معرفی
Kathryn Higley serves as a Professor in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering within Oregon State University's College of Engineering. She has held significant leadership roles including Head of the School of Nuclear Science and Engineering (2010-2020) and Interim Director of the Center for Quantitative Life Sciences (2022-2024). As the current President of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, she advises the US Government on radiation safety.
Her research focuses on radioecology, environmental transport of radionuclides, and nuclear emergency response. With expertise spanning radiation dose assessment, radiochemistry, and environmental regulations, her work bridges nuclear engineering and ecological health. She previously served as associate director of Oregon State's TRACE project for statewide COVID-19 monitoring.
Higley's scientific recognition includes being named an OSU Distinguished Professor (2022) and serving as Chair of the International Commission on Radiological Protection's Committee 5. Her leadership extends to the Health Physics Society where she was a Board Member (2020-2023) and earned Fellow status.
- Former reactor supervisor for Reed College TRIGA reactor
- Holds reactor operator and senior reactor operator licenses
- 14-year tenure as environmental health physicist at Hanford Nuclear Reservation
- 3 years in environmental radiation monitoring at Trojan Nuclear Power Plant
Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Radiological Health Sciences from Colorado State University (1994), M.S. in same field (1992), and B.A. in Chemistry from Reed College (1978).
