Research Interests
Novel radiation detectors and applications, Gamma ray spectrometry, Neutron and Gamma based techniques for Nuclear Safeguards and Radioactive Waste Assay, Neutron Activation Analysis, Monte Carlo modeling
Education
Ph.D. Nuclear Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
M.S. Nuclear Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
M.A. Physics, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
M.Sc. Physics, University of Madras, India
B.Sc. Physics, University of Madras, India
Biosketch
Ramkumar (“Ram”) Venkataraman has been in the field of radiation detection and measurements for more than 23 years. Ram currently hold the title of Safeguards Systems Scientist/Engineer with the Safeguards & Security Technology Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Ram has been employed at Canberra Industries for the past 17 years. Ram helped develop some of Canberra’s key products such as ISOCS and LabSOCS and other algorithms in gamma spectrometry such as the gamma ray true coincidence summing correction. Ram was part of the team that worked closely with Dr. Robert Estep of Los Alamos National Laboratory to commercialize and further develop the Tomographic Gamma Scanner system. Ram has worked as a technical lead on R & D projects funded by the IAEA and DNDO. He has expertise in using a variety of safeguards instruments such as neutron coincidence and multiplicity counters, Hybrid K-Edge Densitometry and XRF, and gamma/x-ray analysis techniques for determining U enrichment and Pu isotopics.
Ram Venkataraman is an active member and the current chairman of the ASTM Sub-Committee C26.10 on Non-Destructive Assay techniques. The ASTM sub-committee C26.10 develops and maintains standard test methods and standard guides for various non-destructive assay techniques applied in nuclear fuel cycle.