OFFICE
417 Mechanical Engineering
MSC01 1120
Department of Nuclear Engineering
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001

hecht@unm.edu
(505) 277-1654

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Yale University Physics, 2004
M.Phil. Yale University Physics, 2001
M.S. Yale University Physics, 1999
B.S. University of California, Irvine Physics, 1997

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Associate Professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of New Mexico, August 2008 to present (Assistant Professor from 2008-2015)
Emphasis of work on three areas in radiation detection and measurement for nuclear nonproliferation: (1) Detector array techniques which we have developed for source localization, (2) Novel materials characterization using AlSb for radiation detection, (3) measurements for improved fission data and simulation development for neutron induced fission. Work has also been on radiation therapy with emphasis on proton beam radiation therapy simulations and radiation bioassay measurements.

Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin at Madison, July 2007 to July 2008.
* Experiment and calculation work on radiation interactions with matter.
* Measured secondary neutron production from proton beams to characterize proton-beam radiation therapy, using proportional gas counters.
* Modeled neutron production in proton beam, alpha particle beam, and heavy ion beam reactions using code I developed using the Geant4 Monte Carlo toolkit.
* Wrote documents for patent application for novel accelerator based mass spectrometry techniques.
* Wrote NSF grant proposal to fund modeling and simulation of accelerator technique.

Research Associate at Argonne National Laboratory, Physics Division, through the University of Maryland, February 2004 to June 2007.
* Stellar nucleosynthesis accounts for ALL elements heavier than lithium. Research focused on very neutron-rich or proton-rich nuclei important to the stellar nucleosynthesis processes which produce the elements.
- Instrument design and development:
* Designed and built beta-gamma detector array and the beam optics used to couple the Canadian Penning trap system at Argonne to a moving ion implantation tape to study beta decay from neutron-rich 252Cf fission products, important to understand supernova nucleosynthesis. Neutron-rich "r-process" nucleosynthesis:
* Led collaboration using Gammasphere at Argonne, and participated with other labs, studying "superallowed" alpha decay near 100Sn and termination of the rp-process.
* Led collaboration using the Canadian Penning trap for precise mass measurements of proton-rich nuclei near 100Sn.
Other:
* Led investigation of the few eV (near optical!) nuclear transition in 229Th at the Advanced Photon Source synchrotron radiation ring at Argonne.
* Led or collaborated in experiments at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, the heavy-ion accelerators at Argonne, the 88" Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, HRIBF at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, the Wright Nuclear Structure Laboratory at Yale University, and ISOLDE at CERN.

Doctoral Research in low energy accelerator nuclear physics, Wright Nuclear Structure Laboratory, Yale University, 1997 to 2004.
Dissertation: Experiments on Chiral Symmetry Breaking in the Mass A ~ 130 Region.
* Dissertation research using gamma ray spectroscopy to investigate high spin states in nuclei. Led several experiments in gamma-ray spectroscopy. Discovered several new high spin bands in Pm and Eu nuclei and found structure consistent with predictions. Published several papers on the results.
* Coded the control program and built various mechanisms as needed for the detector cooling systems. * Assisted in a variety of other experiments in electronics set-up, detector maintenance, data collection and some analysis for both in house and outside users at the accelerator facility.

Student Research at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Feb.-Sept. 1996.
* Developed optical interferometry feedback system to measure nanometer scale vibrations at a distance - for active stabilization of the focusing magnets to be used in the planned Next Linear Collider.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, University of New Mexico, August 2008 to present.
* Radiation Detection and Measurement, ChNE 323L/523L Co-teaching lecture and laboratory, Fall 2008, Fall 2009, Fall 2010
* Nuclear Engineering Science, ChNE 330, Spring 2010, Spring 2011
* External Radiation Dosimetry, ChNE 528, Spring 2009
* Introduction to Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, ChNE101, Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Spring 2011

Course development:
* Interaction of Radiation with Matter, ChNE 524. Developed curriculum and lectures as it had previously been taught by various adjuncts with no set curriculum, taught Fall 2010.

Guest Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin, Madison while a post-doc researcher, Fall 2007, Spring 2008
* Radiological Physics and Dosimetry, Medical Physics 501, Presented guest lectures and supervised class frequently. Taught radiation interactions with matter and dosimetry with emphasis on medical applications, for Ph.D. level medical physics students.

Adjunct Faculty, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, Spring Semester, 2006.
* Physics 107: Introductory Physics II, electricity and magnetism through special relativity. Teaching lecture class of 89 students. Prepared homework and exams and supervised graduate student grader. Earned great reviews from students.

Adjunct Faculty, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, Fall Quarter, 2005.
* Light and Atoms, a lecture class in which I introduced students to optics and atomic physics, and supervised the associated lab, for 18 students. I modified the syllabus and innovated demonstrations to better involve the students.

Post-Doctoral Instructor, Radioactive Ion Accelerator Nuclear Physics Summer School, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, August 9 - 13, 2004.
* Taught a hands on program on isotope separator techniques on the Fragment Mass Analyzer system for graduate students and post-doctoral researchers.

Graduate Teaching Assistant Yale University, New Haven, CT
*Physics 381L: Advanced Physics Laboratory. Fall Semester 2001 and Fall Semester 2002. Taught theory and techniques and guided experiments in nuclear and particle physics to advanced undergraduate physics majors. Created appropriate background lectures based on needs of the students. Evaluated and graded written assignments.
*Physics 165L, 166L: Introductory Physics Laboratory. Fall Semester 1997 through Fall Semester 1998. Taught background and assisted in experiments in general physics laboratory, from basic mechanics through electronics and more advanced topics such as radiation. Evaluated and graded laboratory work.

Other Experience
Accuracy Checker and Consultant Fall 2001.
For tutorial CD accompanying Physics: Algebra/Trig, 3rd ed., by Eugene Hecht.

AWARDS
* J.W. Gibbs Fellowship, Yale University, 1997-1998

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
* ANS – American Nuclear Society
* INMM – Institute of Nuclear Materials Management
* IEEE – Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
* AAPM – American Association of Physicists in Medicine

OTHER

* Fluent in Spanish.
* Play classical and flamenco guitar