/
CII Request for Nominations

CII Request for Nominations

 

CII 2026 Request for Nominations

Last updated: 1/26/2026

 

Table of Contents

Introduction

We are excited to announce the opening of nominations for our 2026 Research Teams (RTs)! This year, we're launching three new research projects and we are seeking dedicated individuals to support and execute the project work.

Our goal is to ensure that every member organization can actively participate in CII Research Teams. We strive to have diverse participation and welcome industry volunteers with different backgrounds and a range of expertise.

When forming teams, we strive to balance the participation of owner and contractor organizations in projects, ensuring that the team is diverse and represents different perspectives. Most research teams consist of 15-20 members. Because we want to maximize the number of organizations in RTs and create balanced teams, we limit participation to one member per company per research team (but companies can nominate people across multiple teams).

Note that CII welcomes industry volunteers with all levels of expertise, including people with little knowledge of a specific topic. However, nominations are examined to ensure that the project’s expected knowledge and diversity are present.

What action you can take:

  • Nominate yourself if you are interested in one of the RTs (note that nominations are vetted with each company’s Board of Advisors for CII).

  • Share this opportunity with a person you think may be interested in one of the RTs.

  • Nominate someone in your organization that you think is a good fit for the RT.

 

Nominations can be submitted using the online form below by May 8, 2026.

Button | Mosaic

Benefits

  • Benefits for Organizations:

    • Develop highly skilled champions who bring back new practices and knowledge, propelling your organization to the forefront of the industry.

    • Use this as a professional development opportunity for your future leaders

    • Embrace cutting-edge practices.

    • Foster knowledge exchange through research meetings.

  • Benefits for Individuals:

    • Connect with and learn from like-minded professionals.

    • Gain valuable insights from peers across the industry.

    • Shape the future of capital project delivery.

    • Use this as a professional development opportunity to master a new practice and develop leadership skills.

Nominations’ guidelines

  • CII limits nominations to one person per company per research team.

  • Nominations must be submitted by May 8.

  • Only employees of CII member companies and their branches can join a research team. Non-member organizations may provide data and expertise by participating in interviews and surveys, but not by systematically engaging in team meetings.

  • CII requires CII Board of Advisors members to approve all nominations from their organizations’ employees.

Industry team members’ possible contributions and effort level

  • Attend the meetings and provide input to the team. Note that the ability to attend 2-3 F2F meetings per year is highly desirable.

  • Support data collection efforts (respond to a survey, distribute survey to internal network and broader network)

  • Support the interpretation of results (would normally occur in RT meetings)

  • Support project presentation(s) as needed (requires participation in requests)

  • Support the development of tools and publications as needed (during meeting as well as in a few offline hours)

We are also seeking enthusiastic volunteers to lead each research team as Chair or Co-Chair. Details on these roles can be found on the CII Research Guidelines. To ensure a balanced perspective across teams, priority will be given to nominees with relevant experience and who aren't already heavily involved in other CII teams.

If you have any questions, please contact Sarra Qutob at sarra.qutob@cii.utexas.edu

Research Topic Summaries for the RTS accepting Nominations

Tailoring Front-End Planning and PDRI for the Nuclear Power Segment

Opportunity/Problem Statement

An initiative to customize a proven, well-established CII Best Practice to enhance new nuclear project definition and development, and to enable more predictable and positive outcomes.   

Research Questions

How can we leverage and tailor the content of the existing FEP process and PDRI tool to better prepare the project stakeholders for readiness, awareness, and ultimately improved nuclear project delivery and execution?

Secondary questions include:

  • What PDRI elements are common across all PDRI implementations, and which ones vary by industry segment? Which elements are specific to nuclear projects?

  • What advancements in engineering modeling, modularization, construction technology, supply chain challenges, human performance requirements, nuclear quality aspects associated with newly licensed reactor technologies, and business processes aligned with project controls need to be incorporated into this nuclear-focused PDRI content?

Expected Outcomes

New, specific PDRI for new nuclear construction projects, including SMRs projects. Insights for an FEP process framework adapted to the nuclear segment’s lifecycle and stakeholder needs. A white paper on PDRI elements that have stayed common across different PDRI for different industry segments, categories, and components that have commonly been adapted (this should help future decisions on PDRI development). 

Preferred Member Background

  • Required: Strong familiarity with the Front-End Planning (FEP) process, and direct experience delivering nuclear power projects.

  • Preferred: Prior involvement in Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) research or application.

Related CII Research

Notes to the Team

  • What this is not about

  • Defining demand forecasts for nuclear projects or other clean‑energy sectors.

  • Evaluating or comparing specific nuclear technologies.

  • Solving or revising regulatory requirements. Instead, the focus is on capturing, structuring, and managing regulatory considerations within Front‑End Planning (FEP).

  • Project launch: CII will jumpstart the project with a workshop in April 2026. Prospective RT members and the selected academic will be invited to participate.

  • Recommended approach

    • Consider adapting Section 2 (technical scope) of the existing PDRI tool to address nuclear projects more broadly, while leaving Sections 1 and 3 largely unchanged.

    • After establishing this generalized framework, the team may tailor the approach for SMRs, with future RTs adapting it for additional nuclear segments as needed.

  • Potential external engagement

    • Consider involving UT Austin nuclear engineering faculty, who have strong connections to regulators and nuclear projects in Texas.

    • Explore engagement with DOE and NRC to ensure the research accurately reflects federal expectations, regulatory touchpoints, and evolving industry practices.

  • Related CII research