Advanced Smaller Modular Reactors: An Innovative Approach to Nuclear Power

Dr. Bahman Zohuri is currently an Associate Research Professor with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Mexico, and principal and founder of Galaxy Advanced Engineering, Inc. (GAE). Dr. Zohuri started GAE after many years in the semiconductor and defense industries as a Senior Process Engineer for corporations including Westinghouse and Intel, and then as Senior Chief Scientist at Lockheed Missile and Aerospace Corporation. While at Lockheed, he was responsible for the study of vulnerability, survivability, and component radiation and laser hardening for the Defense Support Program (DSP), Boost Surveillance and Tracking Satellites (BSTS), and Space Surveillance and Tracking Satellites (SSTS). He also performed analysis of characteristics of laser beam and nuclear radiation interaction with materials, Transient Radiation Effects in Electronics (TREE), Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), System Generated Electromagnetic Pulse (SGEMP), Single-Event Upset (SEU), Blast and, Thermo-mechanical, hardness assurance, maintenance, and device technology. His consultancy clients have included Sandia National Laboratories, and he holds patents in areas such as the design of diffusion furnaces, and Laser Activated Radioactive Decay. Dr. Zohuri earned his Doctorate in Nuclear Engineering from the University of New Mexico. He is the author of several books on nuclear energy.

Dr. Patrick McDaniel is currently adjunct and research professor at Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, University of New Mexico. Patrick began his career as a pilot and maintenance officer in the USAF. After leaving the Air Force and obtaining his doctorate at Purdue University, he worked at Sandia National Laboratories in fast reactor safety, integral cross section measurements, nuclear weapons vulnerability, space nuclear power, and nuclear propulsion. He left Sandia to become the technical leader for Phillips Laboratory’s has (became part of Air Force Research Laboratory) Satellite Assessment Center. After 10 years at PL/AFRL, he returned to Sandia to lead and manage DARPA’s Stimulated Isomer Energy Release project, a $10M per year effort. While at Sandia, he worked on the Yucca Mountain Project and DARPA’s classified UER-X program. Having taught at the University of New Mexico in the Graduate Nuclear engineering program for 25 years, when he retired from Sandia in early 2009, he joined the faculty at the University of New Mexico full time. He has worked on multiple classified and unclassified projects in the application of nuclear engineering to high energy systems. Dr. McDaniel holds PhD in nuclear engineering from Purdue University. Dr McDaniel is a Research Professor at Nuclear Engineering Department of University of New Mexico at present time.