ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Apr 2026
Jan 2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
May 2026
Nuclear Technology
February 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
DTRA’s advancements in nuclear and radiological detection
A new, more complex nuclear age has begun. Echoing the tensions of the Cold War amid rapidly evolving nuclear and radiological threats, preparedness in the modern age is a contest of scientific innovation. The Research and Development Directorate (RD) at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is charged with winning this contest.
Technical Session|Poster
Friday, April 17, 2026|10:00AM–12:00PM CDT|RUDR Exhibit Hall
Session Chair:
Kristina Douglas
Alternate Chair:
Zach Lassater
To access paper attachments, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.
Join the Waitlist NowLog In
Evaluation of Mo-99 Production in PWR Targets
10:00–10:02AM CDT
Aaron Deaver (NCSU), Scott P. Palmtag (NCSU)
Paper
Uranium Particle Analysis using Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
10:02–10:04AM CDT
Adam Gaghan (Penn State), Michael Romero (Penn State), Jon M. Schwantes (Penn State)
UAV-based Neutron-Gamma Radiation Detector
10:04–10:06AM CDT
Sarabdeep Dhingra (Univ. Michigan), Wyatt Buckbee (Univ. Michigan), Chase Abell (Univ. Michigan), David Breitenmoser (Univ. Michigan), Shaun D. Clarke (Univ. Michigan)
From Impurity to Asset: Security and Safeguards Implications of Isotopic Impurities in HALEU Produced from Reprocessed Uranium
10:06–10:08AM CDT
Eva M. Lisowski (Institute of Science Tokyo), Hiroshi Sagara (Institute of Science Tokyo)
Next-Generation Nuclear Material Accountancy for Advanced Reactor Systems
10:08–10:11AM CDT
Nuvin Bazid (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.), Braden Goddard (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.)
Benchmarking an OpenMC Model of MUTR Against MCNP and Experiment
10:11–10:12AM CDT
Anthony A. Boboc (Univ. Maryland), Luke Gilde (Univ. Maryland), Amber Johnson (Univ. Maryland)
A Neutronic Feasibility Study of a Self-Sustaining Thorium Molten Salt Fast Reactor
10:12–10:13AM CDT
Mazen M. Aljedani (King Abdulaziz Univ.), Khalid Algarni (King Abdulaziz Univ.), Mohammed M. Damoom (King Abdulaziz Univ.)
Alternative Core Geometries for Pebble Bed Microreactors
10:13–10:14AM CDT
Ava R. Chambers (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville), Donald L. Doyle (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville), Nicholas R. Brown (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville)
Evaluation and Optimization of Asymmetric Core Designs in NuScale SMR
10:14–10:15AM CDT
Elora Elbert (Oregon State), Fiorella Espinoza Del Rio (Oregon State), Allie Karsseboom (Oregon State), Kenneth A. Anderson (NuScale Power)
Optimization Study on the Fuel Cycle Length for Small PWR Concepts
10:15–10:16AM CDT
Cody Cline (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.), Zeyun Wu (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.)
Core Loading Analysis for a Westinghouse PWR
10:16–10:17AM CDT
Emmal Dashti (Penn State), Ulises G. Henriquez (Penn State), John Flaherty (Penn State), William Concannon (Penn State)
Historical Foundations of Direct Energy Recovery Systems: Pulsed Fusion Machines, Field Reversal Configuration Devices, and a Reexamination of the Theta-Pinch Concept
10:17–10:18AM CDT
Nicholas N. Zabaras (TAMU)
Thermal Characteristics Experiments of Tricarbide Fuel Surrogates for use in NTP
10:18–10:19AM CDT
Roman D. Galvan (TAMU), Abraham G. Haggerty (TAMU), Cable Kurwitz (TAMU), Adrian F. Silva (TAMU), Robert Waters (TAMU), Conrad Gerten (TAMU)
Exploratory Analysis of the Computational Needs for Designing Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Systems
10:19–10:22AM CDT
Hannah Lister (Georgia Tech), Antonio Gausditis (Georgia Tech), Connor Halloran (Georgia Tech)
Conceptual Design of a Plutonium-Based Fast Microreactor for Operation on the Lunar Surface
10:22–10:25AM CDT
Andrew Soto (Univ. Michigan), Jacob Walters (Univ. Michigan)
Preconceptual Study of a Hypothesized Deep Space Surface Mission Power Source
10:25–10:28AM CDT
Ethan M. Villarreal (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.), Blake Coghill (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.), Jackson Place (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.), Joshua Piper (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.)
Radioisotope-Based Zero-Boil-Off System for Microgravity Cryogenic Tanks
10:28–10:30AM CDT
Madison Dixon (TAMU), Jake W. Godfrey (TAMU), Alexander Smith (TAMU), Kent Franke (TAMU)
Lessons from NERVA and Materials Constraints in Nuclear Thermal Propulsion
10:30–10:32AM CDT
Alex Rhee (Oregon State)
Characterizing a Radiation Detector for the Conditions of Space
10:32–10:34AM CDT
Shaffer H. Bauer (Univ. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), Nathan Melkus (Univ. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), Derek Park (Univ. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), Jess Rosencrans (Univ. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
Benchmark of AGN-201M-103 to Validate HALEU Fuel Behavior in Computational Models
10:34–10:36AM CDT
Kyler J. Johnson (Idaho State), Charles J. Milloway (Idaho State), Angela Trejo (Idaho State)
Criticality Safety of TRISO Spent Fuel in Dry Storage
10:36–10:38AM CDT
Alfredo A. Cortez (TAMU)
Dust Contamination Tracking on HVAC Systems for LANL and Y-12
10:38–10:40AM CDT
Marley Fennell (Penn State)
An Evaluation and Comparison of U2Mo and U3Mo Thermal Neutron Scattering Cross Sections
10:40–10:42AM CDT
Cecilia J. Harrison (NCSU), Briana K. Laramee (NCSU), Colby Fleming (TAMU), Ayman I. Hawari (TAMU)
An Engineering and Economic Figure of Merit for Tritium Extractors
10:42–10:44AM CDT
Benjamin J. Li (Univ. California, Berkeley), Guan-yu Su (Univ. California, Berkeley)
Plasma-Assisted Upcycling of Methane to Methanol
10:44–10:46AM CDT
Logan Bailliez (NCSU), Joshua Cervenak (NCSU), Tom Regev (NCSU)
X-Ray Energy Deposition Effects on IFE First Wall
10:46–10:48AM CDT
Zane Eisenberg (TAMU), Carlo Fiorina (TAMU), Valeria Ospina (Focused Energy)
Signal Capture via Plasma Technology
10:48–10:50AM CDT
Daniel Goldman (Univ. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), Victor Seyfritz (Univ. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
Reactor-Relevant Evaluation of Tritium Retention Diagnostics in ITER-Scale Devices
10:50–10:52AM CDT
Charalampos Alexander Korfiatis (Florida Int'l Univ.), Jose Cosio (Florida Int'l Univ.), Deidra Hodges (Florida Int'l Univ.), Paulina Ramos (Florida Int'l Univ.), Diana Moreira (Florida Int'l Univ.), Fernando Lanzana Santoro (Florida Int'l Univ.), Jeff Guan (Florida Int'l Univ.), Samantha Blanco (Florida Int'l Univ.)
BUMS-Bonner sphere Unfolding Made Simple Modernized
10:52–10:54AM CDT
Angel Mercado (Georgia Tech), Lianna Arnold (Georgia Tech), Jeremy E. Sweezy (LANL), Scott Schwahn (ORNL), Shaheen A. Dewji (Georgia Tech)
Computational Method for Calculating the Radiative Protective Factor for Armored Vehicles
10:54–10:56AM CDT
Jonathan W. Clements (U.S. Military Academy), Jameson P. Connors (U.S. Military Academy), Travis Ehrenberg (U.S. Military Academy), Paolo Luevano (U.S. Military Academy)
Shutdown Dose Rates of Mobile Nuclear Power Plants
10:56–10:58AM CDT
John S. Gorczynski (U.S. Military Academy), Benjamin H. Nguyen (U.S. Military Academy), Andrew N. Burns (U.S. Military Academy), Lucas S. Adams (U.S. Military Academy), Micah X. Thomson (U.S. Military Academy), Richard L. Calvin (U.S. Military Academy)
Fast Neutron Spectroscopy at the Spallation Neutron Source
10:58–11:00AM CDT
Will Gardner (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville), Katherine Parker-Repsher (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville), Daniel J. Metcalf (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville), Thomas Green (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville)
Modeling Neutron Fluence in General Atomics DIII-D Machine Hall
11:00–11:02AM CDT
Aiden Gonzalez (Penn State), Jaimee L. Cabili (Penn State), Jackson M. Devera (Penn State), Lillian S. Forry (Penn State)
Underground Airflow Measurements for Exposure Risks at the WIPP Site
11:02–11:04AM CDT
Caedon A. Carrasco (New Mexico State)
Developing a Gemstone Dosimeter for Radiation Detection
11:04–11:06AM CDT
Tania Kumar (TAMU), Rhiya Narayandas (TAMU)
Dose Rate Sensitivity Analysis of the Oak Ridge Subcritical Assembly Using MAVRIC
11:06–11:08AM CDT
Karol Luis Dalumpines (TAMU), Walid A. Metwally (ORNL), Cihangir Celik (ORNL), Alexander Lang (ORNL), Alex Shaw (ORNL)
Material Analysis of Radiation Shielding Concrete using an Iron Aggregate
11:08–11:10AM CDT
Sofia Quader (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.), Furkan Erdogan (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.), Jessika V. Rojas (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.), Braden Goddard (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.)
NucP&ID: AI-Assisted Nuclear P&IDs Digitization
11:10–11:12AM CDT
Kangda Wei (TAMU), Vaibhav Yadav (INL), Jisuk Kim (INL), Brandon Biggs (INL), Zhegang Ma (INL), Steven Prescott (INL), Karen DSouza (INL), Ruihong Huang (TAMU)
ALHPANSO: Open-Source Modeling of (a,n) Source Terms
11:12–11:14AM CDT
Divit Rawal (Univ. California, Berkeley), Anthony Nelson (LLNL), William Zywiec (LLNL), Daniel Siefman (Univ. California, Berkeley)
A Neural Network to Monitor and Analyze Nuclear Energy Sentiment
11:14–11:16AM CDT
Wilson Brown (Purdue Univ.)
AI-Assisted Development of a System Thermal-Hydraulics Evaluation Model (Digital Twin) for an Advanced Sodium-Cooled SMR
11:16–11:18AM CDT
Joseph Polinski (NCSU), Chase V. Maier (NCSU), Killian Woods (NCSU)
Automated Parametric Studies for Reactor Designs Using Modular Python Scripts
11:18–11:20AM CDT
Mason S. Walls (TAMU), Pavel V. Tsvetkov (TAMU)
Graph Neural Network Super-Resolution of P-Coarsened CFD Simulations
11:20–11:22AM CDT
Vasil Ivakimov (Penn State), Guilherme Gottems (Penn State), Luiz C. Aldeia Machado (Penn State), Tri Nguyen (Penn State), Mahmoud Q. Yaseen (Penn State), Dillon R. Shaver (ANL), Haomin Yuan (ANL), Jun Fang (ANL), Paul Fischer (ANL), Elia Merzari (Penn State), Ricardo Balin (ANL), Filippo Simini (ANL), Bethany Lusch (ANL), Venkatram Vishwanath (ANL), Ramesh Balakrishnan (ANL), Elia Merzari (Penn State)
Continuous Optimization to Maximize Tritium Production for an Infinite Homogenous System
11:22–11:24AM CDT
Trevor A. Wakeland (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville), Andrew M. Holcomb (ORNL), Vladimir Sobes (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville)
AI-Augmented Radiation Field Reconstruction via Minimal Drone Exploration
11:24–11:26AM CDT
Daniel Taheri (TAMU)
Clustering Algorithm for Particle Identification
11:26–11:28AM CDT
Munso Bwalya (Virginia State), Thomas Redpath (Virginia State)
Modelling and Experimental Validation of High-Fidelity Gamma Detectors in OpenMC
11:28–11:30AM CDT
Haider Nazir (Univ. Texas, Austin), Amanda L. Lund (ANL), Shayan Shahbazi (ANL), Derek Haas (Univ. Texas, Austin)
Automated Validation of OpenSn Using ICSBEP Concentric-Sphere Criticality Benchmarks
11:30–11:32AM CDT
Roger W. Wszolek (TAMU), Jean C. Ragusa (TAMU)
Government Shutdowns and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Consequences and Solutions
11:32–11:34AM CDT
Rhys H. Davis (Oregon State)
RAD-AI: Embedded AI for Real-Time Radiation Safety Guidance
11:34–11:36AM CDT
Maxwell Mamishev (Univ. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
How Perceived Risk and Benefits from Nuclear Power Plants Translate into Support Across Demographics, Ideology, and Region in Illinois
11:36–11:39AM CDT
Matthew E. Salek (Univ. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), Jake Mitstifer (Univ. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), William R. Roy (Univ. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), Caleb S. Brooks (Univ. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
Recruitment Strategies for Nuclear Engineering Education in High Schools
11:39–11:42AM CDT
Edwina B. Sesay (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.), Patience Obasi (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.), Braden Goddard (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.)
Project R.A.D.I.U.S Senior Design Summary
11:42–11:44AM CDT
Alexa K. Strong (Oregon State), Ian Colvin (Oregon State), Elizabeth Falls (Oregon State), Kate Greene (Oregon State)
Effect of Boronization on Alloy 709 Wettability in Molten Salt Environments
11:44–11:47AM CDT
Brij B. Bhagat (Virginia Tech), Amanda S. Leong (Virginia Tech)
Evaluation of Potential Uses of LLMs to Assist in the Compilation of Reactor Data Sets based on Open Literature Resources
11:47–11:48AM CDT
Michael Parnell (TAMU), Pavel V. Tsvetkov (TAMU)
Open-Source Discrete Ordinates (SN) Code OpenSn for Fusion Design
11:48AM–12:08PM CDT
Anthony Kitamura (TAMU)
To join the conversation, you must be logged in and registered for the meeting.