Oak Ridge National Laboratory | United States
Manit Shah is a nuclear engineer and research scientist specializing in radiation detection, nuclear safeguards, and advanced reactor technologies. With significant experience across leading research institutions and regulatory agencies, his career spans critical domains such as nuclear security, reactor safety, material control and accounting, and chemical security. He currently serves at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, leading multi-disciplinary teams and serving as a Principal Investigator on several U.S. Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) initiatives. Manit has contributed extensively to the development of safeguards methodologies, verification tools, and policy-relevant assessments, making impactful contributions to global nuclear security and reactor safety.
Professional Profile
Education
Manit Shah holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from Texas A&M University, where his dissertation focused on the development of novel radiation detectors using integrated circuits. His work included simulation analyses with MCNP(X) and GEANT4 to optimize detector designs for a broad spectrum of radiological particles. Prior to this, he earned his M.Tech. in Nuclear Engineering from Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, where his thesis dealt with fault detection and fault-tolerant controller design for nuclear steam generators using MATLAB. He began his academic journey with a B.E. in Electronics Engineering from the University of Mumbai, where he contributed to industrial retrofit projects that enhanced machine performance in manufacturing environments.
Experience
Currently, Manit Shah is employed as a Verification Technologies Engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In this capacity, he leads U.S. and international projects on nuclear safeguards, microreactor security, and advanced reactor designs. He spearheads initiatives related to nondestructive verification tools, conversion time assessments, seal verification systems, and design information evaluations for next-generation nuclear reactors. Additionally, he has held the role of Specialist at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, where he performed safety reviews for CANDUs and small modular reactors (SMRs) and contributed to emergency response exercises and compliance verification activities.
Previously, he worked as a Research Scientist at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, focusing on reactor safety modeling and remote monitoring systems for SMRs in remote areas. As a faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University, he delivered lectures and led workshops in nuclear security and nonproliferation, while also generating research grants in nuclear safeguards and chemical security. His early career also includes roles at Tetra Tech HEI and Texas A&M University, where he contributed to transit matching improvements under international nuclear safeguards and radiological emergency response training exercises.
Research Interests
Manit’s research interests span a wide range of topics within nuclear engineering and security. His core focus areas include reactor safety analysis, safeguards technology, radiation detection, molten salt reactor holdup assessments, and microreactor sabotage scenario modeling. He is also interested in advancing tools and strategies for physical protection systems, emergency response planning, and unattended monitoring systems for isolated or remote nuclear facilities. His innovative modeling efforts have provided valuable insights into safeguards approach development and radiological consequence assessments, using platforms like MELCOR, MAAP-CANDU, and FATE.
Awards
Over the years, Manit Shah has received multiple awards in recognition of his innovative contributions and dedication to advancing nuclear science. Notable among them is the Early Career Award presented at the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) Annual Meeting in 2024. He also received best student paper awards from both the Education and Training and the Nonproliferation and Arms Control Divisions of INMM. Throughout his academic career, he secured multiple student travel grants from Texas A&M University and the Health Physics Society to attend leading conferences and workshops. Additionally, he received an educational grant from the J. R. D. Tata Trust earlier in his career.
Publications
Fault Tolerant Control in a Nuclear Steam Generator
Capacity Expansion Analysis of Small Modular Reactors
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Authors: Shah, M.D.; Westphal, G.; Williams, W.C.; Grappone, J.M.; Signorotti, M.; Cameron-Smith, P.; Watson, J.P.
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Journal/Source: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society
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Year: 2024
Fault Tolerant Control in a Nuclear Steam Generator (duplicate with different year)
Assessment of Filtered Containment Venting Strategies for Mitigating Severe Accident Consequences at a Generic Single-Unit CANDU
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Authors: Shah, M.D.; Morreale, A.C.; Lebel, L.S.
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Journal/Source: Journal of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science
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Year: 2023
Sensitivity Analysis of Severe Accident Calculations for the Estimation of CANDU-Specific OILs
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Authors: Morreale, A.C.; Shah, M.D.; Lebel, L.S.; Brown, M.J.
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Journal/Source: Annals of Nuclear Energy
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Year: 2023
Conclusion
Manit Shah is a dedicated nuclear engineer whose multidisciplinary expertise bridges the gap between technical innovation and policy implementation in the nuclear sector. With a strong academic foundation, practical regulatory experience, and a passion for teaching and mentorship, he continues to play a critical role in shaping the future of nuclear safety, safeguards, and security. His work has influenced domestic and international approaches to advanced nuclear reactor deployment, material control strategies, and emergency preparedness. As both a leader and contributor in key technical and policy-driven projects, he exemplifies the qualities of a forward-thinking researcher committed to global nuclear nonproliferation and safety.