ANS Fellows

Prof. Maria N. Avramova

North Carolina State University

Notable original research or invention in the nuclear field.

For her internationally recognized research innovations and sustained scientific leadership in development of core thermal-hydraulics and multi-physics modeling and simulation, verification and validation, and uncertainty quantification for nuclear reactor design and safety analyses. Her efforts have been vital for providing predictive accuracy with quantified confidence and computational efficiency.

Dr. Abderrafi M. Ougouag

Idaho National Laboratory

Notable original research or invention in the nuclear field.

For developing leading state-of-the-art design/analysis methods and computational tools, for inventions that enhance performance and safety of PBRs, for first-of-a-kind innovative applications to quantitatively predict in-reactor graphite dust production and pebble bed reactors response to earthquakes, and for sustained mentoring of colleagues and students to completion of advanced degrees.

Prof. Annalisa Manera

University of Michigan

Notable original research or invention in the nuclear field.

For her research demonstrating exceptional and sustained contributions to the thermal-hydraulics field with a particular focus on the application of thermal-hydraulics to nuclear reactor safety. Her significant and original contributions to the field include novel contributions to high-resolution thermal-hydraulics experiments and the development of innovative multiphysics, and multiscale CFD-based computational tools for nuclear applications.

Dr. Curtis L. Smith

Idaho National Laboratory

Scientific or technical leadership in a nuclear enterprise of substantial scope.

For his outstanding leadership in research, technical support, and education in the area of nuclear systems reliability and risk assessment. His contributions as a director, researcher, software developer, trainer, and advanced research program leader have enabled the current and future use of reliability applications and risk-informed thinking and approaches within the nuclear industry.

Dr. Paul P. Wilson

University of Wisconsin – Madison

Notable original research or invention in the nuclear field.

For groundbreaking research in CAD-based tools for simulating particle transport, acceleration of Monte Carlo codes, simulation of transmutation and activation, and fuel cycle analysis.

Walter H. Zinn Medal

Mr. Yasir Arafat

Idaho National Laboratory

For his outstanding contributions to the creation and advancement of two novel nuclear microreactors, one of which is under construction in the United States.

Landis Young Member Engineering Achievement Awards

Dr. Anna S. Erickson

Georgia Institute of Technology

For establishing the foundation for novel high-precision instrumentation for safety and security remote monitoring enabling successful development, deployment and commercialization of advanced reactors with operational autonomy

Dr. Koroush Shirvan

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

For his engineering and scientific contributions to the economic viability of safe nuclear power through novel design and broad understanding of the field.

Prof. Elizabeth S. Sooby

University of Texas San Antonio

For her leadership in developing novel light water reactor fuel forms and understanding degradation modes of nuclear fuels under accident conditions.

Mishima Award

Dr. David Andersson

Los Alamos National Laboratory

For advancing our understanding of nuclear fuel performance through fundamental studies of defect properties and their integration in performance models.

Special Award for The Role Nuclear Power Plays In Meeting State Energy And Environmental Objectives

Honorable Donald E. Burkhart, Jr.

Wyoming House of Representatives and

Mr. Marcio Paes-Barreto

Wyoming Energy Authority

For their vision, dedication, and strategic leadership in the State of Wyoming, resulting in nuclear energy-driven economic security for Wyoming and the Nation.

Arthur Holly Compton Award in Education (ETWDD)

Dr. Anna S. Erickson

Georgia Institute of Technology

For pioneering academic achievements and extensive outreach endeavors in the field of nuclear engineering education, seamlessly integrating traditional classroom instruction, innovative experimentation, and cutting-edge distance education techniques to create a truly multidisciplinary, multi-platform educational experience for the 21st century.

Distinguished Public Service Award

Congressman Mark O. Cojuangco

Philippines House of Representatives

In recognition of his advocacy of nuclear power in the Philippines for over a decade. He has been a visionary leader for his country.

Presidential Citations

Mr. Thomas A. Fanning

Southern Company (Ret.)

For his steadfast dedication to the proposition that new nuclear is both possible and needed to provide the nation with reliable, carbon free power. His leadership in the construction of the first new nuclear units to be built in the United States in over three decades, has demonstrated his unwavering support of nuclear power and the benefits it will bring to our country.

H.E. Mohamed Al Hammadi

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and WANO

For his visionary leadership in leading the Emirate Nuclear Energy Corporation in the development of the Barakah nuclear energy plant, and his demonstration to policy makers around the world that nuclear energy is a viable clean energy solution. His management has been instrumental in the delivery of the Barakah nuclear plants and the nuclear infrastructure needed to support them.

---

Mr. W.A. “Art” Wharton, III

Studsvik Scandpower

For his steadfast support to the American Nuclear Society and the nuclear industry. In addition to his significant responsibilities in executive leadership within the industry, Art has made the commitment to serving as ANS Treasurer for the past four years, leading the society through the financial challenges of the pandemic, market volatility and the sale of the headquarters building. His devotion to the Society through these difficult times has set an example for others to follow.

Dr. Rebecca L. Steinman, PE

Constellation Generation

For her outstanding dedication to the American Nuclear Society and leadership in numerous important key roles including as Chair of the Professional Engineering Examination Committee, member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Special Committee on Certification. She has selflessly devoted herself to the mission of the ANS and supporting the nuclear profession.

Mr. Steven P. Nesbit

LMNT Consulting

For ongoing support to the mission of the American Nuclear Society, leading several key initiatives while serving as the Immediate Past President. His leadership in ANS’s efforts to develop recommendations on a new generic spent fuel repository standard, the ANS observations on the National Academies report on different nuclear fuel cycles and technology options, and numerous other special projects has gone well beyond the call of duty.

PRESIDENT’S SPECIAL SESSION AWARDS

Henry DeWolf Smyth Nuclear Statesman Award

Dr. Mark T. Peters

Battelle Memorial Institute

For sustained outstanding technical and policy leadership, statesmanship, contributions, and professional service that have advanced the peaceful use of nuclear energy nationally and globally. Presented at the NEI Nuclear Energy Assembly, May 16, 2023

Don Miller Award (HFICD)

Mr. David Desaulniers

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

For advancing human factors by encouraging safety research and championing standards and regulations for innovation in the nuclear industry. This award will be presented at the NPIC&HMIT conference.

H.M. Hashemian Mid-Career Award (HFICD)

Dr. Pradeep Ramuhalli

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

For his pivotal role and contributions in developing and integrating technical advances in measurement science, data science, and decision science to solve problems in measurement and nondestructive evaluation reliability, integrated system health monitoring and prognostics, inverse problems, and risk-informed decision-making. This award will be presented at the NPIC&HMIT conference.

Ted Quinn Early Career Award (HFICD)

Dr. Padhraic Mulligan

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

For his contributions to the advanced research in finite element analysis for materials irradiations, neutron detection instrumentation development and development of radiation hardened electronics for extreme environments.This award will be presented at the NPIC&HMIT conference.

Gerald C. Pomraning Memorial Award (MCD)

Prof. Alireza Haghighat

Virginia Tech

For seminal contributions to the development of high-fidelity computational deterministic, stochastic and hybrid transport methods for application to complex nuclear systems; for the design of multi-modal detection systems for monitoring and safeguards; for the development of the consistent adjoint-driven importance sampling technique for Monte Carlo variance reduction; for his dedication to nuclear education. This award will be presented at the M&C 2023 conference.

Prof. William R. Martin

University of Michigan

For seminal contributions to the advancement of nuclear engineering and science, including sustained support for providing the transport theory basis for advanced computational methods, innovative advances in Monte Carlo and deterministic computational methods, and state-of-the-art advances in Monte Carlo methods for high-performance computing systems.

David Okrent Award for Nuclear Safety (NISD)

Prof. Nicholas R. Brown

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

For leadership in advancing the safety case for both TRISO fuel and advanced reactors.

Dr. Mihai A. Diaconeasa

North Carolina State University

For contributions to the simulation-based methods for probabilistic risk assessment of current and next generation of nuclear power plants.

Early Career Reactor Physicist Award (RPD)

Dr. Carlo Fiorina

EPFL

In recognition of his many contributions to the field of reactor physics and in particular to the development of high impact open-source multi-physics modeling tools. This award will be presented at the Early Career Reactor Physicist Award session.

Dr. Rodolfo M. Ferrer

Studsvik Scandpower

For his leadership in the improvement of CASMO5 methods, particularly for the linear source scheme for the Method of Characteristics. This award will be presented at the Early Career Reactor Physicist Award session.

FCWMD Significant Contribution Award

Dr. Joshua Vajda

United Cleanup Oak Ridge, LLC

In recognition for outstanding contributions to the Surplus Plutonium Disposition Program that have significantly advanced societal and regulatory aspects of the nuclear waste management mission.