Neutron Scattering and Neutron Imaging Capabilities at The Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Kenneth Tobin, Director of the Office of Institutional Planning at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Abstract

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is the largest DOE Office of Science lab in the nation. ORNL was established in 1943 in support of the Manhattan Project, resulting in construction of the world’s first engineered and continuously operated nuclear reactor. Today, the lab pursues a broad energy research mission in material science, neutron scattering, high performance computing, nuclear energy, isotope production, biological and environmental systems, and energy efficiency and renewable energy research. ORNL also hosts unique national user facilities such as the Spallation Neutron Source, High Flux Isotope Reactor, Leadership Computing Facility, and Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. This presentation will provide an overview of the current research strengths of the lab and the various user facilities that are available to support R&D. A particular emphasis will be placed on our capabilities in neutron scattering science and neutron imaging. The presentation will conclude with a review of the numerous opportunities for students at all levels to work with ORNL through internships, graduate research support, postdoctoral opportunities, distinguished fellowships, and early career staff positions.

About the Speaker

Dr. Kenneth W. Tobin has served in many leadership positions at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory including the Director of the Office of Institutional Planning, the Director of the Reactor and Nuclear Systems Division, and the Director of the Electrical and Electronics Systems Research Division. In these roles he impacted lab-level strategic planning and investment, nuclear energy, and energy efficiency research and development.  His personal science and technology specialty focused on computational imaging and image informatics for energy, security, and health and he was named an ORNL Corporate Research Fellow in 2003 for his contributions to the field. He earned his BS in Physics and MS in Nuclear Engineering from Virginia Tech and his PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Virginia where his dissertation contribution was in computational imaging methods for neutron radiography. He has authored and coauthored over 180 total publications and has 14 issued US Patents. He is a Fellow of IEEE and SPIE, and is a member of ANS and AAAS.

 

Host: Lei Cao