Education

  • Ph.D., Nuclear and Radiological Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2014
  • M.S., Nuclear and Radiological Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009
  • Education Abroad Program, University of California – Berkeley, 2005
  • B.S., Physics, University of British Columbia, Canada, 2006

Background

Dr. Shaheen A. Dewji (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor in the Nuclear & Radiological Engineering and Medical Physics Programs at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she oversees the Radiological Engineering, Detection, and Dosimetry (RED²) research group. Dewji joined Georgia Tech following three years as faculty at Texas A&M University in the Department of Nuclear Engineering, and as a Faculty Fellow of the Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives (NSSPI).

In her prior role at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Dewji was Radiological Scientist in the Center for Radiation Protection Knowledge, where her work included assessment of patient release criteria for nuclear medicine patients, as well as development of dose coefficients associated with the external exposure and internal uptake of radionuclides associated with the external exposure and internal uptake of radionuclides in applications of emergency response, defense, nuclear medicine, long duration space travel, and occupational/public safety. Prior, Dr. Dewji spent five productive years with the Safeguards and Security Technology Group  at ORNL as a Nondestructive Assay Systems Engineer, focusing on nuclear material measurement of uranium enrichment, holdup (MUF/ID), and signature analysis. Dr. Dewji completed her Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Nuclear and Radiological Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA and was a fellow of the Sam Nunn Security Program. As a native of Vancouver, Canada, she received her Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of British Columbia and also participated in the UBC Science Co-op Program and the Go Global/Education Abroad Program with the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of California Berkeley as part of her undergraduate studies.

Dewji currently serves on the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine – Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board.

Research Thrusts

Thrust Area 1 - Computational Dosimetry: Research activities include the development of dose coefficients using age/sex-specific anthropomorphic computational phantoms and radionuclide biokinetic models for occupational nuclear workers, members of the public, nuclear medicine, space, defense, and emergency response.

Thrust Area 2 - Radiation Detection: Research activities include the employment of validation and verification of gamma-ray spectroscopic detector responses for contaminated environmental media for environmental assessment and decommissioning; field triage assessment of radiation uptake during nuclear, radiological, and fission product release events; and nuclear materials control, accounting, and safeguards of special nuclear material.

Thrust Area 3 - Nuclear Safety, Security & Nonproliferation Policy, and Nuclear Knowledge Management: Research activities include evaluation of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation policy, including low dose regulation, nuclear safeguards and nonproliferation, emergency response, nuclear forensics, and nuclear knowledge management.
 

Awards and Distinctions:

  • National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine – Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board (2020-2023)
  • Health Physics Society – Elda E. Anderson Award (2018)
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory – Environmental Sciences Division – Science Serving Society (2016)
  • Georgia Institute of Technology, Division of Professional Practice Graduate Student of the Year (2012)
  • Roy G. Post Foundation Scholarship (2012)
  • Institute of Nuclear Materials Management – Robert J. Sorenson Memorial Scholarship (2009)
  • Sam Nunn Security Program, Georgia Institute of Technology (2008-2009)
  • Science Applications International Corporation Fellow, Georgia Institute of Technology (2008-2009)
  • Health Physics Society – Richard J. Burk Jr. Fellowship (2007-2008)
  • University of British Columbia – Undergraduate Scholar Program Scholarship (2000-2001)
  • Governor General of Canada – Bronze Medal for Academic Excellence (2000)

Representative Publications