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Summary Biographical Sketch for
Prof. John R. White

Contact Information: Professor, Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Dept. University of Massachusetts at Lowell Lowell, Massachusetts 01854
Phone: 978-934-3165 Fax: 978-934-3047 Email: John_White@uml.edu

Summary of Professional Qualifications:
Prof. White has over 25 years experience in the development, application, and teaching of a variety of reactor physics and general computational methods, with nearly six years at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (1977-1982) and 20+ years in the Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Department at UMass-Lowell (1982-present). His research and teaching have involved him in many aspects of computational modeling and methods development with a special focus in the reactor physics and shielding areas, including

• transport and diffusion theory codes for core design and shielding applications
• cross section processing codes
• perturbation theory methods
• sensitivity and uncertainty analysis methods
• Monte Carlo criticality analysis, and
• fuel management design and optimization

His current teaching assignments include undergraduate courses in Applied Problem Solving with Matlab (an introductory applied numerical methods course), Engineering Differential Equations, Fluid Mechanics, and Reactor Physics & Engineering, and graduate courses in System Dynamics, Math Methods for Engineers, and Special Topics in Reactor Physics (perturbation theory, sensitivity and uncertainty analysis, reactor dynamics, computational methods, transport theory, Monte Carlo methods, etc., with varying topics each time the course is taught). (full details)

He has experience in modeling and analysis of fast reactors, light water power reactors, and research reactors. His recent research work has focused on computational modeling and support for the operation and fuel conversion efforts for the UMass-Lowell research reactor (UMLRR), the design of a new large-volume fast neutron irradiator for the UMLRR, and on the development and application of a multigroup point-wise neutron activation analysis capability to assist in studies related to the lifetime extension and/or decommissioning of nuclear power reactors after extended operation.

His academic interests focus on teaching quality, on the development of educational resources for student learning, and on the appropriate use of technology within the field of engineering education.

Education:
B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Lowell, Lowell, MA (1977).
B.S., Nuclear Engineering, University of Lowell, Lowell, MA (1977).
M.S., Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (1980).
Ph.D., Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (1987).

Professional Experience: (full details)
1982 - present, Professor, Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, UMass-Lowell, Lowell, MA
1997 - 2001, Part-time consulting at Duke Engineering and Services, Inc., Marlborough, MA
1990 - 1997, Part-time consultant at Yankee Atomic Electric Co., Bolton, MA
1988 - 1990, Part-time consulting at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
1977 - 1982, Research staff member at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
Summer 1976, Summer Co-Op at Maine Yankee Atomic Power Plant, Wiscasset, ME
1972 - 1974, Served in the United States Air Force as an electronics technician

Recent Contracts: (full details)
Co-principal Investigator (with Leo Bobek) on Project No. 14-08567, "Design, Construction, and Testing of an Ex-Core Fast Neutron Irradiation Facility for the UMLRR," Intersil Corporation, Mountaintop, PA, April 2000 - August 2002.

Principal Investigator on Project No. 05-08620, "Activation Analysis for the Fermi 1 Reactor," Duke Engineering and Services, Inc., Marlborough, MA, June 2000 - January 2001.

Principal Investigator on Project No. 05-08453, "Benchmarking Activation Analysis Techniques," Duke Engineering and Services, Inc., Marlborough, MA, October 1999 - January 2000.

Research staff directing the "Computational Support for the HEU to LEU Conversion of the UMLRR." This was part of a larger project directed by Leo Bobek (Project No. 14-08239-F) for "The Conversion of the UMass-Lowell Research Reactor from High Enriched Uranium to Low-Enriched Uranium Fuel," Department of Energy, January 1999 - December 1999.

Principal Investigator on Project No. 05-08186, "Phase I Computational Model Development in Support of the HEU to LEU Conversion at the UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," Aspen Systems, Marlborough, MA, October 1998 - December 1998.

Principal Investigator on Project No. 05-07895, "Characterization of the Neutron Spectrum in the UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," Aspen Systems, Marlborough, MA, October 1997 - April 1998.

Recent Publications: (full details)
A. Jirapongmed and J. R. White, "Activation Analysis Using the ACTIV Code System," ANS 2002 Winter Meeting, Washington, D.C. (Nov. 2002).

J. R. White and L. Bobek, "Startup Test Results and Model Evaluation for the HEU to LEU Conversion of the UMass-Lowell Research," 24th International Meeting on Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR 2002), San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina (Nov. 2002).

J. R. White, L. Bobek, and T. M. Regan, "Initial Testing of the New Ex-Core Fast Neutron Irradiator at the UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," Final Report for UMass-Lowell Research Foundation Project No. 14-08567 (July 2002). This final report also included a copy of the paper presented at the RPS Topical Conference in Santa Fe, NM in April 2002.

J. R. White, A. Jirapongmed, L. Bobek, and T. M. Regan, "Design and Initial Testing of an Ex-Core Fast Neutron Irradiator for the UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," 2002 ANS Radiation Protection and Shielding Topical Conference, Santa Fe, NM (April 2002).

T. M. Regan, D. C. Harris, R. M. Stroud, and J. R. White, "Neutron Irradiation of Sapphire for Compressive Strengthening: I. Processing Conditions and Compressive Strength," Journal of Nuclear Materials, 300, 39-46 (2002).

J. R. White and A. Jirapongmed, "Activation Analysis for the Fermi 1 Reactor," Final Report for UMass-Lowell Research Foundation Project No. 05-08620 (January 2001).

J. R. White, J. Byard, and A. Jirapongmed, "Calculational Support for the Startup of the LEU-Fueled UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," Proceedings of Topical Meeting on Advances in Reactor Physics and Mathematics and Computation, Pittsburgh, PA (May 2000).

J. R. White, A. Jirapongmed, and J. Byard, "Preliminary Characterization of the Irradiation Facilities Within the LEU-Fueled UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," Proceedings of Topical Meeting on Advances in Reactor Physics and Mathematics and Computation, Pittsburgh, PA (May 2000).

J. R. White, "On Computing the Thermal Flux in Ex-Core Neutron Activation Studies," Report for UMass-Lowell Research Foundation Project No. 05-08453 (Jan. 2000).

J. R. White, "SYN2D Summary Notes and Usage with 1-D Versus 2-D Comparisons for the JPDR," Report for UMass-Lowell Research Foundation Project No. 05-08453 (Jan. 2000).

J. R. White and R. D. Tooker, "Modeling and Reference Core Calculations for the LEU-Fueled UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," ANS 1999 Winter Meeting, Long Beach, CA (Nov. 1999).

J. R. White, "Cross Section Libraries and Preliminary Modeling for the Reference UMLRR LEU Core Configuration," Final Report for UMass-Lowell Research Foundation Project No. 05-08186 (Jan. 1999).

J. R. White, "Additional Characterization of the Irradiation Facilities in the UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," Final Report for UMass-Lowell Research Foundation Project No. 05-07895 (Ext. #1) (June 1998).

J. R. White, "Updated Results for the JPDR Activation Analysis Benchmark Using VITAMIN-B6 and BUGLE-96 Data," 1998 ANS Radiation Protection and Shielding Topical Conference, Nashville, TN (April 1998).

J. R. White, "Characterization of the Neutron Spectrum in the UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," Final Report for UMass-Lowell Research Foundation Project No. 05-07895 (Jan. 1998).

Recent Presentations: (full details)
"Startup Test Results and Model Evaluation for the HEU to LEU Conversion of the UMass-Lowell Research," 24th International Meeting on Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR 2002), San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina (Nov. 2002).

"Design and Initial Testing of an Ex-Core Fast Neutron Irradiator for the UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," 2002 ANS Radiation Protection and Shielding Topical Conference, Santa Fe, NM (April 2002).

"Calculational Support for the Startup of the LEU-Fueled UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," Topical Meeting on Advances in Reactor Physics and Mathematics and Computation, Pittsburgh, PA (May 2000).

"Preliminary Characterization of the Irradiation Facilities Within the LEU-Fueled UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," Topical Meeting on Advances in Reactor Physics and Mathematics and Computation, Pittsburgh, PA (May 2000).

"Modeling and Reference Core Calculations for the LEU-Fueled UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," ANS 1999 Winter Meeting, Long Beach, CA (Nov. 1999).

"Computer Modeling for Particle Transport and Shielding Applications -- An Overview," Health Physics Seminar, UMass-Lowell, Lowell, MA (Feb. 1999).

"Updated Results for the JPDR Activation Analysis Benchmark Using VITAMIN-B6 and BUGLE-96 Data," 1998 ANS Radiation Protection and Shielding Topical Conference, Nashville, TN (April 1998).

Recent Student Theses: (full details)
PhD/DEng Degree:
"Visualization of Three-Dimensional Particle Transport Calculations with the Use of Generalized Contributon Theory," by Erkut Gungordu (Sept. 2000).

MS Degree:
"Thermal Hydraulic Analysis of the University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Reactor," by Anthony Stevens (Nov. 2002).

"Activation Analysis using the ACTIV Code System," by Areeya Jirapongmed (Aug. 2002).

"Natural Convection in a Rectangular Enclosure with a Pipe Attached," by Cynthia E. Campbell (July 2002).

"Informational Retrieval System for the Life of the LEU-Fueled UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," by Justin Byard (July 2001).

"The Application of Geometric Structures to the Design of Selective Surfaces with Directional Dependence," by Herbert Sinnock (Sept. 2000).

Recent Student Conferences: (full details)
2001 ANS National Student Conference (Texas A&M, April 2001)
"Informational Retrieval System for the Life of the LEU-Fueled UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," by Justin Byard. Won best paper award.

"The Design of an Ex-Core Fast Neutron Irradiation Facility for the UMLRR," by Areeya Jirapongmed and Michael Green.

2000 ANS Eastern Regional Student Conf. (North Carolina State University, April 2000)
"Design of a Large-Volume In-Core Multipurpose Irradiation Facility for Use at the LEU-Fueled UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," by Kevin Randall. Won best paper award.

"Informational Retrieval System for the Life of the LEU-Fueled UMass-Lowell Research Reactor," by Justin Byard.

1999 ANS Student Design Competition
"Conversion Plan and Calculational Support for the HEU to LEU Conversion at the UML Research Reactor," by undergraduate students Justin Byard, Warnie Gick, and James Halterman.

"Design of a Large Fast In-Core Irradiator for the LEU-Fueled UMass-Lowell Reactor," by graduate students Areeya Jirapongmed, Kevin Randall, and Ronald Tooker. These students won the 2nd place award in the national competition and were invited to present their design project at the 1999 ANS Winter Meeting in Long Beach, CA.

Last updated by Prof. John R. White (January 2003)

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