Brian Wirth is an authority in the ways materials behave in extreme environments. His research investigates the performance of nuclear fuels and structural materials in nuclear environments.

Wirth expects this research to lead to improved prediction of the longevity of nuclear reactor components and ultimately the development of high-performance, radiation-resistant materials for advanced nuclear fission and fusion energy applications.

Within the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors (CASL), the first US Department Of Energy Innovation Hub, Wirth leads the fuels, materials, and chemistry focus area, and serves as the grid-to-rod fretting challenge problem integrator.

In May 2015, Wirth was awarded the highest honor a US Department of Energy midcareer researcher can achieve when he received the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award for his commitment to making nuclear energy safer and more secure.