Daniel Wachs, Ph.D., is the national technical director for the Reduced Enrichment Research and Test Reactors (RERTR) fuel development program in the Fuel Performance and Design Department at Idaho National Laboratory. In this capacity, he directs the research reactor fuel development program, including fuel fabrication, technology development, irradiation testing, fuel performance examination and fuel performance modeling. In addition, he coordinates the national and international program with other Department of Energy labs.

Dr. Wachs starting working for Argonne National Laboratory-West as a Ph.D. student in 1998. He has more than ten years of professional experience in irradiation testing, post-irradiation examination, fast reactors systems design and thermal hydraulics. He earned his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Idaho, an M.S. in nuclear engineering from Oregon State University and an M.S. in mechanical engineering from Oregon State University. Outside of work he enjoys competing in triathlons, hiking and backpacking.