PNNL

Manish Sharma, a physicist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), has been nominated to serve on the Radiation Protection and Shielding Division (RPSD) Executive Committee. Once elected, his three-year term will begin in June 2023.

The RPSD is one of the professional divisions of the American Nuclear Society (ANS). The Executive Committee is the governing body of the RPSD and acts on behalf of the division, meeting twice annually.

“It is great to see Dr. Sharma being nominated for a position on the Executive Committee,” said Jonathan Burnett, PNNL physicist. “Manish is an outstanding scientist, who has made significant impact to our national security programs at PNNL. I have no doubt that in this Executive Committee position, he will make invaluable contributions that further the programmatic goals of the ANS and RPSD.”

At PNNL, Manish focuses on the development and operation of advanced radiation detection systems and techniques, supporting campaigns for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). Manish is also a key member of PNNL’s participation in the NNSA Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program.

“It’s an honor for one of our early career researchers to be nominated. With his robust body of experience, exceptional interpersonal skills, and outstanding technical knowledge that he has demonstrated at PNNL, it is clear that Manish will quickly become an integral part of the Executive Committee,” said Johnathan Slack, PNNL physicist and Sharma’s team lead. “Manish’s expertise will be a credit to the ANS and with certainty will advance the goals of the RPSD.”

Manish is active in ANS and has chaired the technical session of its annual conference. He is also an active editorial board member for Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations, an open-access international journal that publishes research related to the nuclear industry, installations of nuclear technology, and nuclear sciences and technologies.

“My expertise in design and development of radiation facilities and advanced gamma spectroscopy aligns with programmatic goals of RPSD,” said Sharma. “I also look forward to learning from RPSD’s senior members, working tirelessly to benefit the nuclear community.”

“I also intend to serve in one of the RPSD’s subcommittees, setting my sights on taking board positions within RPSD in the future. This is a crucial step in my long-term career growth and increasing PNNL’s scientific impact and visibility.”

Sharma received his master’s and doctorate in nuclear engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and the Missouri University of Science and Technology, respectively. Before joining PNNL, he worked as an assistant professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Khalifa University in the United Arab Emirates. He was also a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.