Bio
Tim is an R&D staff scientist in the Applied Microanalysis and Thermophysics group. He joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory as an associate research scientist in the Materials Science and Technology Division in February 2020. Previously, he was a research scientist in the Reactor Materials and Mechanical Design group in the Nuclear Sciences Division at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. His research interests focus on the characterization and testing of nuclear structural materials for fission/fusion energy and spallation neutron applications. In particular, he uses analytical scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe tomography (APT) in conjunction with properties testing to elucidate processing-microstructure-property-performance relationships in materials exposed to extreme environments. He is the custodian of the focused ion beam/ scanning electron microscopes (FIB/SEMs) in the Low Activation Materials Development and Analysis (LAMDA) facility and the Local Electron Atom Probe (LEAP 4000XHR) in the Materials Characterization Core (MCC) at ORNL.
Professional Experience
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- 2024-Present R&D Scientist, Applied Microanalysis and Thermophysics group, MSTD
- 2020-2024 R&D Associate, Nuclear Energy Materials Microanalysis group, MSTD
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- 2018-2020 Materials Scientist II, Reactor Materials and Mechanical Design group, NSD
- 2016-2018 Post-doctoral Research Associate, Reactor Materials and Mechanical Design group, NSD, PNNL; advisors: Dr. Thak Sang Byun and Dr. Dallas Reilly
Awards
Exceptional Contribution Award, 2019 – PNNL
Outstanding Performance Award, 2016 – PNNL
Education
Ph.D. 2016, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Thesis advisors: Prof. Pascal Bellon and Prof. Robert Averback
B.S. 2010, Materials Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University
Professional Service
Associate Editor for the journal Frontiers in Nuclear Engineering - Nuclear Materials section
Lead organizer for the "Microscopy and Microanalysis of Materials under Multiple Environmental Extremes" symposium for M&M 2023, and "High Resolution Microscopy and Microanalysis of Materials under Extreme Environments" for M&M 2025.
Lead organizer for "Transmutation Effects in Fission, Fusion, and Spallation Materials" symposium for TMS 2027.
Co-organizer for the "Special Topics in Nuclear Materials: Lessons Learned; Coupled Extremes; and Non-Energy Systems" symposium for TMS 2025.
Extensive reviewer for Acta Materialia, Journal of Nuclear Materials, Materials Characterization, and others.
Professional Affiliations
Member of The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS) and the Microscopy Society of America (MSA).
Member, TMS Nuclear Materials Committee
Specialized Equipment
Instrument custodian for the Focused Ion Beam/Scanning Electron Microscopes (FIB/SEM) in the LAMDA laboratory. and the LEAP 4000XHR atom probe in the MCC>
Expertise in analytical FIB/SEM, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), analytical scanning TEM (STEM), and atom probe tomography (APT).