secured jobs in the nuclear industry,” stated a proud Dr. Kwabena Agypeong, chairman of the Department. “In Advanced Technologies we ensure that students are well-trained to join in their related workforce.”

Professor Steve Adzanu added, “The Department’s goal is to continue providing students with practical training opportunities that they can utilize when joining the workforce or continuing on to graduate school. The Department would like to thank Mr. Donald Ludlum, CEO, and Mr. Randy Smith, manager of Training Programs at Ludlum Measurements Inc. for holding the training session for Alcorn students.”

Pictured: Advanced Technologies students and faculty with the manger of training programs, Ludlum Measurements Inc., Randy Smith at the Ludlum Measurements head quarters in Sweetwater, Texas.