Dr. Karlsson is a research scientist and is currently the technical lead for the Molten Salt Thermophysical Examination Capability (MSTEC) a shielded hot cell containing advanced high temperature thermophysical and thermochemical characterization equipment. Toni is also working on development of analytical techniques for analysis of salts as well as development of methods and procedures for reducing sampling error. Toni is actively engaged in the development of NQA-1 procedures and adopting those to encompass thermophysical property measurements for molten salt reactor vendors.

At INL, Dr. Karlsson has investigated phase stability of molten salts in a uranium electrorefiner and how the build-up of fission products in the salt impacts the thermal properties.  This work made it possible to predict a spent fuel treatment processing scenario under which electrorefining could no longer be performed as a result of increasing liquidus temperatures of the salt. Finally, Dr. Karlsson has research experience in highly radioactive, remote, and high temperature environments.