From Navy Submarines to MIT: Lauren Fortier’s Mission to Automate Nuclear Operations

Can practical experience from the depths of the ocean revolutionize the future of clean energy? MIT PhD student Lauren Fortier is leveraging her years as a nuclear plant operator for the U.S. Navy to tackle one of the industry’s most persistent challenges: the automation of nuclear power plants. Her unique background provides a bridge between high-stakes operational reality and cutting-edge computational research, aiming to make nuclear energy more scalable and efficient.

Fortier’s work focuses on creating sophisticated autonomous systems that support, rather than replace, human expertise. By automating routine tasks and providing intelligent decision support, her research addresses the critical workforce shortage in the nuclear sector. This integration of AI and human oversight is designed to enhance safety and operational reliability, potentially clearing the path for the wider global adoption of nuclear energy as a cornerstone of the green transition.