Karen Wright is the Instrument Scientist for the EPMA at the Materials and Fuels Complex at Idaho National Laboratory, which she joined in 2000. She set up and operated a JEOL 8900 electron probe microanalyzer for use in studying environmental samples such as radiologically contaminated sediments and asbestiform minerals. More recently, she set up and operated a Cameca SX100R shielded electron probe microanalyzer for the purpose of analyzing irradiated nuclear fuels. In addition to analysis, she has been involved in the construction of transuranic standards and the design of remotely-handled standards and other equipment.
Karen holds a master’s degree in geological science. Karen initiated a session for the analysis of irradiated materials at the Microscopy and Microanalysis annual conference and has chaired it. She also served as membership chair for the Microanalysis Society for three years. She recently worked as a visiting scientist at the Institute for Transuranium Elements in Karlsruhe, Germany. In addition to work with microanalysis, Karen has developed radiological decontamination methods, for which she holds two patents and won an R&D100 award.

• Electron probe microanalysis of irradiated nuclear fuels to include metal, oxide, and TRISO type fuels

• Development of primary and secondary check standards to increase the accuracy of EPMA analysis of irradiated fuels

• Developing and testing radiological decontamination methods