Contact Info
Office Phone
Biography
Jake Hecla is an Assistant Professor in the departments of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Nuclear Science and Engineering. He was previously a Stanton Postdoctoral Fellow in the MIT Laboratory for Nuclear Security and Policy from 2023-2025, where he researched air-breathing nuclear propulsion. His current research interests focus on emerging technologies, including aerospace nuclear power and propulsion, micro-reactors, and advanced radiation detection techniques. Hecla holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in nuclear engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and a S.B. in nuclear science and engineering from MIT. Hecla also serves as a science advisor to Clean Futures Fund, a U.S. nonprofit supporting those living near and working in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
Specialization and Research Interests
Nuclear power & propulsion for aerospace vehicles
Spacecraft thermal management
Radiation detection & imaging
Treaty verification
Contamination mapping & monitoring
Academic Degrees
Ph.D., SM, Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley; SB, Nuclear Science and Engineering, MIT