Bio
Dr. JungHyun Bae, appointed as a Eugene P. Wigner Distinguished Staff Fellow, joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 2022. He is a staff member of the Used Fuel and Nuclear Material Disposition group within the Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division. Currently, his research focuses on developing an advanced muon tomography system to monitor spent nuclear fuel casks and a muon detector for enhancing environmental surveillance for long-term nuclear wastes in the Underground Research Laboratory.
JungHyun focuses on his fellowship research on designing a prototype of the Cherenkov muon spectrometer and momentum-integrated muon tomography system in collaboration with the Detector Group of the Neutron Science Division. He has also collaborated with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Division to develop a cosmic radiation noise cancellation algorithm to improve the detection sensitivity of the Radiation Portal Monitor for national security. Recently, JungHyun is working on developing reliable quantitative models and GEANT4 simulation toolkits to analyze the effects of high-energy radiation (e.g., background gamma rays and cosmic muons) on superconducting qubits. Supported by the National Quantum Science Center and ORNL, this work deepens our understanding of radiation-induced decoherence.
JungHyun's work has been featured by the and was recently recognized in the . These recognitions underscore his significant contributions and potential to advance nuclear science and energy research. He has authored more than 40 publications, including peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers, a book chapter, and technical reports. JungHyun serves as the . He is a committee member of Fuel Cycle and Waste Management Division of the American Nuclear Society and Alpha Nu Sigma (螒螡危) National Honor Society. JungHyun received his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from Purdue University, a master鈥檚 degree in nuclear engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in nuclear and quantum engineering from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Engineering (KAIST).
Proposals
Successfully leads and contributes to various multidisciplinary R&D projects as a principal investigator (PI) and contributor with a total funding of $1.8M.
- High-Energy Radiation Effects on Superconducting Qubits (PI, 2025 - present) - ORNL Laboratory Director's Research & Development
- Cosmic Radiation Noise Cancellation Algorithm Development for Radiation Portal Monitor (PI, 2024 - present) - ORNL Laboratory Director's Research & Development
- Momentum-Informed Muon Scattering Tomography System for Spent Nuclear Fuel Dry Cask Monitoring (PI, 2023 - present) - ORNL Laboratory Director's Research & Development
- Advancing Non-Invasive Ultrasonic Flow Measurement Capabilities for Prototypical SNS Target Facilities (Contributor, 2025- present) - ORNL Laboratory Director's Research & Development
- Development of a Portable Muon Detector Underground Research Laboratory (Contributor, 2023 - 2025) - DOE-NE81
Professional Experience
Guest Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Applied Physics
- Special issue on Muography: Discoveries, Innovations, and Applications
- Guest editors: Konstantin Borozdin (Decision Sciences), Adam Hecht (University of New Mexico), Haruo Miyadera (Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation), Christopher Morris (LANL), Maik Stuke (BGZ), and Hiroyuki Tanaka (University of Tokyo).
Executive Committee Member
- American Nuclear Society (ANS) professional division 鈥� Fuel Cycle and Waste Management Division (FCWMD)
Session Organizer
- Technical session: UNF/SNF Monitoring, Storage and Transportation Advances
Session Chair
- Technical Session: Innovations for FCWMD Applications
- Technical Session: Spent Fuel Transportation Needs and Alternative Fuel Options
- Technical Session: Radiation Detection and Imaging III
- Technical Session: Technical Session: Advanced Monitoring and Characterization I
Invited Presentations
- Hapeville, GA Charter Career Academy (for underrepresented students)
- Invited seminar at GEN IV International Forum
- Invited talk at Hanbat University, South Korea
- Wigner Distinguished Staff Fellow Technical seminar
- Technical Seminar at Canadian Nuclear Laboratory
- Invited talk at US-Korea Conference
- Invited presentation at WMS Management Symposium
Awards
- 2024 Q4 ORNL Supplemental Performance Award
- Featured in the ANS Nuclear News inaugural 鈥�40 Under 40 list鈥�
- Grant Award from Group of Instrumentation and Measurement Science (GIMS) in American Physical Society (APS)
- American Nuclear Society Alpha Nu Sigma (螒螡危) honor society lifetime member
- Braslau Family Grant, American Physics Society, APS March meeting
- Best Presentation Award, US-Korea Conference on Science and Technology
- Winner of 鈥�Pitch your PhD鈥� competition in the 2021 ANS Winter meeting
- Best Paper Award, 28th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering
- Purdue University College of Engineering Magoon Excellence in Teaching Award
- Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) awarded by U.S Army
- Army Achievement Medals (AAM) awarded by U.S Army
Education
Doctor of Philosophy | Nuclear Engineering | Purdue University, West Lafayette
Master of Science | Nuclear Engineering | University of California, Berkeley
Bachelor of Science | Nuclear and Quantum Engineering | Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Republic of Korea
Professional Affiliations
鈥� A committee member of Fuel Cycle and Waste Management (FCWM)
鈥� American Nuclear Society (ANS)
鈥� Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA)
鈥� Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM)
鈥� American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME)
鈥� Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Publications
Other Publications
Peer-reviewed Journal Articles
[1] J. Bae, A. Enders, C. Massey, J. Livesay, and C. Blessinger, 鈥淩adiation Portal Monitor Data File Format for Comprehensive Background Radiation Monitoring鈥� Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A (2025) DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2025.170516
[2] J. Bae, R. Montgomery, and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淚mage Reconstruction Algorithm for Momentum Dependent Muon Scattering Tomography鈥� Nuclear Engineering and Technology, 56(5) (2024) DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2023.12.009
[3] J. Bae, R. Montgomery, and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淓nhanced Material Identification via Momentum Integrated Muon Scattering Tomography鈥�, Nuclear Science and Technology Open Research, 2(42) (2024) DOI: doi.org/10.12688/nuclscitechnolopenres.17545.1
[4] J. Bae, R. Montgomery, and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淢omentum informed muon scattering tomography for monitoring spent nuclear fuels in dry storage cask,鈥� Nature Scientific Reports, 14(1), 6717 (2024) DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57105-y
[5] J. Bae, R. Montgomery, and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淣uclear Material Accountancy Using Momentum-Informed Muon Scattering Tomography鈥�, Annals of Nuclear Energy, 197 (2024) DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2023.110240
[6] R. Ughade, J. Bae, and S. Chatzidakis, "Performance Evaluation of Cosmic Ray Muon Trajectory Estimation Algorithms", AIP Advances, 13 (2023) DOI: doi.org/10.1063/5.0174796
[7] J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淒evelopment of Compact Muon Spectrometer Using Multi-Layer Gas Cherenkov Radiators鈥� Results in Physics, 39 105771 (2022). DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.rinp.2022.105771
[8] [Dissertation] J. Bae, 鈥淎 Novel Muon Spectrometer Using Multi-Layer Pressurized Gas Cherenkov Radiators for Muon Tomography鈥�, Purdue University. (2022). DOI: doi.org/10.25394/PGS.19686633.v1
[9] J. Bae and R. Bean, 鈥淚nvestigation of Thermohydraulic Limits on Maximum Reactor Power in LEU Plate-Fueled, Pool-Type Research Reactor鈥�, Nuclear Science and Engineering, 196 (2022). DOI: doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2022.2055700
[10] [Invited Article] J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淢omentum-Dependent Cosmic Ray Muon Computed Tomography Using a Fieldable Muon Spectrometer鈥�, Energies, 15(7), 2666 (2022). DOI: doi.org/10.3390/en15072666
[11] J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淎 Fieldable Muon Spectrometer for Nuclear Security Applications鈥�, Nature Scientific Reports, 12, 2559 (2022). DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-06510-2
[12] J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淎 New Semi-Empirical Model for Cosmic Ray Muon Flux Estimation鈥�, Progress of Theoretical and Experimental Physics, 2022(4) (2022). DOI: doi.org/10.1093/ptep/ptac016
[13] S. Chatzidakis and J. Bae, 鈥淎dvances in Cosmic Ray Muon Computed Tomography and Fieldable Spectroscopy鈥� HNPS Advances in Nuclear Physics, 28 pp. 184-190 (2021).
[14] J. Bae, R. Bean and R. Abboud, 鈥淐FD Analysis of a Dry Storage Cask with Advanced Spent Nuclear Fuel Cask Additives鈥�, Annals of Nuclear Energy, 145 (2020)
Book Chapter
[1] J. Bae, R. Ughade, S. Chatzidakis, (2024) 鈥淕amma Ray and Cosmic Ray Muon Modalities for Cargo Inspection,鈥�, In: Emerging Radiation Detection, Springer. DOI: doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-63897-8_12
Technical Reports and Memos
[1] S. Tognini, J. Bae, 鈥淯RL Muon Detector Project: Computational Framework Status Report,鈥� ORNL/SPR-2024/3435 (2024)
[2] J. Bae, and R. Montgomery, 鈥淕EANT4 Simulation and MATLAB Data Processing and Imaging Packages for Momentum-Dependent Muon Scattering Tomography鈥�, ORNL/TM-2023/3181 (2023)
[3] J. Bae, and P. Cantonwine, 鈥淎 Vacuum Drying Study of Simulated Failed Nuclear Fuel (FY23)鈥�, ORNL/SPR-2023/3081 (2023)
[4] S. Tognini, J. Bae, H. Gadey, and K Deisenroth, 鈥淯RL Muon Detector Project Simulation Status Report鈥�, ORNL/SPR-2023/2987 (2023)
[5] J. Meszaros, S. Tognini, R. Montgomery, R. Howard, H. Gadey, J. Bae, and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淯nderground Research Laboratory Muon Detector Project Progress Report鈥�, M4SF 21OR010310051 (2021)
Conference Proceedings and Oral/Poster Presentations
[1] J. Niedermeier, J. Bae, M. Stuke 鈥淭hreshold Analysis of Modelling and Measurement Accuracies in Muon Scattering Tomography,鈥� Transactions of American Nuclear Society (2025).
[2] J. Bae, A. Enders, C. Massey, J. Livesay, C. Blessinger, 鈥淎 Comprehensive Data File Format for Radiation Portal Monitors,鈥� Transactions of American Nuclear Society 131, 852-855 (2024).
[3] R. Ughade, J. Bae, S. Chatzidakis, 鈥�3D Analysis for Generalized Muon Trajectory Estimation Algorithm,鈥� Transactions of American Nuclear Society 131, 856-859 (2024).
[4] E. Wever, C. Webb, J. Bae, R. Bean, S. Tognini, P. Cantonwine, A. Enders, 鈥淢etal Latticed Collimators for Radiation Portal Monitors,鈥� Transactions of American Nuclear Society 131, 848-851 (2024).
[5] J. Bae, R. Bean, K. Mondal, S. Tognini, A. Enders, R. Montgomery, 鈥淩adiation Source Localization Algorithm in the Pedestrian Radiation Portal Monitor鈥�, Transactions of American Nuclear Society 130, 874-877 (2024).
[6] S. Tognini, J. Bae, R. Bean, K. A. Enders, Mondal, R. Montgomery, 鈥淪imulation Framework for Cosmic Ray Muon Impact on Radiation Portal Monitor鈥�, Transactions of American Nuclear Society 130, 878-881 (2024).
[7] J. Bae, R. Montgomery, S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淣uclear Material Accountancy Using Momentum Integrated Muon Scattering Tomography鈥�, ANS Winter Meeting, Nov 12-15, 2023, Washington, DC.
[8] R. Ughade, J. Bae, S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淎ssessment of Performance for Algorithms Estimating Cosmic Ray Muon Trajectories鈥�, Transactions of American Nuclear Society 129, 369-372 (2023).
[9] J. Bae, R. Montgomery, P, Shikhaliev, R. Bean, 鈥淢omentum-Informed Muon Scattering Tomography for Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Monitoring鈥�, LDRD Poster Fair, Sep 27, 2023, ORNL.
[10] J. Bae, R. Montgomery, S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淎 New Momentum-Integrated Muon Tomography Imaging Algorithm鈥�, Transactions of American Nuclear Society 128, 122-125 (2023).
[11] J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淢onitoring Spent Nuclear Fuel in a Dry Cask Using Momentum Integrated Muon Scattering Tomography,鈥� Transactions of American Nuclear Society 127, 828-832 (2022).
[12] H. Gadey, R. Howard, S. Tognini, J. Meszaros, R. Montgomery, S. Chatzidakis, J. Bae, R. Clark, 鈥淯sing Cosmic Ray Muons to Assess Geological Characteristics in the Subsurface鈥� Transactions of American Nuclear Society 127, 802-806 (2022).
[13] [INVITED] J. Bae, 鈥淎 High-Resolution Muon Spectrometer Using Multi-Layer Gas Cherenkov Radiators鈥�, GEN IV International Forum, July 27, 2022, online.
[14] J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淢uon Spectrometer-Tomography System for Monitoring Spent Nuclear Fuel Casks鈥�, Proceedings of Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) (2022).
[15] J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淣on-Linear Cherenkov Muon Spectrometer Using Multi-Layer Pressurized C3F8 Gas Radiators鈥�, ANS Annual Meeting, Transactions of American Nuclear Society 126, 818-821 (2022).
[16] Z. Dahm, A. Anwar, S. Chatzidakis, and J. Bae, 鈥淣ext Generation Nuclear Engineering Education and Training Using Virtual Labs鈥�, Transactions of American Nuclear Society 126, 45-48 (2022).
[17] A. Anwar, J. Bae, and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淢odeling Helium-3 Neutron Detectors for Virtual Labs in Nuclear Engineering鈥�, ANS Student Conference (2022).
[18] J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淎 High-Resolution Muon Spectrometer Using Multi-Layer Gas Cherenkov Radiators鈥�, American Physical Society (APS) March Meeting, Mar 14-18, 2022, Chicago, IL.
[19] J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淎pplied Gas Cherenkov Radiators to Measure Cosmic Ray Muon Momentum鈥�, Proceedings of UKC (2021)
[20] A. Anwar, Z. Dahm, J. Bae, M. Sharpe, G. Takahashi, and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淒eveloping high fidelity, real-time nuclear-based Virtual Laboratories using physics-based modeling and authentic 3D machine interfaces鈥�, NESTet conference 2021 (virtual).
[21] J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淔ieldable Muon Momentum Measurement using Coupled Pressurized Gaseous Cherenkov Detectors鈥�, Trans. Am. Nuc. Soc. 125, 400-403 (2021).
[22] J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淎 Cosmic Ray Muon Spectrometer Using Pressurized Gaseous Cherenkov Radiators鈥�, IEEE NSS-MIC Conf. Records (2021).
[23] J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis, 鈥淭he Effect of Cosmic Ray Muon Momentum Measurement for Monitoring Shielded Special Nuclear Materials鈥�, proceedings of INMM, (2021).
[24] J. Bae and S. Chatzidakis, R. Bean, 鈥淓ffective Solid Angle Model and Monte Carlo Method: Improved Estimations to Measure Cosmic Muon Intensity at Sea Level in All Zenith Angles鈥�, ICONE28 proceedings, 4 (2021).
[25] [INVITED] J. Bae, R. Bean, and R. Abboud, 鈥淎 Critical and CFD Analysis of a Dry Storage Cask with Advanced Spent Nuclear Fuel Cask Additives鈥�, Waste Management Symposium (WMS), Phoenix, AZ, (2020).
[26] J. Bae and R. Bean, 鈥淎nalytical Methods in Safeguards for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Complete, Verifiable, Irreversible Denuclearization (CVID) of North Korea鈥�, INMM proceedings (2019).
[27] J. Bae, R. Bean, and R. Abboud, 鈥淎 Criticality Analysis of a Dry Storage Cask with Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cask Additive鈥�, Trans. Am. Nuc. Soc. 118, 147-150 (2018).