left to right: Wei Huang, Director of the IAEA’s Division of Planning, Information and Knowledge Management; Angela Veitch, Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to International Organizations in Vienna; Dr. Baljit Singh, USask Vice-President Research; Mikhail Chudakov, Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Energy; Carolynn Scherer, Head of the IAEA’s INPRO Section; Olena Mykolaichuk, Director of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology; and Dr. Jafar Soltan, Associate Dean, Research and Partnerships, USask College of Engineering.
From left: Wei Huang, Director of the IAEA’s Division of Planning, Information and Knowledge Management; Angela Veitch, Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to International Organizations in Vienna; Dr. Baljit Singh, USask Vice-President Research; Mikhail Chudakov, Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Energy; Carolynn Scherer, Head of the IAEA’s INPRO Section; Olena Mykolaichuk, Director of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology; and Dr. Jafar Soltan, Associate Dean, Research and Partnerships, USask College of Engineering. (Photo: Submitted)

USask signs international agreement to bolster nuclear research, education, training

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) is known as a nuclear research powerhouse on the Prairies, and a new agreement is set to further position the university as a global leader in nuclear technology research, education, and training.

By Research Profile and Impact

On July 24, 2026, USask and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed an agreement to collaborate on, support, and enhance nuclear research and training opportunities between the two organizations.

It provides a framework for USask to offer further education and training for professionals across Canada, as well as for expanding research and expertise in the field for the future.

The agreement was signed at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria, by USask Vice-President Research Baljit Singh and Mikhail Chudakov, deputy director and head of the Department of Nuclear Energy at the IAEA. The IAEA is an autonomous international organization within the United Nations system with the mandate to promote safe, secure, and peaceful nuclear technologies among its global members.

USask is a nuclear research hub actively exploring and innovating in various areas, such as nuclear medicine, nuclear fuels and energy, the safe processing and storage of nuclear waste, and public policy related to growing nuclear technologies.  

With cutting-edge facilities on campus including the Saskatchewan Cyclotron Facility, which is operated by the Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation Inc. (Fedoruk Centre), and the Canadian Light Source (CLS), Canada’s only synchrotron, USask is uniquely positioned to be a key player in the future of nuclear research and technology in Canada.

The framework for the agreement was developed with the support of Jafar Soltan, associate dean, research and partnerships, with USask’s College of Engineering.  

In 2025, USask’s College of Engineering hosted the Canadian National Nuclear Energy Management School (NEMS) in co-operation with the IAEA, an intensive program aimed at supplementing mid-level professionals with nuclear energy education.  

Earlier this year, the College of Engineering also hosted the Executive NEMS program for senior leaders and decision-makers across industry, government, and academia—the first executive-level IAEA nuclear management program ever offered in Canada.  

left to right: Wei Huang, Director of the IAEA’s Division of Planning, Information and Knowledge Management; Angela Veitch, Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to International Organizations in Vienna; Dr. Baljit Singh, USask Vice-President Research; Mikhail Chudakov, Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Energy; Carolynn Scherer, Head of the IAEA’s INPRO Section; Olena Mykolaichuk, Director of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology; and Dr. Jafar Soltan, Associate Dean, Research and Partnerships, USask College of Engineering.
Dr. Baljit Singh, USask Vice-President Research, and Mikhail Chudakov, Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Energy, signing the agreement at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna.

 

QUOTES: 

“USask is always striving to demonstrate the world-class impact of our research, scholarly, and artistic work. This agreement with the IAEA will help grow USask’s already strong foundation of nuclear research and education and help connect local talent and expertise with a global network.” – Baljit Singh, USask vice-president, research

“This agreement positions USask as a Canadian hub for nuclear training and innovation. The IAEA has already been a tremendous partner for USask as we continue to grow our capacity for nuclear research and education, and I look forward to the opportunities this agreement will help create for Canada’s nuclear industry.” – Jafar Soltan, associate dean, research and partnerships, USask College of Engineering

“For many decades now, the University of Saskatchewan has been making significant contributions to the advancement of nuclear science, supporting progress in nuclear energy, including fusion, as well as a variety of non-power applications in medicine, agriculture and hydrology. As nuclear power’s global momentum continues to gather pace, collaborative endeavours like the one we are about to embark on are more important than ever.” – Mikhail Chudakov, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy