معرفی
Sukesh Aghara is a Professor and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at the Francis College of Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he directs the Nuclear and Chemical Engineering program and leads the Integrated Nuclear Security and Safeguards Laboratory (INSSL). He also serves as a Nuclear Security Fellow with the Center for Terrorism and Security Studies (CTSS) and co-director of the IAEA-funded Intercontinental Nuclear Institute (INI) for international nuclear training.
His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (2003) and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (2001) with Nuclear and Radiation Engineering focus from the University of Texas at Austin, plus M.S. (1999) and B.A. (1996) in Environmental Engineering from Vanderbilt University. His academic journey reflects a transition from environmental to nuclear engineering specialization.
Dr. Aghara's research centers on nuclear nonproliferation, security, and safeguards using experimental and computational approaches. His work characterizes radiation fields, evaluates reactor fuel inventories, and models cyber-physical nuclear systems. Current projects address cybersecurity vulnerabilities in nuclear plants, safeguards inspection effectiveness, and nuclear reactor applications for decarbonization. His laboratory INSSL focuses on practical solutions for global nuclear security challenges through radiation transport modeling and safeguards verification technologies.
Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trajectory toward securing next-generation nuclear systems, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs). His work integrates cybersecurity with physical safeguards, develops robotic inspection platforms, and applies stochastic modeling for verification. Key themes include optimizing security architectures for advanced reactors while reducing operational costs and enhancing decarbonization potential through nuclear energy.
- Best Presentation and Paper Award (American Nuclear Society/European Nuclear Society)
- Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Award (UT Austin)
- NASA Administrator's Fellow (Cohort 11, 2014)
- Visiting Scientist at NASA Langley and Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- President of American Nuclear Society UT Chapter
- Outstanding Research Award (Roy G. Perry College of Engineering)
As Principal Investigator, Dr. Aghara manages multiple federally funded projects including robotic security platforms for nuclear facilities (NNSA/BNL, 2020-present), advanced reactor operational considerations (INL/UTK, 2019-2023), and cybersecurity incident response planning (INL, 2017-2021). His grants consistently address national priorities in nuclear security infrastructure and next-generation reactor safeguards, with a focus on practical implementation and international capacity building through the INI program.
The Integrated Nuclear Security and Safeguards Laboratory (INSSL) operates as a multidisciplinary hub collaborating with national laboratories (ORNL, INL), the IAEA, and international partners. It develops radiation detection systems, cybersecurity frameworks, and training protocols while maintaining close ties with the Center for Terrorism and Security Studies (CTSS) for cross-disciplinary threat analysis. Current projects deploy robotic platforms like the Spot robot for automated inspections and model advanced reactor security architectures.
