KATELYN COOK
Nuclear Engineering PhD Candidate
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
RESEARCH ASSISTANT, LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY
May 2019-Aug 2019
Working with Dr. Greg Spriggs on analyzing film from testing nuclear bombs in the 40s and 50s. Working specifically in nuclear physics with concentrations in thermal physics, cloud behavior physics and shockwave physics.
SUMMER RESEARCH ASSISTANT, HOUGHTON COLLEGE, SUNY GENESEO AND THE LABORATORY FOR LASER ENERGETICS
June 2018-Aug 2018
In continuation of the previous work, we proposed also measuring the cross section of (t,p) stripping
and (t,a) reactions using the same methods. Small scale experiments were conducted to simulate the rapid release of gas by the ICF target, its subsequent capture and decay counting.
SUMMER RESEARCH ASSISTANT, HOUGHTON COLLEGE, SUNY GENESEO AND THE LABORATORY FOR LASER ENERGETICS
June 2017-Aug 2017
Continued preliminary testing from the previous summer and successfully collected data from the Tandem Pelletron Accelerator at SUNY Geneseo. A new detector system was developed and tested.
SUMMER RESEARCH ASSISTANT, HOUGHTON COLLEGE, SUNY GENESEO AND THE LABORATORY FOR LASER ENERGETICS
June 2016-Aug 2016
Research developing an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiment to study fundamental nuclear
physics. Proposed measuring the cross section of the 3H(t,a)6He reaction and began preliminary testing at SUNY Geneseo to determine if 6He can be created and detected.
RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS
APS APRIL MEETING
2020
Online
Presented Apker Award Undergrad Research
LISA GORDON-HAGERTY (UNITED STATES UNDER SECRETARY OF ENERGY FOR NUCLEAR SECURITY
AND ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION) PRESENTING ON APKER AWARD RESEARCH
Fall 2019
Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Rochester, NY
LEROY APKER AWARD SELECTION MEETING
2019
Washington DC
HIGH-ENERGY DENSITY PHYSICS IN THE WEAPONS AND COMPLEX INTEGRATION DIVISION SUMMER STUDENT SEMINAR
2019
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Livermore, CA
5TH JOINT MEETING OF AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY DIVISION OF NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN
2018
Waikoloa, HI
59TH AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY DIVISION OF PLASMA PHYSICS MEETING
2017
Milwaukee, WI
ROCHESTER SYMPOSIUM FOR PHYSICS STUDENTS
2017, 2018, 2019
University of Rochester
OMEGA LASER USER’S WORKSHOP
2017, 2018, 2019
Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Rochester, NY
58TH AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY DIVISION OF PLASMA PHYSICS MEETING
2018
San Jose, CA
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Sept 2015-May 2016
SCIENCE HONORS PROGRAM, HOUGHTON COLLEGE
August 2015-May 2019
B.S. IN PHYSICS AND MATHEMATICS, HOUGHTON COLLEGE
Aug 2020-Present
P.HD. IN NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
"You really don't believe that weather is caused by just natural forces, do you?"