Nick Touran

Technical Skills

Reactor Methods

Diffusion, depletion, stability, kinetics, perturbation theory, nuclear data uncertainty, finance, etc.

System Design

Multiobjective optimization, configuration management, reactor history, project management, non-linear regression

Reactor Codes

ARMI, DIF3D, MC², REBUS, MCNP

Programming

Python, Django, Javascript, Vue3, git, MPI, HTML, Perl, LaTeX, Jenkins, C/C++, FORTRAN

Computers

Linux, vim, Home Assistant, Apache, graphviz, pandoc, SQL, Dovecot, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, ESP8266, Jekyll, A+ Certified Technician :)

Writing

• Nuclear Reactor Development History, a deep-dive into nuclear reactors of the past
• Digital Superpowers, a book about open-source computer utilities (2019)
• N. Touran, "A primer on energy, greenhouse gas, intermittency, and nuclear", whatisnuclear.com, 2017.
• Nicholas W. Touran, John Gilleland, Graham T. Malmgren, Charles Whitmer, William H. Gates III, "Computational Tools for the Integrated Design of Advanced Nuclear Reactors", Engineering, 3,4, 2017, Pages 518-526, ISSN 2095-8099, https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENG.2017.04.016.
• N. Touran and J. Yang, "Sensitivities and Uncertainties Due to Nuclear Data in a Traveling Wave Reactor," Proceedings of the PHYSOR 2016 Meeting in Sun Valley, ID, May 2016.
• N. Touran and J. Lee. "A Modal Expansion Equilibrium Cycle Perturbation Method for Optimizing Fast Reactors," Nuclear Science and Engineering, 179.1, 85-103, 2015.
• N. Touran, J. Cheatham, and R. Petroski, "Model biases in high-burnup fast reactor simulations," Proc. ANS Int. Topl. Mtg. on Advances in Reactor Physics and Linking Research, Industry, and Education (PHYSOR 2012), Knoxville, Tennesee 2012.
• A Modal Expansion Equilibrium Cycle Perturbation Method for Optimizing High Burnup Fast Reactors (my Ph.D. dissertation)
• N. Touran, P. Hejzlar, S. Mazurkiewicz, R. Petroski, J. Walter, C. Whitmer, "Technical Considerations and Capabilities of a Near-Term Deployable Traveling Wave Reactor Core," Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 104, 934 2011.
• N. Touran, "Performance of Thorium-Based Fuel for TRU Transmutation in Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactors," Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 103, 811, 2010.
• A. Imaura, N. Touran, & R. Ewing. "MgO-pyrochlore composite as an inert matrix fuel: Neutronic and thermal characteristics", Journal of Nuclear Materials, 389, 341-350, 2009.

I really enjoy discussing with people about nuclear energy and other things. If you want to invite me for a discussion, etc., contact me.

• Seattle-based nuclear engineer Nick Touran discusses how nuclear energy can fit in with green energy sources - and how to manage the risks, a discussion on Climate Talk, RadioTacoma KTAH 101.9 FM with John Doherty of the Citizens' Climate Lobby, 2022-08-14
• Global Politics and Energy on a Warming Plant at Bickersons Brewhouse, a public outreach event I did with Prof. Scott Montgomery hosted by Cascadia Climate Action and Seattle Friends of Fission, 2022-08-10
• Preserving Nuclear History ft. Nick Touran, Nuclear Barbarians Podcast, 2022-01-06
• Nuclear 101 in 2021, an online presentation and Q&A about nuclear, 2021-12-14
• National Academy of Sciences Distinctive Voices -- How offshore nuclear power stations can help achieve rapid deep decarbonization An hour-long talk at a (virtual) NAS speaking event about nuclear reactors built in shipyards and operated offshore 2021-02-10
• Science Friday -- Shipping Nuclear Power Out To Sea A 17-minute discussion on nationally-syndicated radio about nuclear reactors on ships 2020-10-30
• Analytic Endeavors Ep. 21 - Dispelling Thorium Myths with Nick Touran A podcast about Thorium Myths, 2020-10-30
• Engineering // Virtual Curiosity Expo at the Pacific Science Center 2020-05-29
• Thorium AMA with Nick Touran (actually a pretty broad nuclear overview for local Andrew Yang supporters) 2020-02-04
• Panelist at Curiosity Days: Climate Change, Pacific Science Center [Event page]
• Moderator of Nuclear Fusion Panel | CleanTech Breakfast Series, 2018-02-14 [Writeup and video]
• Energy and Climate Policy at the Crossroads: Will the World Act on Climate Change Fast Enough? — Climate Science on Tap, 2017-12-12 [Video]
• Nuclear Energy and Climate Change in the 21st Century — University of Washington, 2017-11-04 [Video]
• Featured Character in The New Fire, a documentary by David Schumaker about a new generation of people trying to build new generation nuclear reactors.
• Alternative Energy and Climate Change: The Nuclear Option — Shoreline Community College Global Affairs Center, 2017-04-18
• Making the Case for Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century — Seattle Town Hall, 2017-04-04 [Video]
• Climate on Tap — Naked City Brewery, Seattle, WA, 2016-11-01
• Next Generation Nuclear Power — Ada's Technical Books, Seattle, WA, 2016-06-29
• Speaking at various elementary, middle, and high schools
• The Promise of Tomorrow, #153 — Syndicated radio, 2011-08-01
• Nuclear Careers to Heat up? — Michigan Radio environment report, 2009-08-12

Ham radio

Amateur Extra, digital, SDR, GNURadio, portable & remote operation

Home automation

Contributor to Home-Assistant platform, blogger, creator of infopanel.

Motorcycles

Riding, maintenance

Outdoors

Soccer, skiing, boating, hiking, camping, scuba diving

Reading

History, literature, politics, anything

Electronics

Late 1800s physics, oscilloscopes, vacuum pumps, high voltage

Music

Classic rock, electronic dance, rap, country, bass guitar, MIDI

Photography

Quadcopter photography, regular photography