Show-Me State Times

The University of Missouri has selected Michael Hoehn II as the inaugural program director for NextGen MURR. NextGen MURR, the university’s initiative to build a 20 MW, state-of-the-art reactor, aims to expand critical medical isotope research and production for cancer treatment and theranostics. This project will build on the internationally recognized excellence of the 10 MW MU Research Reactor (MURR), the only U.S. producer of four medical isotopes used in lifesaving treatments for liver, thyroid, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. NextGen MURR will serve as an innovation and manufacturing hub for nuclear medicine in the United States.

Hoehn begins his new role on June 6.

“Hiring Michael Hoehn as our new program director is a major milestone in moving NextGen MURR forward,” said University of Missouri President Mun Choi. “We are confident that he will provide the expertise, leadership and vision to oversee the planning of the new reactor and ensure the university’s position as the most important resource for medical isotopes in the United States.”

Reporting to Matt Sanford, executive director of MURR, Hoehn will provide his technical expertise to ensure that the new reactor is built on time and within budget. He’ll also seek partnerships with state, federal, and industry leaders as well as donors for new investments to fund NextGen MURR.

“We are thrilled to have Michael lead the NextGen MURR initiative,” Sanford said. “His exceptional track record of delivering results in the nuclear sector, coupled with his passion for strategy and team leadership, makes him the ideal candidate to achieve our ambitious goals.”

Hoehn’s career includes 18 years at Ameren Missouri’s Callaway Energy Center, where he held various leadership roles including director of nuclear engineering design and projects. His tenure at Ameren Missouri has been marked by significant accomplishments in project management, regulatory compliance, and technological innovation.

“I am honored to join the University of Missouri as the program director of NextGen MURR,” said Hoehn, a Mizzou alumnus. “I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at MURR and leaders across the university. NextGen MURR is vital to saving lives for generations to come, and I’m excited to leverage our collective expertise to bring the vision of the new reactor to reality.”

Hoehn holds a Master of Business Administration from Maryville University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri. He has received numerous accolades including Nuclear Energy Institute’s Top Industry Practice Award in 2020 and multiple Electric Power Research Institute Technology Transfer Awards.

Hoehn resides in Columbia, Missouri with his wife Andrea—a Certified Hand Therapist for Missouri Orthopedic Institute—and their three daughters: Mira, Lexi, and Zara.