Rob Hayes
Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering, Joint Faculty Appointment with ORNL

- 919-515-2321
- rbhayes@ncsu.edu
- Burlington Laboratory 2101
- Visit My Website
Dr. Hayes’ thrust areas span nuclear nonproliferation including nuclear assay and retrospective dosimetry. He also finds health physics, nuclear crtiticality safety, burnup, shielding, nuclear waste disposal and novel detection methods of interest, particularly when they relate back to nonproliferation. Dr. Hayes is a Certified Health Physicist and a licensed Professional Engineer (nuclear) with industry and field experience in radiological emergency response, nuclear waste management, nuclear safety, radiation dosimetry, nuclear criticality safety, air monitoring, ALARA and shielding design.

Education
Nuclear Engineering
University of Utah
Physics
University of Utah
Physics
University of Utah
Mathematics
University of Utah
Research Description
Dr. Hayes' research interests include nuclear nonproliferation, radiological emergency response and nuclear waste disposal technologies which are advanced using novel hybrid approaches including radiation detection, air monitoring, luminescence and magnetic resonance coupled with Monte Carlo radiation transport modeling. His research includes luminescence and magnetic resonance techniques on free radicals created from exposure to ionizing radiation in conjunction with air monitoring technologies related to consequence assessment and emergency response. Tying all these together are novel detection methodologies which include HPGe applications for field assay coupled with low resolution detector platforms. Modeling these effects with Monte Carlo radiation transport codes to interpolate and extrapolate from measured values then allows useful predictions tied back to measurement. His background includes many years of industrial experience at a nuclear waste repository and on the federal radiological emergency response teams.
Publications
- Nuclear energy myths versus facts support it's expanded use - a review
- Hayes, R. B. (2022), Cleaner Energy Systems, 6, 100009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cles.2022.100009
- The ubiquity of nuclear fission reactors throughout time and space
- Hayes, R. B. (2022), PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF THE EARTH, 125, 103083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2021.103083
- Thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence response of Al2O3 coatings deposited by mist-chemical vapor deposition
- Kanies, B., Hayes, R., & Yang, G. (2022), RADIATION PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY, 191, 109860. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2021.109860
- An effectively nondestructive method for dose assessment from accidental exposure using PCBs from electronic watches
- Tchouaso, M. T., Coon, N., & Hayes, R. B. (2021), RADIATION MEASUREMENTS, 11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2021.106648
- A Novel Approach to Realistic Conservatism in Nuclear Criticality Safety Analysis
- Hayes, R. B. (2020), NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY. https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2020.1762472
- Ionizing Radiation Shielding Properties of Metal Oxide Impregnated Conformal Coatings
- DeVanzo, M., & Hayes, R. B. (2020), Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 171, 108685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2020.108685
- Low level EPR dosimetry of a commercial sugar
- Hayes, R. B., & Abdelrahman, F. M. (2020), Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 157, 109038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109038
- Retrospective characterization of special nuclear material in time and space
- Hayes, R. B., & O'Mara, R. P. (2020), Radiation Measurements, 133, 106301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2020.106301
- Incremental Gains in Transuranic Activity Analysis in Air Samples for Radiological Emergency Response
- Cope, S. J., & Hayes, R. B. (2019), Nuclear Technology, 205(9), 1219–1235. https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2019.1590074
- Initial TL/OSL/EPR Considerations for commercial diatomaceous earth in retrospective dosimetry and dating
- Hayes, R. B., O’Mara, R. P., & Hooper, D. A. (2019), Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncz013
Grants
- OSL and EPR Measurements by North Carolina State University
- National Nuclear Security Administration(8/30/21 - 3/01/23)
- Measurements of Short-lived Fission Products Yields from Photon-Induces Fission of Special Nuclear Materials
- National Nuclear Security Administration(10/01/18 - 5/31/22)
- Faculty Development Program in Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University, 2014
- US Nuclear Regulatory Commission(8/01/14 - 7/31/19)
- Proposal for a Consortium for Nonproliferation Enabling Capabilities
- US Dept. of Energy (DOE)(7/31/14 - 9/30/20)