Physicist
Physicist

Biography

Manish Sharma is a physicist in the National Security Directorate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington. He obtained his PhD in nuclear engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). Before joining PNNL, Sharma was an assistant professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Khalifa University, United Arab Emirates. In the years 2016–2018, he held a postdoctoral position in the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Dr. Sharma is an expert in developing advanced gamma/neutron detection systems, associated software, and algorithms for nuclear explosion monitoring, nuclear safeguards, and homeland security. At PNNL, he has contributed extensively to development and operation of high-sensitivity gamma spectrometers, associated software, and non-destructive techniques for nuclear material assay.

On a separate front, Sharma leads several scientific tasks and trainings under the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program at PNNL.

Research Interest

  • Nuclear explosion monitoring
  • Nuclear nonproliferation
  • Monte Carlo simulations
  • Neutron and gamma spectroscopy

Education

  • PhD in nuclear engineering, Missouri University of Science & Technology, USA (2016)
  • MS in nuclear engineering technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India (2011)

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • Technical Session Co-chair (2024), Chair (2017), American Nuclear Society Meeting
  • Executive Committee Member, Radiation Protection & Shielding Division, American Nuclear Society (2023–Present)
  • Grant proposal reviewer, U.S. National Science Foundation; Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy and Office of Science (2022–Present)
  • Journal reviewer; reviewed over 50 articles for prominent scientific journals (2019–Present)
  • Academic Editor, Science & Technology of Nuclear Installations, Wiley (2021–Present)
  • Reviewer and Mentor, Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (2021–2022)
  • Professional Member, American Nuclear Society (2012–Present)
  • Lifetime Member, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and Alpha Nu Sigma Nuclear Engineering Honor Society

Awards and Recognitions

  • Laboratory Director’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to STEM Education, PNNL (2023)
  • KMST Public Radio Appearance, Missouri S&T (2016)
  • Promotional Video Appearance, Missouri S&T (2015)
  • One of five awardees from Missouri S&T for the Graduate Leadership Development Program (2014)
  • Best Department Representative Award, Council of Graduate Students, Missouri S&T (2012)
  • Dance Winner, Celebration of Nations, Missouri S&T (2011)

Publications