Kimberlee Kearfott - Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences (2024)

Personnel dosimetry (thermoluminescent detectors, optically stimulated luminescent detectors, novel approaches); environmental radionuclide modeling and measurement (radon, RESRAD and similar codes, in situ spectroscopy, tomography); radioactive waste transportation, management, disposal, decommissioning and decontamination; physiological models (PET, SPECT, ICRP, general); internal dose assessment (ICRP/NCRP, MIRD, general); radiation detection and external dosimetry; applied radiation protection (medical health physics, nuclear power plant health physics)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

ScD Nuclear Engineering ’80

University of Virginia

MSE Nuclear Engineering, ’77

St. Mary’s University, Nova Scotia

BS Engineering ’75

Diploma Engineering ’75

• 1993 – present: Professor, Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences, The University of Michigan, (Tenured 1993)
• 1994 – present: Professor, Biomedical Engineering
• 2003 – present: Professor, Radiology
• 2000-2001, Radiological Engineer, Detroit Edison Fermi I and Fermi II Nuclear Power Facilities (through Bartlett Nuclear Services, Inc.)
• Summer 2001, 2002: Faculty Associate, Los Alamos National Lab, Environmental and Health Sciences Division (ESH-4), Inorganic Chemistry (C-SIC)
• 1994-2000: Program Advisor, Radiological Health Engineering
• 1997-1998, Faculty Associate, Institute for the Humanities
• 1994-1997: Director of Faculty Development, College of Engineering
• 1989-1993: Associate Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology, Nuclear Engineering and Health Physics Programs, Mechanical Engineering
• 1990-1993: Associate Professor Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine
• 1987-1989: Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Arizona State University
• 1984-1987: Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Arizona State University
• 1980-1984: Research Associate Neurology, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research
• 1980-1984: Assistant Professor Physics in Neurology, Cornell University Medical School
• 1980: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Physics and Mathematics, Massachusetts College of
• 1980: Research Assistant, Physics Research Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital
• 1977-1980: Research Assistant, Nuclear Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• 1975-1977: Co-op Engineer, Nuclear Power Generation Division, Technical Staff, Babco*ck and Wilcox Co.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Member, DOE Environmental Management Advisory Board (EMAB), 2012-present.
• Member, Great Lakes Health Physics Society Chapter Executive Council, 2006-present.
• Member, National Council on Radiation Protection (NCRP) Scientific Committee 6-3, “Uncertainties in the Dosimetry of Internal Radiation Doses”, 2005-2010.
• Member, Academic Education Committee, Health Physics Society, 2007-2010.
• Member, Health Physics Society Decommissioning Section Executive Board, 2007-2010.
• Member, Academic Education Committee Subcommittee on Travel Grants, 2008-2010.
• Chair, Health Physics Society Annual Meeting: Environmental Sciences Session, 2009.
• Associate Editor (Operational Topics), Health Physics Journal, 1991-2011.
• Reviewer, DOE Office of Nuclear Energy University Programs Grants, 2010-2012.

MAJOR TECH TRANSFER ACTIVITIES

Patents and Applications: (Awarded Patents)

1. US 6,528,797 B1. “Method and system for determining depth distribution of radiation-emitting material located in a source medium and radiation detector system for use therein”, R. R. Benke, K. J. Kearfott (primary inventor), and D. S. McGregor. Issued March 4, 2003. 29 claims.
2. US 6,727,505 B2. Divisional of 6,528,797. “Method and system for determining depth distribution of radiation-emitting material located in a source medium and radiation detector system for use therein”. R. R. Benke, K .J. Kearfott (primary inventor), and D. S. McGregor. Issued April 27, 2004. 5 claims.
3. US 6,806,474 B2. Continuation in part of 6,528,797. “Method and system for detecting ionizing radiation”. D. S. McGregor (primary inventor), K. J. Kearfott, K. J. Issued October 19, 2004. 18 claims.
4. US 6,815,687 “Method and System for High-Speed, 3D Imaging of optically-invisible radiation”. C. J. Branch-Sullivan, K. J. Kearfott (primary inventor), B. Stojadinovic, D. S. McGregor. Issued October 19, 2004. 26 claims.
5. U.S. 7,405,409 B2. “Neutron irradiative methods and systems”. K. J. Kearfott (sole inventor). Issued July 29, 2008. 30 claims.
6. US 7,485,877 B2. “Integrative and real-time radiation measurement methods and systems”. K. J. Kearfott (sole inventor). Issued Feb. 3, 2009. 20 claims.
7. US 7,855,375 B2. “Integrative and real-time radiation measurement methods and systems”. K. J. Kearfott (sole inventor). Issued December 21, 2010. 15 claims.
8. US 8,274,062 B2. “Integrative and real-time radiation measurement methods and systems”. K. J. Kearfott (sole inventor). Issued September 25, 2012. 20 claims.
9. US 8,563,947 B2. “Integrative and real-time radiation measurement methods and systems”. K. J. Kearfott (sole inventor). Issued October 22, 2013. 18 claims.

• Full University Scholarship, St. Mary’s University, 1973-75.
• Governor General’s Medal (Canada), St. Mary’s University, 1975.
• Summa Cum Laude, St. Mary’s University, 1975.
• Engineering Medal, St. Mary’s University, 1975.
• U.S. E. R. D. A. Traineeship, University of Virginia, 1975-77.
• Ida Green Fellowship, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1977-78.
• N. I. H. Fellowship, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1978-79.
• Whitaker Health Sciences Fund Fellowship, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1979-80.
• Peter A. Neurath Award (Best Paper), New England American Association of Physicists in Medicine, 1980.
• Presidential Young Investigator Award, National Science Foundation, 1985-91.
• Instrument Innovator’s Contest Award, Kiethley, 1988.
• Membership Recruitment Award, Health Physics Society, 1989.
• Arizona Lung Association Research Award, 1989.
• Best Paper Award, Southeast American Association of Physicists in Medicine, 1991.
• Tetalman Memorial Award, Society of Nuclear Medicine, 1991.
• Elda E. Anderson Award, Health Physics Society, 1992.
• U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Innovative Radon Mitigation Design Competition, 1992.
• Service Award, University of Michigan, Department of Nuclear Engineering, 1994.
• Career Development Award, University of Michigan, 1995.
• Women’s Achievement Award, American Nuclear Society, 1995.
• Service Award, University of Michigan, College of Engineering, 1996.
• Good Performance Notice, Fermi II Nuclear Power Plant, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Question on Radio-iodine Uptakes, 2001.