Spring 2024 Physics Careers Seminar Series Continues With Alumnus Dr. Nico Daiyega from Argonne National Lab

The Spring 2024 Physics Careers Seminar series continues on Thursday, April 4 with a talk by alumnus Dr. Nico Daiyega from Argonne National Laboratory, who will talk about "Emergency Phase, Mechanically Induced, Particle Resuspension and Resuspension Stabilization" at 12:00 noon in 204 Loomis (Interaction Room). Details of his seminar are given below.

Time: 12:00 noon on Thursday, April 4, 2024

Location: 204 Loomis (Interaction Room). A Zoom link will also be forwarded to the Illinois Physics Grad Student email list. For a copy of the link, please contact Lance Cooper (slcooper@illinois.edu).

Title: Emergency Phase, Mechanically Induced, Particle Resuspension and Resuspension Stabilization

Speaker: Dr. Nico Daiyega, Argonne National Laboratory

Abstract: Understanding mechanical resuspension of particles in the size range of 0.1 to 15μm is necessary to build accurate plume and dosimetry models for emergency phase response after any nuclear event. Particles in this size range are resuspended solely by mechanical disturbance as opposed to wind disturbance. After a nuclear event, such as an improvised nuclear blast or a nuclear power plant meltdown, radioactive particles can adhere to road dust particles in the sizes of 0.1 to 15μm. Past experiments and current models are not designed to accurately predict how to track these plume dispersions due to a lack of phenomenological understanding and experimental data. Experimental field data can be very difficult and time consuming to obtain due to the lack of accurate guidance in performing these tests and difficulty identifying equipment that can handle the strains of performing these tests. This research describes the limitations in obtaining field data, how to accurately measure and perform resuspension experiments and methods of stabilizing resuspension of particles.

Bio: Dr. Daiyega’s expertise includes areas of nuclear physics, nuclear engineering, nuclear decontamination and remediation, and nuclear weapons and security. Dr. Daiyega developed and created his own sensors for studying particle resuspension and developed the first field experiments for studying particle resuspension in over 30 years. He is involved in multi-million-dollar, multi-agency, international field experiments to study particle resuspension and stabilization of radioactive particles. His research led to the creation of guidelines for emergency phase mechanical resuspension in nuclear events such as nuclear power plant meltdowns, Radiation Dispersal Devices (RDDs), and improvised nuclear devices (INDs). Dr. Daiyega has been an advocate of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion since his undergraduate studies. He was involved with the Graduate Diversity Committee at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and created the first Physics department Undergraduate Research Opportunity Symposium (UROS) [now called Undergraduate Research Engagement Night]. Dr. Daiyega currently serves as the Vice President of the Hispanic/ Latino Club (HLC) Employee Resource Group (ERG) and volunteers his time helping the Nuclear Technologies and National Security (NTNS) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (DEIA).

You can see the rest of the Spring 2024 Physics Careers Seminar series here: https://physics.illinois.edu/calendar/careers-seminar