“I’m extremely grateful and humbled to be named a Rickover Fellow because the fellowship is highly selective,” Balog said. “This is also, in a way, an award for my mother. She never went to college, but definitely had the potential to excel at any college or university; now all three of her children will have or be pursuing doctorates. My father also deserves a fair amount of credit through his work as a civil engineer. Talking with him about his job formed the cornerstone of my interest in engineering. Without those experiences, I have no idea who or where I would be.”
Balog, who earned bachelor’s degrees in nuclear engineering and mechanical engineering from Penn State in 2019, primarily investigates the effects of stress on the formation and dissolution of hydrogen-containing compounds in fuel rod cladding materials for nuclear reactors. These compounds can affect the safety and performance of fuel rods during operation and waste storage.
Prior to starting his graduate studies, and while attending Penn State as an undergraduate student, Balog worked as a technical intern in multiple locations for the Naval Nuclear Laboratory (NNL). NNL supports the Navy, SCUREF, and other organizations through career and research programs. He also worked at Westinghouse Electric Corp. in Cranberry Township as a technical intern.
“Being awarded this fellowship speaks highly of the nuclear engineering department as a whole,” said Balog, who is advised by Arthur Motta, professor and graduate program chair of nuclear engineering. “It’s been extremely exciting to be part of the vanguard of the new nuclear engineering department and contribute to it becoming a top-ranked program in the country.”