Abbas Jinia given IEEE-NPSS Graduate Scholarship Award
The NERS PhD student researches active interrogation applications to detect concealed nuclear material.
Abbas Jinia, a NERS PhD student and member of the Detection for Nuclear Nonproliferation Group (DNNG) under Prof. Sara Pozzi, has been awarded a scholarship from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society (IEEE-NPSS). The IEEE-NPSS Graduate Scholarship Award recognizes contributions to the field of Nuclear and Plasma Sciences by a graduate student.
Abbas is conducting fundamental research in digital pulse processing and machine learning for active interrogation applications, which seeks to advance capabilities for detecting concealed special nuclear material. Abbas’ research results were selected by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration at their workshop for Next-Generation Artificial Intelligence for Proliferation Detection. He has authored or co-authored five peer-reviewed journal articles, four conference papers, and has presented his research at several conferences and workshops. One of his articles has already obtained 35 citations, an outstanding number for a journal paper in our field published only in 2020.
Originally from Mumbai, India, Abbas is a 2015 physics graduate from Kishinchand Chellaram College. In 2018, he earned a master’s degree in nuclear engineering from Purdue University before coming to U-M for his graduate studies.
“I still do not know how I made it to the best nuclear school in the country,” said Abbas. “Feels like a dream!”
“Abbas Jinia is a very worthy recipient of the IEEE NPSS Graduate Scholarship Award,” said Pozzi. “In addition to being a meticulous researcher and prolific writer, he has contributed greatly to the mentoring of undergraduate students in our research group. He brings enthusiasm and joy to the research bench and the classroom.”
Abbas is the President of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) U-M Student Chapter, President of the IEEE-NPSS U-M Chapter, and received the Outstanding GSI Award in 2022 for his instruction in NERS 535: Detection Techniques for Nuclear Nonproliferation.
The IEEE-NPSS scholarship competition was judged on academic record, reports, presentations, publications, research plans, related projects, and related work experience. Participation in IEEE activities through presentations, publications, student chapter involvement, etc. were also considered by the selection committee.
“Shout out to Prof. Pozzi, she nominated me for the IEEE award,” said Abbas. “This award would not have been possible without her support and constant encouragement.”