Mason Fox - Nuclear Reactor Safety

Welcome

I'm Mason Fox

PhD Candidate in Nuclear Engineering
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Image Courtesy of US NRC
Photo of Mason Fox

Mason Fox

PhD Candidate - Nuclear Engineering and Reactor Safety

I'm a nuclear energy researcher working on building the future of safe, reliable, and affordable nuclear power. My research applies computational modeling and simulation tools to nuclear fuel safety through study of the complex, interrelated physical phenomena that exist in nuclear systems. My work is a part of the effort to ensure continued reliability and safety of the world's nuclear power plants and improve quality of life for everyone.

  • Affiliation: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  • Research Advisor: Dr. Nicholas Brown  (Bio)
  • Lives In: Knoxville, TN
  • From: Lancaster, PA
Research Interests
Icon Accident Tolerant Fuels

Accident Tolerant Fuels

Development of new fuel materials with improved performance in the extreme environment present during reactor accidents.

Icon Thermal-Hydraulics and Computational Fluid Dynamics

Thermal-Hydraulics

Safety analysis of thermal-fluid systems using advanced systems-level and computational fluid dynamics codes.

Icon High Burnup Fuels

High Burnup Fuels

Development of new fuel concepts capable of longer in-core life for improved economic performance and fuel cycle benefits.

Icon Multiphysics Coupling for Nuclear Reactor Safety

Multiphysics Modeling

Use of advanced models for different physical phenomena to accurately capture complex, interdependent behavior.

Education

  • 2022-Present
    Ph.D Candidate - Nuclear Engineering
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville

    Focus: Reactor safety, thermal-hydraulics, neutronics, and numerical methods for analysis of new reactor fuels.

  • 2022-2024
    M.S. Nuclear Engineering
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville

    Focus: Modeling and simulation for safety analysis of pressurized water reactors.

  • 2019
    Advanced Nuclear Power Course
    Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, U.S. Navy

    Focus: Application of engineering principles and theory to naval nuclear propulsion plant operation.

  • 2014-2018
    B.S. Nuclear Engineering
    The Pennsylvania State University

    Focus: Reactor physics

Experience

  • 2022-Present
    Graduate Researcher - Reactor Safety
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville

    Uses simulation tools such as SCALE, RELAP5-3D, PARCS, and BISON to evaluate safety performance of advanced fuel concepts. Working to identify gaps in predictive models and experimental data.

  • 2023-Present
    Nuclear Fuel Development Intern
    Oak Ridge National Laboratory

    Performs nuclear reactor safety calculations in support of high burnup LWR fuel design using multiphysics simulation tools.

  • 2018-2022
    Nuclear Reactor Operations (Surface)
    U.S. Navy

    Supervised the operation and maintenance of aircraft carrier nuclear propulsion plants.

Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications
  • A. Berens, N. Meehan, M. Fox, I. Lindsay, N. Brown, "Multiphysics Analysis of PLOFC and DLOFC Accidents in the HTGR-TR," Nuclear Technology, 2024. doi:10.1080/00295450.2024.2302723
  • M. Fox, I. Lindsay, J. Gorton, N. Brown, "Reactivity-Initiated Accidents in Two Pressurized Water Reactor High Burnup Core Designs," Nuclear Engineering and Design, 2023. doi:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2023.112745
  • I. Lindsay, M. Fox, R. Sweet, N. Capps, N. Brown, "Fuel Performance Evaluation of Two High Burnup PWR Core Designs during Normal Operation, Control Rod Withdrawal, and Control Rod Ejection Scenarios," Nuclear Engineering and Design, 2023. doi:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2023.112730
Conference Papers and Presentations
  • M. Fox, N. Brown, J. Hu, U. Mertyurek, "Reactivity-Initiated Accident Analysis of a High Burnup PWR with a 24-Month Fuel Cycle," NURETH-20, Washington, D.C., August 20-25, 2023.
  • I. Lindsay, M. Fox, N. Brown, N. Capps, "Evaluation of High-Burnup Fuel Coolability during a Control Rod Withdrawal," NURETH-20, Washington, D.C., August 20-25, 2023.
  • I. Lindsay, M. Fox, S. Seo, R. Sweet, N. Brown, "Pressurized Water Reactor Control Rod Ejection Analysis Using PARCS, RELAP5-3D, and BISON for High Burnup Fuel," ANS Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, June 11-14, 2023.
Professional Service
  • Working Group Member, American Nuclear Society Standards Committee - ANSI/ANS 10.7, "Non-Real-Time, High-Integrity Software For The Nuclear Industry-Developer Requirements"
  • Undergraduate Mentor, Department of Nuclear Engineering Mentorship Program, University of Tennessee
Workshops and Trainings
Awards and Honors
  • University Nuclear Leadership Program Fellowship, Department of Energy - Office of Nuclear Energy
  • Alpha Nu Sigma Nuclear Engineering Honor Society, American Nuclear Society