Anna Erickson

Anna Erickson serves as Woodruff Professor and Associate Chair for Research at Georgia Institute of Technology's George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, where she bridges reactor engineering and nuclear nonproliferation through integrated theoretical and experimental approaches. Director of the $25M DOE NNSA-funded Consortium for Enabling Technologies and Innovation (12 universities, 12 national labs), she has authored over 100 publications including the seminal text Active Interrogation in Nuclear Security (Springer, 2018) and advises federal agencies on nuclear security policy.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2011)
• M.S. in Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2008)
• B.S., Oregon State University (2006)

Research Focus: Dr. Erickson pioneers nonproliferation-by-design methodologies through two integrated thrusts: advanced reactor analysis for proliferation-resistant nuclear energy systems and radiation detection for border security applications. Her work uniquely combines machine learning with nuclear engineering to develop safeguards for next-generation reactors, with significant contributions to antineutrino detection systems and medical physics applications like proton radiography. Current projects emphasize small modular reactor safety and spectral imaging techniques.

Publication Trends: Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2018-2020) reveals dominant themes in antineutrino-based reactor monitoring (60% of works), advanced radiation detection systems (30%), and small modular reactor design (10%). Key innovations include lithium-loaded scintillators for neutron detection, spectral X-ray correction algorithms, and high-temperature reactor concepts with inherent proliferation resistance, demonstrating consistent DOE funding focus on nuclear security infrastructure.

Awards:

• Woodruff Professorship (2019)
• Lockheed Dean's Excellence in Teaching Award (2016)
• US Frontiers of Engineering Symposium (National Academy of Engineering, 2015)
• American Nuclear Society Graduate Scholarships (2006, 2009)
• Stewardship Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE, 2008-2011)

Leadership & Funding: As director of the $25M Consortium for Enabling Technologies and Innovation, she manages cross-institutional R&D in machine learning, advanced manufacturing, and nuclear detection. Her Laboratory for Advanced Nuclear Nonproliferation and Safety (LANNS) coordinates with Aerospace Engineering, Chemistry, and International Affairs departments on nonproliferation projects, while her ELATES leadership program participation (2022) enhances STEM management capabilities. Recent media engagements with CBS News (nuclear fusion breakthrough) and CNN (radiation safety) demonstrate policy impact.

Research Infrastructure: The multidisciplinary LANNS lab develops experimental detection systems alongside reactor modeling tools, supporting the Consortium's mission to create deployable nuclear security technologies. Collaborations with 12 national laboratories enable access to unique facilities for radiation source characterization and reactor simulation, with current efforts focused on AI-enhanced safeguards for commercial reactor fleets.