- CV: Short - CV: Long
Education:
PhD in Nuclear Engineering (Expected May of 2022): The Pennsylvania State University
BS in Physics (May of 2017): The University of Texas at Austin
Experience:
Graduate Research Assistant (2017-Present): Ken and Mary Alice Lindquist Department of Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University
Student Intern (2021-Present): Nuclear Threat Reduction Program, Global Security, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Student Intern (Summer 2021): Glenn T. Seaborg Institute, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Graduate Teaching Assistant (Spring 2018): Ken and Mary Alice Lindquist Department of Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University
Teaching Assistant (Summer 2017): Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, The University of Texas at Austin
Undergraduate Research Assistant (2015-2017): Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, The University of Texas at Austin
STEM Substitute Teacher (2014-2015): Austin Independent School District, Austin, Texas
Publications, Proceedings, and Presentations
- Journal - Proceedings - Summary - Podium - Poster - Award
M. Durbin, et. al.. MFeature Engineering: A Case Study for Radiation Source Localization in Complicated Environments, Inst. of Nucl. Mat. Mang. Annual Meeting, Virtual, 2020.
M. Durbin, et. al. Quantification of the Likelihood of an Attack Workshop: Lessons Learned from a Virtual Format, Inst. of Nucl. Mat. Mang. Annual Meeting, Virtual, 2020.
R. Sheatsley, M. Durbin, A. Lintereur, P. McDaniel. Improving Radioactive Material Localization by Leveraging Cyber-Security Model Optimizations, IEEE Sensors, 2021 - (To Appear)
M. Durbin, M. Wonders, M. Flaska, A. Lintereur. K-Nearest Neighbors Regression for the Discrimination of Gamma Rays and Neutrons in Organic Scintillators, Nucl. Inst. Meth. A, 987, 2021
M. Durbin, R. Sheatsley, P. McDaniel, A. Lintereur. A Multi-Step Machine Learning Approach for Directional Detection, IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Virtual, 2020.
M. Durbin, C. Balbier, A. Lintereur. Development of a Fully Connected Residual Neural Network for Directional Gamma Ray Detection, Int. J. Mod. Phys: Conf. Ser., 50, 2020
M. Durbin, A. Lintereur. Machine Learning Approaches to Determine Missing Material from Nuclear Fuel Assemblies, Inst. of Nucl. Mat. Mang. Annual Meeting, Virtual, 2020.
M. Durbin, M. Wonders, M. Flaska, A. Lintereur. Optimization of a K-Nearest Neighbors Regression Algorithm for Improved Pulse Shape Discrimination of Gamma Rays and Neutrons in Organic Scintillators, Inst. of Nucl. Mat. Mang. Annual Meeting, Virtual, 2020.
M. Durbin, A. Lintereur. Implementation of Machine Learning Algorithms for Detecting Missing Radioactive Material, J. Radioanal Nucl. Ch., 324, 2020.
M. Durbin, M. Wonders, M. Flaska, A. Lintereur. Application of a Novel Machine Learning Approach to SiPM-Based Neutron/Gamma Detection and Discrimination, IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Manchester, UK, 2019.
M. Durbin, A. Lintereur. Machine Learning Applications for the Detection of Missing Radioactive Sources, IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Manchester, UK, 2019.
P-C. Simon, P. Bouhaddane, M. Durbin, et. al. Who’s Who? Energy Sources, Research to Action: The Science of (Project) Drawdown, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA, 2019
M. Wonders, P-C. Simon, M. Durbin, et. al. The Future of Nuclear Energy: Small Modular Reactors and Generation IV, A New Hope, Research to Action: The Science of (Project) Drawdown, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA, 2019
M. Wonders, M. Durbin, et. al. Nuclear Security & Physical Protection Challenges from 2020-2040: Security in the Virtual Realm, Inst. of Nucl. Mat. Mang. Annual Meeting, Palm Desert, California, USA, 2019.
M. Durbin, et. al. Development of Machine Learning Algorithms for Directional Gamma Ray Detection, Inst. of Nucl. Mat. Mang. Annual Meeting, Palm Desert, California, USA, 2019.
M. Durbin, C. Balbier, A. Lintereur. Development of a Fully Connected Residual Neural Network for Directional Gamma Ray Detection, Int. Conf. App. Nucl. Tech., Creete, Greece, 2019.
M. Durbin, et. al. Machine Learning Applications in Directional Gamma Ray Detection, PSU Inst. Comp. Data Sci. Symp., University Park, Pennsylvania, USA, 2019
M. Durbin, et. al. Comparative Gamma-Gamma Coincidence Perfomrance of LaBr3 and HPGe Detectors in High Count-Rate Scenarios, American Nuclear Society Student Conference, Gainesville, Florida, USA, 2018
A. Drescher, M. Yoho, S. Landsberger, M. Durbin, et. al. Gamma-gamma Coincidence Performance of LaBr3:Ce Scintillation Detectors vs HPGe Detectors in High Count-Rate Scenarios, App. Rad. and Isot. 112, 2017.
In The Press
Nuclear Engineering Student Wins Innovation Award for Machine Learning Research
2021 Innovations in Nuclear Technology R+D Award Winnders
Nuclear Engineering Student Receives Scholarship From Global Society
INMM - J.D. Williams Student Paper Award
Nuclear Engineering Students Recognized at Annual Conference
Service and Leadership
Leadership Positions
President - Penn State Student Chapter - Institute of Nuclear Materials Management - 2019-…
Treasurer - Penn State Student Chapter - Institute of Nuclear Materials Management - 2017-2019
Secretary - Penn State Student Chapter - Alpha Nu Sigma - 2018-2019
Outreach Chair - University of Texas Student Chapter - Society of Physics Students - 2015-2016
Conference Chair
Institute of Nuclear Materials Management Annual Meeting - Virtual, Nuclear Protection and Physical Security: Detection - 2020
IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium - Manchester, UK, Neutron Detectors and Gamma Imaging II -2019
International Conference on the Applications of Nuclear Techniques - Crete, Greece, Poster Session - 2019
Honors and Awards
Fellowships and Scholarships
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Graduate Fellowship Program - 2019- …
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Undergraduate Scholarship - 2015-2017
Awards
2021 Innovations in Nuclear Technology R+D Award - Material Protection, Control, and Accountancy - First Place
IEEE NPSS Graduate Scholarship Award - 2021
INMM J. D. Williams Student Paper Award - 2020 Best Student Poster: Nuclear Security and Physical Protection :Optimization of a K-Nearest Neighbors Regression Algorithm for Improved Pulse ShapeDiscrimination of Gamma Rays and Neutrons in Organic Scintillators
INMM J. D. Williams Student Paper Award - 2019 Division Finalist: Nuclear Security and Physical Protection :Development of Machine Learning Algorithms for Directional Gamma Ray Detector
INMM J. D. Williams Student Paper Award - 2019 Education & Training Student Research Initiative Winner :Future Technical and Policy Challenges in Nuclear Security and Physical Protection
Grants
Valentin T. Jordanov Radiation Instrumentation Travel Grant - 2019
IEEE NSS-MIC Trainee Grant - 2019
PSU Global Programs Graduate Student Travel Grant - 2019 (Two time recipient)
Honor Societies
Alpha Nu Sigma Nuclear Engineering Honor Society - 2018-…
Sigma Pi Sigma Physics Honor Society - 2016-…
Skills
- Coding: Python (NumPy, pandas, SciPy, matplotlib, SQLite, Fire, Twine, scikit-learn, TensorFlow), SQL, Matlab, MS Excel, \LaTeX, Arduino
- Radiaiton Transport: MCNP (PTRAC, VisEd)
- Laboratory: Gamma Ray Spectroscopy, Oscilloscope, Familiarity with Various Detection Systems, Data Acquisition/Analysis/Visualization
- Miscellaneous: Machine Learning, Simple Application Development, Typesetting, Teaching
- Really Miscellaneous: Juggling (5 ball, 5 rings- qualified , 4 clubs), Guitar, Bass, Banjo