In a world increasingly defined by bold ideas and urgent action, few leaders stand out like Liz Muller. As the featured guest on the latest episode of The Future of Nuclear podcast, Liz brings her vision, conviction, and action-first mindset to a conversation that’s as inspiring as it is important.
Muller, the CEO and Co-Founder of Deep Fission, isn’t following in anyone’s footsteps—she’s carving a new path entirely. With a unique background in mathematics, mechanics, and global policy—not reactor physics or traditional nuclear operations—Liz approaches energy challenges with an outsider’s clarity and a changemaker’s urgency. And the results speak for themselves.
From launching Deep Isolation, a venture that transformed the global conversation around nuclear waste disposal, to now heading Deep Fission—a company working to install small modular nuclear reactors a mile underground—Liz’s work is reshaping what’s possible in clean energy. Her story isn’t just about technological disruption. It’s about leadership, courage, and a refusal to accept the status quo.
From Policy Circles to Deep Boreholes
Liz’s journey into nuclear energy began not in a lab, but in the world of climate policy. While working with the OECD, she quickly recognized that many global sustainability goals would remain out of reach without a meaningful shift in how the world produces and stores energy.
So, she did what true innovators do: she created a solution.
That solution was Deep Isolation—a company that applies oil and gas drilling technologies to isolate nuclear waste in deep boreholes. It was an elegant answer to a longstanding problem, and one that propelled Liz into the spotlight as a disruptor in the nuclear space.
But she didn’t stop there.
With Deep Fission, Liz is now pushing the boundary even further. The company’s groundbreaking concept of deploying 15 MW reactors a mile underground removes many of the safety, regulatory, and financial barriers that have historically slowed nuclear energy expansion.
As she explains in the podcast, “We’re not just reducing cost—we’re changing the paradigm.”
The Power of Underground Thinking
What makes Deep Fission so compelling is the simplicity of its logic and the elegance of its engineering.
Instead of building massive above-ground facilities that take a decade or more to complete, Deep Fission is leveraging the natural containment and pressure of underground environments to house reactors. The model offers a host of benefits: enhanced safety, reduced surface footprint, faster permitting, and significantly lower capital investment.
But beyond the technical aspects, Liz’s vision represents something bigger—a reimagination of how we deliver power in a rapidly changing world. She sees a future where nuclear energy isn’t just safe and reliable—it’s nimble, scalable, and ready to meet the needs of both developed and developing nations.
Empowering Teams with AI and Purpose
Throughout her conversation with host Phil Zeringue, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Nuclearn, Liz talks not only about the “what” of her work, but the “how.” And that “how” centers around culture.
Her approach to building high-performing teams is grounded in two core values: innovation and empowerment. Liz surrounds herself with what Phil calls “A-players”—people who are deeply mission-driven and unafraid to challenge old assumptions. And in Liz’s world, AI is more than a buzzword; it’s embedded into every layer of the organization.
“We’ve made AI part of how we work and how we think,” Liz says. With a Chief AI Officer on the leadership team and a commitment to AI-native design thinking, Deep Fission is moving faster and more intelligently than many of its peers.
It’s this intersection of talent, tech, and tenacity that makes Deep Fission one of the most promising ventures in the energy sector today.
Leading with Authenticity—and Humor
Despite tackling some of the world’s toughest challenges, Liz brings humor and humility to the table. She jokes about having the “deepest” conversations in nuclear, makes light of AI-generated bios that list her as a rock collector with samples from every continent, and laughs off hallucinations that claim she’s a TED Talk regular.
But beneath the levity is a deeply serious commitment to solving real problems. “If you’re going to be responsible, you need to have a solution for the waste. If you want nuclear to scale, you have to solve the cost issue. These aren’t optional,” she says.
This blend of accessibility and accountability makes Liz not only a compelling founder but also a leader other leaders want to follow.
A Call to Action for the Next Generation
As the interview draws to a close, Liz delivers what may be the most important message of all: an invitation to build.
“There’s so much that can still be done,” she says. “If you’re driven, if you’re passionate, come build with us.”
It’s a powerful call—not just to engineers and scientists, but to regulators, policymakers, students, and climate advocates. In Liz’s world, everyone has a role to play. The only thing not allowed is sitting on the sidelines.
The Nuclearn Perspective
At Nuclearn, we’re proud to highlight leaders like Liz Muller—people who aren’t just talking about the future of energy, but creating it. The future of nuclear power depends on bold thinkers and action-oriented entrepreneurs, and Liz exemplifies both.
She’s proving that nuclear can be faster, safer, and smarter. That AI can be part of the solution. And that with the right leadership, even the most entrenched systems can evolve.
If you care about energy, innovation, or simply want to be inspired by what’s possible when smart people tackle hard problems, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
🎧 Ready to hear more?
Visit nuclearn.ai and check out The Future of Nuclear podcast featuring Liz Muller.
Listen for yourself—and discover how the future of clean energy is being built, one borehole at a time.