Bio
Jason joined ORNL in April 2022 as a senior radiological engineer within the Nuclear and Radiological Protection Division, where he was responsible for leading technically complex high-hazard radiological work planning and development of innovative radiological hazard controls. In this capacity, he acted as a radiological protection subject matter expert for planning and design of nuclear and radiological facility modifications and performed front-end assessments of engineering control cost/benefit decisions.
In October 2024, Jason transferred to the Radioisotope Science and Technology Division where he serves as both a nuclear material characterization analyst and alternate material balance area representative. In this role, he performs non-destructive analysis of nuclear materials to determine isotope types and activities in containers and process holdup. He also serves as a subject matter expert for the high purity germanium detectors throughout the Isotope Science and Enrichment Directorate.
Jason has more than 21 years of experience in health physics, radiological protection, and dose assessment within academia, U.S. Department of Energy, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Areas of expertise include internal and external dosimetry, diagnostic medical imaging, radiation biology, and radiation protection. Instructional experience includes formal post-secondary instruction, radiation protection short courses, and U.S. Department of Energy Radiological Worker training.
He holds adjunct faculty appointments in the University of Tennessee - Knoxville's Department of Nuclear Engineering and University of Michigan's Department of Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences.
Jason is certified in the comprehensive practice of health physics by the American Board of Health Physics. He received a master of science in health physics from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2008 and was awarded his doctorate in applied physics by Idaho State University in 2014. He is an active member of the Health Physics Society.
He maintains active research interests in radiation measurement, biokinetic modeling, aerosol physics, nanomaterial toxicology, radiation microdosimetry, and the assessment of individuals that have become internally contaminated with radioactive materials.
Professional Experience
- October 2024 to Present - Nuclear Material Characterization Analyst
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Radioisotope Science and Technology Division (RSTD), Oak Ridge, Tennessee
- September 2024 to Present - Adjunct Lecturer – Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences.
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- April 2021 to Present - Research Assistant Professor/Adjunct Lecturer – Department of Nuclear Engineering - Tickle College of Engineering.
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
- April 2022 to September 2024 - Senior Radiological Engineer
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Nuclear and Radiological Protection Division (NRPD), Oak Ridge, Tennessee
- September 2021 to April 2022 - Health Physicist 4/Business Operations Manager
- ORAU-ORISE, Radiological Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS), Oak Ridge, Tennessee
- October 2017 to September 2021 - Health Physicist 4/Health Physics Project Manager
- ORAU-ORISE, Radiological Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS), Oak Ridge, Tennessee
- November 2009 to October 2017 - Health Physicist 4
- ORAU, Occupational Exposure and Worker Health, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
- January 2008 to November 2009 - Scientist – Health Physics and Radiological Engineering
- National Security Technologies, LLC., Mercury, Nevada
- July 2006 to January 2008 - Scientist – Health Physics
- National Security Technologies, LLC., Las Vegas, Nevada
- July 2005 to July 2006 - Scientist – Health Physics
- Bechtel Nevada – NTA, Las Vegas, Nevada
- April 2003 to July 2005 - Associate Scientist – Health Physics
- Bechtel Nevada – NTA, Las Vegas, Nevada
Awards
2019 Secretary of Energy Achievement Honor Award
2017 Elda E. Anderson Award, Health Physics Society (Outstanding Young Health Physicist)
Education
- PhD, Applied Physics – Health Physics Emphasis, Idaho State University - May 2014
- Dissertation: Older than Reference Man: The Biokinetic Significance of Anatomical and Physiological Changes with Advancing Age.
- M.S., Health Physics – Medical Physics Emphasis, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2008
- Thesis: Prostate Volume Delineation and Seed Localization using a 3-T Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer.
- Clinical Rotation in Diagnostic Imaging Physics, Nevada Imaging Centers/Steinberg Diagnostic Medical Imaging, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2008
- B.S., Health Physics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2005
Professional Service
- Health Physics Society Program Committee member - 2015 – 2024
- Annual Meeting Task Force Chair – 2017
- 2022 IRPA North American Regional Congress Program Committee Member 2021-2022
- IRPA 16 International Congress Program Committee Corresponding Group Member 2021-2024
- Health Physics Society - Co-Chair: Radiation Research Needs Special Task Force 2018-2019
- Health Physics Society - Engaging Audiences during HPS Presentations Task Force Lead 2018-2019
- Health Physics Society - Continuing Education Committee 2012 – 2015
- East Tennessee Chapter – Health Physics Society
- Treasurer – 2022 - 2023
- Secretary – 2016 - 2018
Professional Affiliations
American Academy of Health Physics
Health Physics Society
Radiation Research Society
American Nuclear Society
American Academy for the Advancement of Science
American Institute of Physics
Other Publications
- J Davis, C Iddins. Internal contamination cases: The REAC/TS experience. Environmental Advances. 8: 100229; 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envadv.2022.100229
- C Iddins, J Davis. Recognition of radiation-induced injuries as sentinel indicators of uncontrolled radioactive material. Environmental Advances. 8: 100244; 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envadv.2022.100244
- GP Nichols, JE Davis. Human Health Impacts and Immunotoxicology of Metal Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials. In: MA Williams, ed. Toxicology of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials in Human, Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley; 2022.
- M Keenan, T Behrens, S Bravenec, J Davis, A Bowen, R Goans, C Iddins. Americium inhalational exposure with successful chelation therapy. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 16(5): 2185-2189; 2022. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2021.211
- CJ Iddins, JE Davis, RE Goans, C Case. Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism. In: KH Todd, CR Thomas, K Alagappan, eds. Oncologic Emergency Medicine: Principles and Practice. 2nd ed. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature Switzerland; 2021.
- G George, JI Hayes, CN Collins, J Davis, L Yu, Y Lin, J Wen, D Ila, Z Luo. Size- and concentration dependent Eu2+/Eu3+ mixed luminescent characteristics of rare-earth-doped CaF2 nanoparticles and their monolithic epoxy nanocomposites. 857(2021): 157591; 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2020.157591.
- A Bowen, TG Veenema, S Schneider-Firestone, C Iddins, D Boyce, J Davis, C Thornton. Exploring national nursing readiness for a radiological or nuclear incident. Journal of Emergency Nursing. 46(5): 600-610; 2020.
- JE Davis. Radiation doses to practitioners caring for victims of a radiological accident. Radiation Environment and Medicine. 8(2): 39-44; 2019.
- JE Davis, SA Dewji, EW Abelquist, N Hertel. Synopsis of the Oak Ridge Radiation Protection Research Needs Workshop. Health Phys. 116(1): 69-80; 2019.
- G George, M Simpson, B Gautam, D Fang, J Peng, J Wen, JE Davis, D Ila, Z Luo. Luminescence characteristics of rare-earth-doped barium hexafluorogermangante (BaGeF6) nanowires: fast sub-nanosecond decay time and high sensitivity in H2O2 detection. RSC Advances. 8: 39296-39306; 2018.
- G George, SL Jackson, ZR Mobley, BR Gautam, D Fang, J Peng, D Luo, J Wen, JE Davis, D Ila and Z Luo. Fast luminescence from rare-earth-codoped BaSiF6 nanowires with high aspect ratios. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 6, 7285 – 7294, 2018.
- GP Nichols, JE Davis. Need for Nanotechnology in Military Uniforms. HDIAC Spotlight. July 11, 2016. https://www.hdiac.org/spotlight/3981