Michel Saliba

PhD Candidate in Nuclear Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

michelsaliba58@gmail.com Google Scholar LinkedIn CV (PDF)

I am designing, building and commissioning a new neutron imaging station at CROCUS, the zero-power research reactor at EPFL. My work covers reactor kinetics, neutron noise analysis, Monte Carlo transport in OpenMC, and gamma spectroscopy. I am a licensed research reactor operator and a certified radiation protection expert.

Research

Neutron imaging
Design, simulation and first experiments of a neutron imaging station at the CROCUS reactor.
Reactor kinetics
Measuring the prompt neutron decay constant with SAFFRON, a 150-detector 3D array in the core.
Monte Carlo development
A collision-tracking feature in OpenMC for neutron noise, spectroscopy, time-of-flight and scatter cameras.
Xenon-135 observation
Gamma-ray spectroscopy to follow xenon-135 poisoning directly after reactor shutdown.

Selected publications

    All publications →

    Education

    PhD, Nuclear Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne 2023 – present Neutron imaging station at the CROCUS zero-power reactor
    MSc, Nuclear Engineering, EPFL & ETH Zürich 2021 – 2023 Thesis: Temporal and spatial correlation in the CROCUS reactor with the SAFFRON 3D detector array
    BSc, Physics, Université Saint-Joseph, Beirut 2019 – 2021 Ranked first in class
    Mechanical Engineering (three years), Lebanese University, Beirut 2017 – 2021

    Experience

    Simulation Engineer, Kernkraftwerk Gösgen 2022 Simulation of fuel-assembly irradiation cycles to compute decay heat, in C#
    Research Intern, Nagra 2022 Reverse Monte Carlo optimisation; activation profiles of control rods
    Intern, Mount-Lebanon Hospital 2020 Application for shielding-wall thickness around LINAC rooms

    Honours

    Best Student Paper, 1st Prize, PHYSOR 2024, San Francisco 2024
    Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, EPFL 2023 – 24

    Skills

    Programming
    C, C++, C#, Python, Matlab, Linux
    Simulation
    OpenMC, MCNP and other Monte Carlo transport codes
    Experimental
    Neutron imaging, gamma spectroscopy, dosimetry, neutron noise, scatter cameras
    Certifications
    Licensed research reactor operator; I1 radiation protection expert (FOPH)
    Languages
    Arabic (native), English, French, German (basic)