Dr. Knight's research and interests are in the areas of advanced nuclear fuels and materials, reactor safety, nuclear safeguards, nuclear fuel cycle, Alternative uses of nuclear power including synthetic fuels and hydrogen production, space nuclear power and propulsion.
Dr. Knight is the Director of the Nuclear Engineering Program
advanced nuclear fuels, nuclear power, modeling and simulation
Professional Preparation(Education & Training)
Dates
Institution
Location
Degree
Field of Study
2000
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
PhD
Nuclear Engineering Sciences
1995
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
MS
Nuclear Engineering Sciences
1994
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
BS
Nuclear Engineering
Memberships & Professional Activities
Dates
Type
Description
Institution/Entity
11/1992 - Present
Membership
American Nuclear Society
01/2006 - Present
Membership
Citizens For Nuclear Technology Awareness
08/2008 - Present
Membership
Carolina's Nuclear Cluster
03/2010 - Present
Professional Activity
NuHub
Positions & Appointments
Dates
Description
Institution/Entity
05/1992 - 12/1993
Student Engineer, Gulf States Utilities Company
06/1994 - 08/1994
Intern, Argonne National Laboratory-West
01/1996 - 05/1996
DOE Fellow, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
05/1996 - 03/2000
Graduate Research Assistant, University of Florida
03/2000 - 08/2004
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Nuclear Engineering, Department of Nuclear and Radiological Engineering, University of Florida
2004
Assistant Professor, Tenure Track, Nuclear Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina
2021
Interim Chair
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina
Recognition Awards, Honors, & Fellowships
Dates
Type
Description
Foundation/Entity
2001
Award
Significant Contribution Award by Material Science and Technology Division
American Nuclear Society
2011
Award
Fred C. Davison Distinguished Scientist Award
Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness
2012
Award
Biedenbach Distinguished Service Award
University of South Carolina
2020
Award
Breakthrough Leadership in Research Award
University of South Carolina
The two sections below (Awards and Pending Proposals) are only viewable by PIs, business managers, chairs, and deans.
Facilities
Laboratory
Analytical equipment: Simultaneous thermal analysis (TGA, DSC), Netzsch STA409 Particle size analysis, Micromeritics Saturn Digisizer Helium pycnometer, Micromeritics Mercury porosimeter, Quantachrome Poremaster-33 Analytical balance with density measurement kit (one in glovebox, one bench top) Mettler Toledo XS105DU Dualrange Analytical Lab Balance Scale, Capacity 120g/41 x 0.1mg/0.01mg, 78x73mm Weigh Pan, repeatability (sd) at 10g is 0.02mg, with Density determination kit
Radiological hood (10 ft length): LECO Grinder/Polisher (in hood) LECO diamond wafering saw (in hood) Diamond band saw
Glovebox (2 station, inert atmosphere, balance, press, ball mill, heating plate for uranium hydride production): Analytical balance with density measurement as listed above Heating plate (one in glovebox, one bench top) Carver press (one in glovebox, one bench top) Ball mill (small rock tumbler for mixing powders)
Furnaces: Tube furnace for 1923 K operation Ultrahigh vacuum bell jar (stainless steel, water cooled, 2 ft diameter by 3 ft internal height, 24 ports)
Accessories and power supplies to furnaces and experiments: Maxline two color pyrometer Digital chart recorders Induction Power Supply (125kW, 10-15 kHz), Ameritherm DC power supplies (200A current controlled, 2 x 650A voltage controlled) Induction Power Supply (20kW, 10 kHz), Inductotherm
Fluidized-bed CVD for particle coating (2 inchÂÂ internal diameter coater, ZrC, SiC, PyC, up to 200 g batch size)