Academic Credentials

Ph.D.  Idaho State University (2020) – Nuclear Engineering (GPA 3.96)
M.S.    Idaho State University (2016) – Mechanical Engineering (3.96)
M.S.    Idaho State University (2014) – Nuclear Engineering (3.95)
B.S.     Idaho State University (2012) – Nuclear Engineering & Physics Minor [High Honors]           
Fundamental of Engineering (FE) License [Idaho]

Biography

Dr. Aryal’s Thermal Hydraulics (TH)/Computation lab involves the study of heat and mass transfer, and fluid mechanics processes that transport energy and mass in nuclear-mechanical systems and provide broad technical expertise to govern system performance and safety. Key sub-research areas include -modes of heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation), phase change, single and multi-phase fluids, use of gas (HTGR), molten salt (MSR), and liquid metal coolants (LMFBR) in addition to the water in a conventional LWR reactor. The purpose is to establish a correlation between thermal and neutronic properties with dual mechanical and nuclear engineering expertise (dual degrees) to support the existing accident analysis capabilities. 

Computational tools include RELAP, CFD, MCNP, Scale, multi-physics, PRA, Mathematica, SAPHIRE, OpenBUGS, and Fusion 360. Dr. Aryal’s research focuses primarily on modeling and simulation of various small-scale reactor systems or components of a reactor, radiation shielding, medical imaging, nuclear security, and non-proliferation challenges. His lab will explore the use of radioisotopes in image reconstruction/imaging, and he has previously used Filtered Back Projection (FBP) to support real-time imaging of fuel pins and other structures during transient testing in the TREAT reactor, INL, as a part of the collaborative effort to restart TREAT. Another avenue of Dr. Aryal’s research is to study Radioactivity present in oil and gas. Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) possess a major challenge to public health and occupational concerns. There have not been enough radiological studies and consequently, there is a lack of supportive data. In addition, there is no universal medical surveillance program for low-level doses, and the research done to date has been preliminary in nature. This research helps to quantify, characterize, and formulate stringent regulations to ensure public safety. Any correlation between the occurrence of radionuclides and specific hydrocarbon formations will be beneficial for the local economy.

Currently, his research centers around creating renewable energy-focused engineering projects specifically tailored to the needs of historically underrepresented STEM students (women and minorities including African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander at Marymount University. He is open to collaborating with STEM and even with social sciences to the best of his knowledge.

Teaching Activities

Tenure –Track Assistant Professor in Engineering, Marymount University (Spring 2023 to Present)

• ENGR-110-A: Introduction to CAD Design
• PHYS-272-A: General Physics II
• PHYS-272-A: General Physics II-Lab

Tenure –Track Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering –Nuclear Track, College of Engineering, UTPB (Fall 2020 to December 2022)

• NENG 3301-Introduction to Nuclear Engineering (Fall 2020, Fall 2021)
• NENG 4311- Radioactive and Waste Management (Fall 2020, Fall 2021)
• NENG 4321-Nuclear Reactor Engineering (Fall 2020, Fall 2021)
• UNIV 1101-Freshman Seminar (Fall 2020, Fall 2021)
• MENG 3356-Fluid Mechanics II (Spring 2021) 
• NENG 4211-Nuclear Engineering Lab (Spring 2021)
• NENG 4331-Radiation and Radiation Protection (Spring 2021)

Visiting Assistant Professor (Fall 2019 –fall 2020): UTPB ME (Nuclear Track)

• ENGR 3303- Intro to Materials Science and Engineering (Summer 2020)
• ENGR 3332-Mechanics of Materials (Summer 2020)
• NENG 3301-Introduction to Nuclear Engineering (Fall 2019)
• NENG 4311- Radioactive and Waste Management (Fall 2019)
• NENG 4321-Nuclear Reactor Engineering (Fall 2019)
• ENGR 2302-Engineering Mechanics –Dynamics (Spring 2020)
• MENG 3356-Fluid Mechanics II (Spring 2020) 
• NENG 4211-Nuclear Engineering Lab (Spring 2020)
• NENG 4331-Radiation and Radiation Protection (Spring 2020) 
• Adjunct Professor-Idaho State University (2018 Fall- Summer 2019) 
• CE 2220- Engineering Dynamics (Fall 2018) 
• PHYS 2212- Engineering Physics II (Spring 2019)
• ME 3341- Fluid Mechanics (Summer 2019

Scholarly Activities/Research ExperienceGrants (Submitted): Under Review

• NSF 23-528 EPIIC Proposal: Design xBILT Center Initiative, Role Co-PI, Submitted May 25th, 2023

Grants Awarded

• Summer 2021 Faculty Award “Quantification of Radioactivity Present in Oil Gas Water” $5,000
• TEXAS RESKILLING SUPPORT FUND Round 2 Grant, TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD: $112,500 PI : Dr. Omar Beg, Co-PI : Harish Aryal
• Rising STARs 2020 grant, University of Texas (UT) System (PI) Harish Aryal $50,000
• Department of Education Grant Engineering Minority STudent Engagement Project (EM-STEP), MSEIP (EM-STEP) PI: Dr. Mohsin M. Jamali, P120A200040, $ 750,000 Co-PI: Harish Aryal
• UT Permian Basin’s Lumina Grant – selected as one of eight projects to participate in Year 1 of the UT System’s Lumina Grant, Data Agency, Action, and Insight:  Redesigning Student Pathways to Ensure Equity. This PAIR cohort will result in a robust action plan to transform curricular pathways resulting in more equitable student access, progression, and completion.  $21,000
• Grants (Participated, Not Selected):
• Dominion Energy Proposal to recruit students into a newly developed engineering program, and to create renewable energy-focused introductory engineering projects. Role: PI
• DOE HDSTEM grant to Enhance the University Training and Research Program for Humanities Driven STEM (HDSTEM) at the University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB), $750,000 Role PI Submitted August 25th, 2022
• NSF REU proposal: A Collaborative Summer Research Experience in Advanced Manufacturing and Clean Energy for Undergraduate Students in the Permian Basin Region program $400,000, Role Co-PI. Submitted Sept 6th, 2022
• “Quantification of Radioactivity Present in Oil and Gas Water” Proposal, PI: Dr. Harish Aryal, Submitted 29 September 2021 to Marathon Petroleum Foundation, $150,000.
• DOE -NEUP Proposal, RPA-21-24271, Title: Developing thermodynamic models to predict critical salt characteristics via molecular dynamics simulation and experimental characterization 22nd September: Role- Co-PI
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Recruitment and Retention of Nuclear Engineering Track Students at UTPB, $200,000, Role: PI, Submitted October 20th, 2022

Miscellaneous Awards

• Outstanding Faculty Service Award in Engineering 2021 at UTPB
• Outstanding Cultural Excellence Award with High Honors, ISU 2018
• AREVA Nuclear Engineering 2+ two Scholarship: Full tuition support plus stipend     by French Multinational Nuclear Company
• Bob Thomson Memorial Scholarship, Idaho State University 
• Sonnenkalb Trust/Int Scholarship, Idaho State University
• John Horan Memorial Scholarship, Idaho State University
• St. Charles Scholarship, University of New Orleans

Publications [Journals]

Harish Aryal. Comparative Study of Transfer Functions for NRAD and AGN-201 Reactor Systems, American Journal of Science, Engineering, and Technology. Volume 8, Issue 2, June 2023, pp. 104-109. doi: 10.11648/j.ajset.20230802.14

Harish Aryal. Improvements in Transient Testing Reactor (TREAT) with a Choice of Filter, International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering (IJEPE). (ISSN Print: 2326-957X; ISSN Online: 2326-960X). June 2023.

Harish Aryal, Roger Hague, Daniel Sotelo, Felipe Astete Salinas. Study of Heat Exchangers in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), Science Journal of Energy Engineering. Volume 11, Issue 1, March 2023, pp. 1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.sjee.20231101.11

Mohsin. M. Jamali, Sepehr Arbabi, Hossein Hosseini, Harishchandra Aryal, Addressing Retention and Improving Performance in Gateway Engineering Courses The 55th IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems, Austin, Texas, Accepted for publication/presentation, May 2022.

Mohsin M. Jamali, Harishchandra Aryal, Ramiro Bravo, Sepehr Arbabi, Hossein Hosseini. Engagement in Practice: Engineering Minority Student Engagement Project (EM-STEP). Higher Education Research. Science Publishing Group, ISSN Print: 2578-9341; ISSN Online: 2578-935X. She was published on Nov 10, 2021.

Baker, Benjamin, Riley, Tony, Langbehn, Adam, Imel, George R., Benzerga, M. Lamine, and Aryal, Harishchandra. Study of the open loop and closed loop oscillator techniques. United States: N. p., 2015. Web.

Conference Papers

Harish Aryal. “Filtered Back Projection (FBP) in Testing Reactor (TREAT) and Medical Imaging Sources” has been accepted for oral presentation at “the 4th International Conference on Stem Cell”, July 19-20, 2023, in Rome, Italy” supported by Editor- Journal of Stem Cell.

Harish Aryal. “To Enhance the University Training and Research Program for Humanities Driven STEM (HDSTEM) at Marymount University” 6th World Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities (SHCONF), 07 – 09 July 2023 Uetliberg / Zürich, Switzerland.

Thalia Balderas, Alondra Rodriguez, Harishchandra Aryal Study of Radioactivity of Oil and Gas April 15th, 2022, American Nuclear Society Student Conference.

D. Ohart, H. Aryal Improvements in Bypass flow Analysis Using CORONA Code” ANS 2021 Conference Paper, April 9, 2021, Thermal Hydraulics Section

D. Ohart, H. Aryal “Compatibility study of   Prismatic Core Single Loop Gas Turbine in Very High-Temperature Reactors”, Poster.  Advanced Energy Conference (AEC), June 10, 2021.

Harishchandra Aryal, “Application of Cloud Chamber to Transient Reactor Testing (TREAT) and Analytical Approach of Back Projection”, ANS Conference Paper (2018).

Harishchandra Aryal, “Small Reactivity Measurement in Advanced Test Reactor Critical (ATRC) and Neutron Radiography (NRAD) Reactor Using Open Loop”, ANS Student Conference Paper (2015).

Harishchandra Aryal, “Calculation of Point Spread Function (PSF) for Pinhole Model for TREAT Hodoscope” ANS Conference Paper (2018).

Leadership/Management Roles

Academic Transformation Advisory Committee for AY 2022-23 -To advise and support strategies for Academic Affairs transformation in collaboration with the Provost and External Consultant.

Faculty Senate (Engineering) 2022-2023: Act as an advisory and consultative body to serve educational matters, including curriculum, student policies, tenure and promotion guidelines, retention, graduation requirements, and other shared governance. Served as a forum for the exchange of ideas among members of the university faculty and administration.

Faculty Affairs Sub-Committee 2022-2023: To address issues that affect faculty members and their ability to carry out professional responsibilities and to recommend changes if any needed in the Faculty Handbook related to promotion, tenure, retirement, leaves of absence, sabbatical or any special issues that may appear along the line.

Undergraduate Curriculum Committee: To maintain and improve the rigor of the mechanical engineering program with robust curriculum

Search Committee: Was involved in the Tenure Track Assistant Professor Search committee. I was actively involved in screening the pool of applicants, interviewing candidates, making a hiring recommendation to the Dean, and maintaining records of the search process.

Facilitated workshop on Mid-Course Corrections – September 15, 2021, in conjunction with the Heimmermann Center for Engaged Teaching: An interactive workshop to create flexible and responsive learning environments.

Created Saturday Academy to provide supplemental instructions to roadblock fundamental engineering courses that have high D/F/W/I grade to increase retention and graduation rates.

UT Permian Basin 2020-2021 Faculty Affairs Committee (FAC)

ACUE’s Course in Effective Teaching Practices Co-endorsed by the American Council on Education (ACE) 2020, Cohort B

UTPB & XTO Energy Summer Camp August 2020/2021: Served more than 100 High School and Middle School participants.  Participated and mentored Stirling Engine and Reactor Simulation Project during summer camp for middle and high school students virtually.

Graduate Certificate in Engineering Project Management (ENPM) Team UTPB

Computational Lab Set Up Team UTPB

Faculty Advisor (UTPB) for American Nuclear Society (ANS) –Fall 2019

Past President-Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) –ISU Chapter

Active member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

Past President of American Nuclear Society (Idaho and National Chapter)

Volunteered at ANS National Conferences in several panel 

Vice –President at Tau Beta Pi- ISU (2011) […]

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