Materials Scientist
Idaho National Laboratory
Trishelle Copeland-Johnson is a Materials Research Scientist at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) with an expertise in strategizing multi-modal advanced characterization techniques to elucidate surface damage mechanisms of materials, notably corrosion of nuclear structural materials. Dr. Copeland-Johnson arrived at INL as a Glenn T. Seaborg Distinguished Postdoctoral Research Associate in 2021, investigating the role of actinide products on the corrosion mechanisms of Ni-based superalloys in chloride molten salts and the synergistic effects of gamma irradiation and radiolysis on the evolution of surface corrosion products on aluminum spent nuclear fuel cladding alloys. Dr. Copeland-Johnson transitioned to Materials Research Scientist in 2022 and currently leads a number of projects pertaining to characterizing molten salt corrosion mechanisms. She leads an INL laboratory-based research and development initiative to elucidate the role of long-range ordering phase transformations on the corrosion mechanism of Ni-based alloys in molten salts. She is also co-PI on a project funded by the Department of Energy Office of Basic Energy Sciences, leading groundbreaking efforts to investigate the impact iodide fission products on the corrosion mechanism of Ni-based alloys in chloride molten salts. Dr. Copeland-Johnson also leads a team evaluating the performance of additively manufactured SS316H after corrosion in molten salt for the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies program, funded through the Office of Nuclear Energy.