Dr. Nolan Hertel, Professor of Nuclear and Radiological Engineering in the George W. Woodruff School at Georgia Institute of Technology, has accepted a Joint Faculty Appointment in the Environmental Sciences Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).  His appointment is in the Risk and Regulatory Analysis Team in the Human Health Risk and Environmental Analysis Group.  He will spend approximately 80% of the remaining calendar year in residence at ORNL and serve as the acting director of the Center for Radiation Protection Knowledge.  Dr. Hertel will provide leadership to the radiation protection dosimetry program as ORNL seeks to preserve and expand this important activity which has a 50-year history of excellence in the development and use of models and methodology for radiation protection.

The Center for Radiation Protection Knowledge was established by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency, Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Occupational Safety and Health Administration in January 2010. Drs. Keith Eckerman and Rich Leggett led this effort to establish this center for the preservation of expertise in radiation dosimetry.

Under the MOU, the Center would serve as a common resource to assist the participating agencies in the development and application of radiation dosimetry and risk assessment methodologies that are based on the best available scientific information. The Center is responsive to the participating agencies and is administered by DOE. The MOU is intended to help maintain and preserve U.S. expertise in radiation dosimetry and to ensure that Federal radiation programs are based on the best available information, applied in a consistent manner.