Nuclear power, to many people, is a daunting field surrounded by stigmas and misconceptions. To Assistant Professor Nirupama Sensharma, however, nuclear energy presents an incredible opportunity for scientific growth.
Sensharma joined the faculty in the Department of Physics & Astronomy in August 2026. Her research centers on how the atomic nucleus behaves under different conditions, identifying deformations in nuclear shapes and analyzing their behavior. Beyond the laboratory, Sensharma is passionate about educating the public on the benefits of nuclear science.
Originally from India, Sensharma earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Delhi. After a mentor connected her with Notre Dame Professor Umesh Garg, whose research interests closely aligned with hers, Sensharma applied to Notre Dame for her doctorate.
“When I first came to Notre Dame in 2015, it was scary,” Sensharma said. “Nobody in my family had ever left the country, let alone lived abroad for a prolonged period.”
However, the Notre Dame community quickly welcomed her.
“After I came to Notre Dame, I saw that the people were so friendly,” she explained. “If they knew that I was struggling, they would always try to help me, so I did not feel alone.”
After earning her doctorate in 2021, Sensharma completed two postdoctoral fellowships. She worked for two years at the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL) in North Carolina, followed by three years at the Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, IL. Following these experiences, Sensharma noticed a job opening in the nuclear physics department at Notre Dame and was eager to return.
“Moving away from Notre Dame, I really missed that kind of community where everyone is encouraging one another,” Sensharma said.
She teaches Radioactivity and Society, a science-requirement course for non-science majors.
“This class is perfect for me to begin with because I feel very passionate about talking to people about the safety aspects of radiation,” Sensharma explained. “I enjoy sharing all the good things nuclear energy brings to our lives.”
This objective aligns closely with Sensharma’s outreach initiative to promote the benefits of nuclear energy. As a doctoral student at Notre Dame, she participated in the “Social Responsibility for Researchers” program through the John J. Reilly Center. This program encouraged graduate students to develop projects that connected their research to their social responsibilities.
Sensharma took this initiative even further by founding her own online initiative, thebetterenergy.net. She and her team write and publish articles educating the general public on the benefits of nuclear power. This startup remains active, and Sensharma hopes to expand her website in collaboration with existing Notre Dame programs.
“I’m a big supporter of nuclear energy,” Sensharma said. “I thought that I could use my knowledge and education to help others understand how nuclear power can be used for peaceful purposes.”
In her free time, Sensharma especially enjoys reading Agatha Christie novels.
Originally published by at science.nd.edu on September 30, 2026.