Jason Harris

Professor, School of Health Sciences

Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Online Education, Director for the Center for Radiological and Nuclear Security (CRANS), Teaching Academy Fellow

Courtesy Appointments

School of Nuclear Engineering

Areas of Expertise

environmental and power reactor health physics
radiation detection
nuclear security
nuclear science education and training

HHS Signature Research Area(s)

Healthy Lifestyles and Vital Longevity

School of Health Sciences Research Area(s)

Health Physics (Radiation Protection)

Biography

Prior to coming to Purdue he was Associate Professor and Co-Chair of the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Health Physics at Idaho State University and Associate Director of the Center for Advanced Energy Studies. His research interests are in areas related to environmental and reactor health physics, radiation detection and measurement, and nuclear security. He has graduated more than 25 MS and PhD students and has served on research committees for nearly 70 MS and PhD students in health physics, nuclear engineering, and physics. He has authored or co-authored over 70 peer-reviewed papers or proceedings and delivered more than 100 conference presentations and invited talks and has secured nearly $10 million dollars in competitive external grants and contracts from federal funding agencies, international organizations, and private foundations. He has received several awards including the Health Physics Society Fellow and Elda Anderson Awards and the Purdue School of Health Sciences Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Dr. Harris is active in the Health Physics Society, American Nuclear Society, the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Education

PhD, 2007, Purdue University
MS, 20002, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
BS, 1995, University of Tampa

Websites

CRANS

Social Media Accounts

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

USC Equity Now! Workshop
HHS DEI Science Consortium Member

Current Courses

HSCI 415 - Introduction to Nuclear and Radiological Security
HSCI 551 - Physical Agents in Environmental Health

Selected Publications

KOT, J., THOMAS, T., and HARRIS, J. Development of a Potential Facility Risk Index for Nuclear Safety and Security Using a Terrorism Scenario with a Hypothetical Nuclear Facility. Nuclear Technology, June 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2024.2343971
KOT, J., and HARRIS, J. Risk Assessment for Nuclear Terrorism Probability and Its Application on a Hypothetical Nuclear Facility. Health Phys. June 18, 2024 (published-ahead-of print).https://doi.org/10.1097/HP. 0000000000001842.
THOMAS, T., and HARRIS, J. Development of a Nuclear Safety and Security Integration Assessment Tool for Research Reactors and Associated Facilities. Health Phys. January 15, 2024 (published-ahead-of-print). https://doi.org/10.1097/HP.0000000000001821
THOMAS, T., RANE, S., and HARRIS, J. A Case Study Assessing the Integration of Nuclear Safety and Security in Facilities Using a Monte Carlo Simulation–Aided Analytical Hierarchy Process. International Journal of Nuclear Security, 9 (1). January 2024. doi:10.7290/ijns.
RANE, S., HARRIS, J. Quantification of a Facility Radiological Security Risk Index With a Graphical User Interface Tool. Health Phys. 2022 May 1;122(5):632-644. doi: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001536. PMID: 35383637.
HARRIS, J., and RANE, S. The Interface between Nuclear Safety and Security. in: The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security, eds. HOBBS, C., TZINIERIS S., and AGHARA, S., Oxford University Press, May, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192847935.001.0001
HARRIS, J. T., RANE, S., REKEWEG, E., and PAONE, K.. Assessment of Nuclear Security and Safety Culture at Radiological Facilities across the United States. International Conference on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources: Accomplishments and Future Endeavours. IAEA June 20-24, 2022, Vienna, Austria.
RANE, S., HARRIS, J. A Game Theoretical Model of Radiological Terrorism Defense. International Journal of Nuclear Security. 7(2): Article 7; 2021. https://doi.org/10.7290/ijns07vrqk
ROBINSON, M., GERMAN, N., WHITE, D., RANE, S. and HARRIS, J. Nuclear Security Awareness Survey at a University. International Journal of Nuclear Security. 7(2): Article 2; 2021. https://doi.org/10.7290/ijns07j919
RANE, S., and HARRIS, J. Development of a Potential Facility Risk Index for Radiological Security. Risk Analysis : an Official Publication of the Society for Risk Analysis. (2020) Nov. DOI: 10.1111/risa.13625.

Selected Honors/Awards

Fulbright Specialist, Kosovo - November 2024
Fellow, Health Physics Society - July 15, 2024
Fellow, Teaching Academy, Purdue University - January 1, 2022
Senior Member, Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) - July 1, 2020
Elda E. Anderson Award, Health Physics Society - July 1, 2012
Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, School of Health Sciences, Purdue University - April 15, 2012

Selected Grants

Principal Investigator, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Agency. Development of a novel nuclear safety and security probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) model for advanced reactors. Period: 01/01/2024-12/31/2026, Total: $487,00.
Co-Principal Investigator, Integrated University Program – In-Situ Irradiation Creep Testing Vehicle Instrumented with Novel Sensors. U.S. Department of Energy Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) Program, Maria Okuniewski (PI). Period: 08/01/2019-12/31/2022, Total: $650,000.
Principal Investigator, Integrated University Program – Faculty Development Grant. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Agency, Period: 04/01/2021-03/31/2024, Total: $450,000.
Co-Principal Investigator, Integrated University Program – In-Situ Irradiation Creep Testing Vehicle Instrumented with Novel Sensors. U.S. Department of Energy Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) Program, Maria Okuniewski (PI). Period: 08/01/2019-12/31/2022, Total: $650,000.
Co-Investigator, Occupational Safety and Health Training Project Grants. United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/NIOSH T03, Ellen Wells (PI). Period: 07/01/2017-06/30/2022, Total: $750,000.
Principal Investigator, Nuclear Security Education Expansion to Purdue University – Phase II. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Period: 09/06/2017-07/01/2019, Total: $663,442.

Professional Affiliations

ABET, Program Evaluator for Health Physics
America Nuclear Society
Health Physics Society, Chair, Health Physics Program Directors Organization (HPPDO), Chair, Academic Education Committee
Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Member-at-Large Executive Committee, Central Chapter, Advisor - Purdue Student Chapter
International Atomic Energy Agency, former Chair - International Nuclear Security Education Network