Kelsey Reynolds leads nuclear waste management programs

Environmental Waste Specialist Kelsey Reynolds is helping the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory achieve nuclear inventory reduction goals.

“Every day brings a new challenge as I make progress toward our goals,” said Reynolds. ​“This pushes me to be resourceful and collaborative in solving complex issues.”

Reynolds initially joined Argonne in 2015 as a contracted field chemist in the Nuclear, Waste, and Site Services division. In the following decade, her work has evolved many times as she has taken on new challenges.

“The Transuranic Waste Program mitigates a long-term environmental and safety risk. This is a critical part of Argonne’s mission, ensuring the responsible management of nuclear materials to keep our community — and our nation — safe.” — Kelsey Reynolds, environmental waste specialist at Argonne

After working as a contracted deployed waste specialist, Reynolds launched Argonne’s Deployed Chemical Specialist Programs within the Energy Quad buildings. This initiative was designed to improve chemical safety and compliance across the labs.

“It wasn’t just about managing chemicals,” Reynolds explained. ​“We created a system that ensured their proper delivery, tracking, labeling and storage.”

Reynolds designed the Deployed Chemical Specialist Programs from the ground up. This put her in direct, one-on-one contact with Argonne’s researchers. She learned to confidently communicate with them to find solutions for issues that arose. This experience greatly boosted her confidence and taught her invaluable skills in problem-solving and collaboration.

The success of Reynold’s program and her contributions to Argonne’s Safe Labs Initiative were formally recognized in June 2021, when she received an employee of the month internal award.

Reynolds said, ​“This award was a powerful affirmation of the impact I was making. It showed me that my work was not only important, but also visible and valued.”

The lab’s Core Values have a profound impact on Reynolds’ daily work.

“The environment at Argonne, rooted in the Core Values, makes me feel comfortable being my authentic self,” Reynolds shared. ​“This sense of belonging and respect from my colleagues has been fundamental to our success. We know that our contributions are necessary and valued.”

Currently, Reynolds leads the Transuranic Waste Program. She is responsible for planning the entire lifecycle of transuranic and low-level radioactive waste, from characterization and certification to packaging and handling for offsite disposition. This work is critical to achieving the lab’s nuclear inventory reduction goals.

“The Transuranic Waste Program mitigates a long-term environmental and safety risk,” Reynolds added. ​“This is a critical part of Argonne’s mission, ensuring the responsible management of nuclear materials to keep our community — and our nation — safe.”

Argonne accelerates the science and technology that drive U.S. prosperity and security. Argonne staff are thinkers, builders, problem-solvers and caretakers — every person and every role contributes to the laboratory’s impact on the world.

Reflecting on her decade at the lab, Reynolds offered some advice: ​“Don’t let your doubts hold you back. My career at Argonne has shown me that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, and that true growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone to do what needs to be done.”