Established in March 2001 as the then-named Advanced Accelerator Applications University Participation Program, the Transmutation Research Program (TRP) is a campus-wide research program, managed by members of the Nuclear Science & Technology Division (NSTD), to perform scientific research into the transmutation of radioactive waste in support of the national and international programs to develop this new technology.

This program aims to establish a world-class program for transmutation technologies, while building core competencies and facilities to promote UNLV's strategic growth goals. The central theme and purpose of this program is to involve UNLV students in research on the economically and environmentally sound refinement of spent nuclear fuel.