Patrick is a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering, working on nuclear security issues with Professor Alexander Glaser at the Program in Science and Global Security. Prior to Princeton, Patrick was a licensed Senior Reactor Operator at a 250 kW TRIGA Mk. I research reactor and an undergraduate researcher with the Reactor Engineering Group at the NIST Center for Neutron Research. Patrick graduated with a B.S. in Applied Physics and a minor in History from Columbia University, as well as with a B.A. in Physics from Reed College in Portland, Oregon.
Research Interests
Patrick enjoys applying nuclear forensics to a wide spectrum of challenges, ranging from historical case studies to contemporary proliferation issues. His early work used neutronics codes for safety analyses at research reactors. At Princeton, Patrick investigates potential production of fissile or weapons materials in foreign nuclear reactor facilities. To enhance these neutronics analyses, Patrick is also exploring advanced remote sensing tools, including high-resolution visual, thermal, and synthetic aperture radar satellite imagery. His aim is to piece together a comprehensive “big picture” by characterizing nations’ energy systems— amid observational uncertainty— to contextualize when, why, and how nuclear proliferation behaviors may emerge.
Publications
P. J. Park and S. Herzele, “Myths of German Graphite in World War II, with Original Translations,” Eur. Phys. J H, in press, arXiv:2405.20801 (2024).
Periodical Articles
P. J. Park, “Reed Research Reactor: Lessons Learned from COVID-19 in Operations & Training,” Test, Research, and Training Reactors Q4 (2020).
P. J. Park, “A U.S. Operator’s Exploration of the Korean Nuclear Industry and How We Affect Each Other,” Test, Research, and Training Reactors Q3 (2020).
Conference Proceedings
P. J. Park, J. Zhao, M. E. Hiebert, C. Sivels, T. W. Koeth, “Nuclear Forensics of the B8: Heisenberg’s Last Reactor,” 65th Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Portland, OR (2024)
P. J. Park, J. Newhouse, “Preliminary Python-Automated Neutrons Analysis for the Reed Research Reactor,” in American Nuclear Society National Student Conference, Virtual (2021).
Talks
Nuclear and Imagery Analysis of North Korea’s Experimental Light Water Reactor, School on Science and Global Security, Princeton Univ., NJ (Oct. 15, 2024)
Understanding Early Reactor Programs: Nuclear Archaeology of Heisenberg’s B8 Pile, DOE NNSA University Program Review, Texas A&M Univ. (June 06, 2024)
Nuclear Forensics and Analysis of the 1945 B8 Reactor, School on Science and Global Security, Princeton Univ., NJ (Oct. 15, 2024)
Investigative Study of Post-Fukushima Nuclear Safety and Research Practices in South Korea, Board of Trustees Winter Assembly, Reed College, OR (Feb. 07, 2020)
Design and Integration of Automated Sample Changer for TRIGA Reactor Rotary Specimen Rack, Dept. of Physics Research Seminar, Reed College, OR (Sep. 11, 2019)