Profile Picture

Kristy Spencer

Advanced Reactor Spent Fuel Analyst

Research Areas:
Advanced Energy Systems; Data Science; Molten salt reactors; Nuclear; Nuclear Engineering; Nuclear fuel cycle; Nuclear Fuel Performance, Management and Disposition; Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning; Reactor Physics (Neutron Transport); Sensitivity Analysis and Uncertainty Quantification; Systems engineering and integration

Biography:

​Dr. Kristy Spencer is an advanced reactor spent fuel analyst in the Used Fuel Management Department at INL. In this role, she provides technical support for spent fuel storage, transportation, disposition for advanced reactor designs, and develops algorithms for used fuel assembly selection in dry casks. Spencer’s primary project is the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment between INL, Southern Company, and TerraPower, in which she serves on the integrated product team, on the engineering analysis team, and as one of the INL leads for the primary project objectives. 

Prior to joining INL, Spencer was a qualified criticality analyst in the Nuclear Criticality Safety Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). During her time at LANL, she led the development of the Los Alamos Benchmark Suite in collaboration with the MCNP and Nuclear Data groups. Spencer received her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M University. She also spent a year working with the FAST reactor group at the Paul Scherrer Institute as a Fulbright Fellow. She is currently the communications committee chair for U.S. Women in Nuclear.






Digital Profiles:
Education:

​Ph.D., Nuclear Engineering – Texas A&M University

M.S., Nuclear Engineering – Texas A&M University

B.S., Nuclear Engineering – Texas A&M University

Publications:

Journal Publications

Kristina Yancey Spencer, Pavel V. Tsvetkov, and Joshua J. Jarrell, “Validation of the GAMMA-PC Methodology for Dry Cask Loading Optimization," Progress in Nucl. Energy, vol. 117, doi:10.1016/j.pnucene.2019.04.009 (2019).

Kristina Yancey Spencer, Pavel V. Tsvetkov, and Joshua J. Jarrell, “A Greedy Memetic Algorithm for a Multiobjective Dynamic Bin Packing Problem for Storing Cooling Objects," Journal of Heuristics, vol. 25, pp. 1 – 45 (2019).

Kristina Yancey Spencer, Pavel V. Tsvetkov, and Joshua J. Jarrell, “Optimization of Dry Cask Loadings for Used Nuclear Fuel Management Strategies," Progress in Nucl. Energy, vol. 108, pp. 11 – 25 (2018).

Kristina Yancey Spencer, Laura Sudderth, Ryan A. Brito, Jordan A. Evans, Clifford S. Hart, Anbang Hu, Andi Jati, Karyn Stern, and Sean M. McDeavitt, “Sensitivity study for accident tolerant fuels: Property comparisons and behavior simulations in a simplified PWR to enable ATF development and design," Nucl. Engineering and Design, vol. 309, pp. 197 – 212 (2016).

Kristina Yancey and Pavel V. Tsvetkov, “Variability Analysis of Spent Fuel Inventory Data," Progress in Nucl. Energy, vol. 81, pp. 184 – 185 (2015).

Kristina Yancey and Pavel V. Tsvetkov, “Quantification of U.S. Spent Fuel Inventories in Nuclear Waste Management," Annals of Nucl. Energy, vol. 72, pp. 277 – 285 (2014).

Refereed Conference Abstracts

Cole M. Kostelac, N.W. Thompson, R.G. Sanchez, J.D. Hutchinson, K.Y. Spencer, W. Haeck, and J.L. Alwin, “Validation and Independent Uncertainty Analysis of the MIX-SOL-THERM-003 ICSBEP Benchmark," Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., vol. 123, LA-UR-20-24749 (2020).

Jennifer L. Alwin, F.B. Brown, J. Clarity, I. Duhamel, F. Fernex, L. Leal, R.C. Little, B.J. Marshall, M.E. Rising, E. Saylor, and K.Y. Spencer, “S/U Comparison Study with a Focus on USLs," Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., vol. 123, LA-UR-20-24758 (2020).

Dalton T. Wise, B.J. Madahar, K.Y. Spencer, J.L. Alwin, and W. Haeck, “Validation of MCNP Critical Benchmark Models of Moderated Highly Enriched Uranium Slabs," Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., vol. 123, LA-UR-20-24771 (2020).

Wim Haeck, K.Y. Spencer, and J.L. Alwin, “Benched: Upgrading and Updating the Los Alamos Benchmark Suite for the 21st Century," Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., vol. 123, LA-UR-20-24777 (2020).

Robert Holt Mendleski, K.Y. Spencer, E.D. Moll, R.F. Sartor, J.L. Alwin, and W. Haeck, “Validation of MCNP Critical Benchmark Models of PU-MET-FAST-016," Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., vol. 123, LA-UR-20-25118 (2020).

Kristina Yancey Spencer, “The Effect of Size and Shape in Heterogeneous Systems of Small Uranium Pieces," Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., vol. 121, pp. 912 – 915, Washington, D.C. (2019).

Isabelle Duhamel, J.L. Alwin, F.B. Brown, M.E. Rising, K.Y. Spencer, D. Heinrichs, S. Kim, B.J. Marshall, and E.M. Saylor, “International Criticality Benchmark Comparison for Nuclear Data Validation," Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., vol. 121, pp. 873 – 876, Washington, D.C. (2019).

Isabelle Duhamel, J.L. Alwin, F.B. Brown, M.E. Rising, K.Y. Spencer, D. Heinrichs, S. Kim, B.J. Marshall, and E.M. Saylor, “International Benchmarks Intercomparison Study for Codes and Nuclear Data Validation," Proc. Int. Conf. Nucl. Crit. Saf., 11th, Paris, France (2019).

Kristina Yancey Spencer, Pavel V. Tsvetkov, and Joshua J. Jarrell, “Development of a Greedy Method for Used Fuel Selection in Dry Cask Storage," Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., vol. 118, pp. 151 – 154, Philadelphia, PA (2018).

K. Yancey, K. Mikityuk, J. Krepel, and A. Chenu, “Development and Application of a Comprehensive Model of a Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor Using the FAST Code System," Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., vol. 105, pp. 699 – 700, Washington, D.C. (2011).

Other Publications

J.L. Alwin, F.B. Brown, M.J. Lazaric, B.R. Murphy, and K.Y. Spencer, “Comparison Study of Upper Subcritical Limits Derived Using Sensitivity/Uncertainty Tools Case Studies of Benchmarks and Applications," report to the U.S. DOE NCSP, LA-UR-20-28129 (2020).

J.L. Alwin, K.Y. Spencer, F.B. Brown, I. Duhamel, and M.E. Rising, “LANL Critical Benchmark Comparison Study and Subsequent Revision," report to the U.S. DOE NCSP, LAUR-20-23376 (2020).


Presentations:

Invited Talks

K.Y. Spencer, “Fissile Material Outside of Reactors and the Los Alamos Benchmark Suite," virtual seminar at University of Wisconsin, Madison, March 30, 2021.

K.Y. Spencer, “The European Lead-cooled System and Other Advanced Nuclear Studies," seminar at University of Tennessee, Knoxville, April 20, 2018.

Kristina Yancey, “Life as a Fulbright Fellow at the Paul Scherrer Institut," presented at IFNEC's 7th Infrastructure Development Working Group, Rome, Italy (2010).

Other Presentations

K.Y. Spencer, J.L. Alwin, and W. Haeck, “Spring 2021 Update on the Los Alamos Benchmark Suite," presented at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA) Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Cooperation (WPEC), Subgroup 45 Validation of Nuclear Data Libraries (VaNDaL) Project meeting, LA-UR-21-24478, May 10 – 14, 2020.

M.E. Rising, J. Alwin, F. Brown, C. Perfetti, B. Riedel, K. Spencer, and D. Timmons, “MCNP6 Recent Updates on Modernization, R&D, and Release Plans," NCSP Technical Program Review, LA-UR-21-21534, February 23, 2021.

K.Y. Spencer, J.L. Alwin, and W. Haeck, “Los Alamos Benchmark Suite Update," presented at the OECD/NEA WPEC, Subgroup 45 VaNDaL Project meeting, LA-UR-20-29256, November 09 – 16, 2020.

Wim Haeck, J.L. Alwin, and K.Y. Spencer, “The way forward," presented at the OECD/NEA WPEC, Subgroup 45 VaNDaL Project meeting, LA-UR-20-23470, May 10 – 15, 2020.

Wim Haeck, J.L. Alwin, and K.Y. Spencer, “Policy driven input file generation applied to MCNP," presented at the OECD/NEA WPEC, Subgroup 45 VaNDaL Project meeting, LA-UR-20-23471, May 10 – 15, 2020.

Wim Haeck, J.L. Alwin, K.Y. Spencer, I. Duhamel, N. Leclaire, and C. Percher, “Progress Review," presented at the OECD/NEA WPEC, Subgroup 45 VaNDaL Project meeting, LA-UR-20-23471, May 10 – 15, 2020.

Kristina Yancey Spencer, Gwyn Rosaire, Akansha Kumar, Charles Stratton, Jonathan Scherr, and Pavel V. Tsvetkov, “Exploration into Disruptive Technologies for Nuclear Energy," presented at the American Nuclear Society's 2015 Winter Meeting, Washington, D.C. (2015).

Kristina Yancey, “Nationwide Used Fuel Inventory Analysis," presented at the Texas A&M Nuclear Engineering Department Seminar, College Station, TX, December 2, 2014.

Kristina Yancey, “Sustainability of Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles," presented at TAMU Student Research Week, College Station, TX (2010). Best Undergraduate Poster award.

Kristina Yancey, “Verifying Antineutrino Detector Results Using DRAGON," presented at Lawrence Livermore's Summer Student Symposium, Livermore, CA (2009).


Awards:

​LANL Spot Award for creativity in developing a material library tool (2019)

National Science Foundation GRFP Fellowship (2013 – 2016)

Philanthropic Education Organization Jane Hines Scholar (2014 – 2015)

U.S. Department of State Fulbright Fellow – Switzerland (2010 – 2011) ​


Version: 1.0
Created at 12/7/2021 7:14 AM by Tiffany M. Adams
Last modified at 12/7/2021 7:14 AM by Tiffany M. Adams