About Me

I grew up in southern Louisiana and was afforded the opportunity to study Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M for my undergraduate education. I explored a number of research opportunities during my undergrad tenure, including at Oak Ridge National Lab, Pacific Northwest National Lab, and TN International in Paris, France. After a semester of graduate school at UW, I was selected for a 6-month stagiaire in the core design group at AREVA (also in Paris). Upon returning stateside, I focused my studies on optimization techniques, including linear, integer, and dynamic programming. Through my research (primarily as a developer of the Cyclus project), I have honed my programming skills, specializing in C++ and Python (and CMake; oh build systems..). I'm also very active in the American Nuclear Society, sitting on a number of committees. My other primary professional focus over the past few years has been the Nuclear Engineering Student Delegation, of which I was honored to serve as a member, vice chair, and chair.

Contact Details

Matthew Gidden
916 E. Gorham Apt. A
Madison, WI 53703 US
matthew.gidden _at_ gmail.com

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Education

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Ph.D. Candidate in Nuclear Engineering • present

M.S. in Nuclear Engineering • December 2011

My research focuses on generic nuclear fuel cycle supply and demand determination as a part of nuclear fuel cycle dynamic simulation. This is a heretofore unsolved problem, due to the wide variety of physics-based concerns and resource-commodity fungibility. The core of my work has been supply simulation-level architecture to support generic physics, formulating a multicommodity mixed integer-linear program that represents the supply and demand at a given timestep, and analyzing the large variety of possible solution spaces.

Texas A&M University

B.S. in Nuclear Engineering• May 2009

My initial undergraduate research included experimental two-phase flow, border crossing detection via radiation portal monitors, and a proof-of-principal design of automated UF\(_6\) enrichment verification.
I graduated Summa cum Laude with Honors in Engineering and a minor in Mathematics.

Work

AREVA

Stagiaire• January 2010 - August 2010

Under Christian ROYERE and Amaury DE LUMLEY-WOODYEAR in AREVA NP's, Core Design Group, I was responsible for making Boron dilution incident calculations to determine the relative impact of pump failures on reactor startup for a variety of reactors in the French nuclear fleet.

Pacific Northwest National Lab

Intern• Summer 2009

I performed proof-of-principle MCNP calculations to verify field measurements of a novel, automated UF\(_6\) canister enrichment verification technique.

TN International

Intern• Summer 2008

I performed dynamic compression experiments and analysis to support a new compression materials investigation for nuclear fuel shipping casks.

Oak Ridge National Lab

Intern• Summer 2006 & 2007

I assisted in analyzing the effects of point vs. distributed radiological sources on radiation portal monitors. I performed both field work and provided analytical support.

Professional

American Nuclear Society

I've been an active member of ANS since I started as a nuclear engineer in 2005. My primary contribution to the society is participation in national governance through a number of committee appointments, including the Public Policy Committee, Communications Committee, and Special Advisory Committee on Nuclear Nonproliferation, at present.

Nuclear Engineering Student Delegation

I served as a member, co-chair, and chair of NESD in the summers of 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively. NESD's core mission is to advocate for nuclear science and technology students on the Hill. The primary activity of NESD each year is crafting a policy statement and delivering the statement to our various elected representatives.

Software Carpentry

I have served as an instructor at a number of UW-Madison ACI Software Carpentry bootcamps, teaching both unit testing and version control.

Skills

  • C++
  • Python
  • \(\LaTeX\)
  • CSS
  • HTML5
  • Nuclear Engineering
  • Critical Thinking
  • Writing Skills
  • Policy Statement Writing

Get In Touch.

Feel free to contact me about potential opportunities directly at matthew.gidden _at_ gmail.com.