Alexander Brand
Senior Scientist
Aiken,SC
Summary
Mechanical Engineer with 12 years experience in thermal hydraulics, fluid dynamics, computer programming, nuclear particle modeling, radiation shielding and special nuclear material detection.
Overview
9
9
years of post-secondary education
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Scientist
SAVANNAH RIVER NATIONAL LAB
Aiken, South Carolina
01.2015 - Current
- Constructed radiation transport models of multiple types of radiation sources, shielding and geometries using a Monte Carlo computer code to support the creation of a neutron generator facility and nuclear material identification and quantification.
- Developed novel radiation detector systems to improve the detection of various isotopes in the nuclear measurements group and granted a US patent for one of the designs.
- Created computer programs using Python and Java to automate the detection systems used for radiation monitoring and testing.
- Planned and performed field measurements with radiation detection systems over a wide range of scenarios at the site.
- Simultaneously managed several complex research projects, meeting all pertinent milestones.
- Authored many internal and external scientific reports per year focusing on radiation detection, planning for future facilities at the Savannah River Site, and special nuclear material accountability.
- Mentored new employees and developed a team of analysts to support the non-destructive assay work needed all over the site.
- Interfaced with colleagues at other sites in the national lab complex and collaborated with them on multiple projects.
Graduate Research Assistant
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
Austin, Texas
05.2008 - 08.2013
- Modeled the thermal hydraulics of the UT-TRIGA reactor core using both finite differencing computer codes and a computational fluid dynamics solver (FLUENT).
- Developed a thermocouple probe for insertion into the TRIGA core to measure coolant temperatures over the range of allowable power levels.
- Created a unique heat transfer coefficient correlation for the training nuclear reactor core at UT-Austin and integrated that correlation into the finite differencing code to improve its fidelity.
- Managed multiple undergraduate students who performed supplemental research and held weekly meetings with each student to address goals and work performance.
- Invented, constructed and tested a neutron beam chopper and signal acquisition system for use in delayed gamma ray analysis of special nuclear materials.
- Prepared materials for reports, presentations and submission to peer-reviewed journal publications.
- Taught and/or served as teaching assistant for 20 semesters worth of courses in the fields of programming and nuclear engineering.
Education
Ph.D. - Mechanical Engineering
University Of Texas At Austin
Austin, TX 08.2010 - 08.2013
Master of Science - Mechanical Engineering
University Of Texas At Austin
Austin, TX 08.2008 - 08.2010
Bachelor of Science - Physics
University Of Texas At Austin
Austin, TX 08.2004 - 05.2008
Skills
C
undefinedPatents
US Patent No. 10145965 - Quantitative radioactivity monitor for assays of wildlife
Timeline
Senior Scientist
SAVANNAH RIVER NATIONAL LAB
01.2015 - Current
Ph.D. - Mechanical Engineering
University Of Texas At Austin
08.2010 - 08.2013
Master of Science - Mechanical Engineering
University Of Texas At Austin
08.2008 - 08.2010
Graduate Research Assistant
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
05.2008 - 08.2013
Bachelor of Science - Physics
University Of Texas At Austin
08.2004 - 05.2008
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