Sari Alkhatib
Nuclear Engineer
Sari’s research focuses on risk analysis for complex technological systems such as commercial nuclear power plants and advanced reactors.
Biography
Sari is a nuclear engineer who specializes in risk analysis and source term analysis for advanced reactors, like sodium-cooled faster reactors.
Research Topics
- Risk Analysis & Licensing
- Risk-informed performance-based regulations
- Probabilistic Risk/Safety Assessment (PRA/PSA)
- Risk- and cost-informed decision-making
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Source Term Analysis
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Others
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Hazard analysis: fire and external flooding
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AI application in risk analysis and uncertainty quantification
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Uncertainty analysis (treatment of epistemic uncertainties)
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Causal modeling & BBNs
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Decision-making analysis
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Shielding analysis
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Offsite dose calculations
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Education
- Ph.D. in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering (NPRE), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Illinois, USA (2024)
- M.Sc. in Advanced Nuclear System Engineering, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) Campus, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, South Korea (2014)
- B.Sc. in Nuclear Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), Irbid, Jordan (2012)
Engineering Experience
- Nuclear Engineer (Radiation and Nuclear Specialist), Jordan Research and Training Reactor (JRTR), Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC), Irbid, Jordan (2015-2019)
- System Designer, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Daejeon, South Korea (2012-2014)
Honors, Awards, & Fellowships
- Roy A. Axford Scholarship (for high academic ability and achievement), 2024
- Mavis Future Faculty Fellowship, 2022-2023
- Nuclear Education, Skills and Technology (NEST) Framework – Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Fellow, 2022
- Science and Engineering Excellence Award, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), 2014
Publications
- Alkhatib, Sari; Tatsuya Sakurahara; Seyed Reihani; and Zahra Mohaghegh. “A novel methodology to scientifically justify the formulation of modeling assumptions in screening analysis of Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA).” Annals of Nuclear Energy 214 (2025): 111237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2025.111237.
- Alkhatib, Sari;Tatsuya Sakurahara; Seyed Reihani; Ernest Kee; Brian Ratte; Kristin Kaspar; Sean Hunt; and Zahra Mohaghegh. 2024. “Phenomenological Nondimensional Parameter Decomposition to Enhance the Use of Simulation Modeling in Fire Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Nuclear Power Plants” Journal of Nuclear Engineering 5, no. 3: 226-245. https://doi.org/10.3390/jne5030016.
- Alkhatib, Sari; Sakurahara, Tatsuya; Reihani, Seyed; Kee, Ernest; Ratte, Brian; Kaspar, Kristin; Hunt, Sean; and Mohaghegh, Zahra, “Phenomenological Nondimensional Parameter Decomposition to Enhance the Use of Simulation Modeling in Fire Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Nuclear Power Plants.” Journal of Nuclear Engineering 5 (2024): p. 226-245.
- Alkhatib, Sari F.; Park, Chang Je; Jeong, Hae Yong; and Lee, Yongdeok. “Layer-splitting technique for testing the recursive scheme for multilayer shields gamma ray buildup factors.” Annals of Nuclear Energy 88 (2016): 24-29.
- Park, Chang Je; Lee, Byungchul; Alnajjar, Alaaddin Tareq; Talafha, Mohammad Abd; and Alkhatib, Sari Fathi. “Depletion analysis of control absorber in a small research reactor.” Annals of Nuclear Energy 60 (2013): 377-382.