Mohamad Zineddin, a distinguished researcher in nuclear and radiological engineering, recently received the Roger Howsley Award for Excellence in Nuclear Security. This distinction, bestowed by the World Institute for Nuclear Security and the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, recognizes individual contributions to the field of nuclear security.
“The effectiveness of security at nuclear sites is dependent on having a healthy nuclear safety and security culture embedded into all aspects of our day-to-day activities and interfaces with stakeholders,” said Zineddin, known to colleagues as Dr. Z. “This award brings attention to the importance of nuclear security and the contributions of professionals in this field, helping to raise public awareness and support for nuclear security initiatives,”
Zineddin joined the Facilities and Systems Security group in 2023, bringing his prominent career to ORNL’s nuclear nonproliferation mission. He draws on more than three decades of experience as a researcher, faculty member mentor and even a 4th-degree Black Belt in martial arts to shape his view of promoting best practices and standards in nuclear security.
When asked what advice he would give others who hope to be recognized for their work, Zineddin recommends leading projects that focus on improving the field, developing innovative solutions to address pressing challenges and upholding the highest standards of ethics and integrity.
“Receiving the Roger Howsley Award serves as a personal milestone, reflecting the hard work, expertise and dedication I have invested in my career,” said Zineddin. “This can be a source of pride and motivation for future endeavors.”
ORNL provides scientific, operational, and policy expertise to inform the future of nonproliferation, including nonproliferation for fusion energy systems, contributions to international peaceful uses efforts, and the technical broadening of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s export control mission and economic impact assessments.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science. — Liz Neunsinger