Speaker Bio

Tyler Spano completed her B.A. in earth science and chemistry in 2012 from Kean University, and her Ph.D. in uranium mineralogy and nuclear forensics at the University of Notre Dame in 2017. Her graduate research with Dr. Peter C. Burns focused on synthesis and structure-property relationships in uranium minerals and inorganic phases. Tyler was co-advised by Dr. Antonio Simonetti during her graduate work and completed a ND Energy Postdoctoral fellowship under his direction during which she developed novel nuclear forensic methods for analysis of uranium minerals and nuclear fuel cycle materials. Following her postdoctoral appointment at the University of Notre Dame, Tyler completed a two-year postdoctoral appointment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory where she investigated synthetic pathways and spectral signatures of exotic uranium oxide phases and phase transitions in uranyl peroxides. In 2020, she converted to an R&D Associate Nuclear Security Scientist at ORNL, and her current research includes material synthesis, optical vibrational spectroscopic, and X-ray diffraction investigations of structure-property relationships of nuclear fuel materials and related phases for nuclear nonproliferation. Tyler is actively involved in outreach activities and currently serves as Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the Mineralogical Society of America.