Faculty and Staff Features for February 2017: Sama Bilbao y León, Ph.D.

Image of Sama

Bilbao y León was named chair of the Virginia Nuclear Engineering Consortium, which represents stakeholders including nuclear energy companies, suppliers and local organizations who support the advancement of the nuclear industry.

Bilbao y León’s research examines thermal-hydraulics, two-phase flow and heat transfer for nuclear applications. This work may be applied to the design of advanced nuclear power plant concepts that rely on sophisticated thermal-hydraulics phenomena. She is also interested in the area of energy and environmental policy, energy planning and nuclear infrastructure development in emerging nuclear countries and developing countries. She has participated as an observer in the fifth, sixth and 11th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change, sponsored by the United Nations.

In 2010, Bilbao y León was re-elected to the national board of directors of the American Nuclear Society. She co-founded the North American Young Generation in Nuclear organization and received the 2007 Founder Award for her leadership, vision and dedication.