Nick Touran, Ph.D.

Technical Skills

Reactor Methods

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

System Design

Multiobjective optimization, project management, non-linear regression

Reactor Codes

ARMI, DIF3D, MC², REBUS, MCNP

Programming

Python, git, Phabricator, MPI, C/C++, HTML, Perl, LaTeX, Jenkins, FORTRAN

Computers

Apache, MySQL, Dovecot, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, ESP8266, A+ Certified Technician :)

Writing

• 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 me to give a talk just contact me.

• 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 of event]
• 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 — Syndicated radio, 2011-01-17
• Nuclear Careers to Heat up? — Michigan Radio, 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