Researcher

 

Zhegang Ma, Ph.D., P.E., is a lead risk analysis engineer in the Regulatory Support Department at Idaho National Laboratory. In this capacity, he works on Standardized Plant Analysis Risk models (SPAR) for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and conducts research related to large probabilistic risk analysis projects for complex and state-of-the-art technologies. Dr. Ma has been the principal or key investigator in multiple NRC and Department of Energy (DOE) projects including computational support for risk applications (or nuclear operating experience data analysis), common cause failure analysis, application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in nuclear operating experience data, external flood analysis, SPAR integrated capability model, Level 2 PRA modeling, and DOE Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) Program, Risk-Informed System Analysis (RISA) Pathway, Enhanced Resilient Plant (ERP) Systems research. Dr. Ma has been with INL 11 years and has over 20 years of experience in nuclear industry. He previously worked for AmerenUE Callaway Nuclear Plant as a probabilistic risk assessment engineer, and for Beijing Institute of Nuclear Engineering in China as a nuclear system and design engineer. He serves in the Subcommittee on Standards and Guidance and several working groups (low power shutdown, external flooding) under the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)/ American Nuclear Society (ANS) Jointed Committee on Nuclear Risk Management (JCNRM), as well as the ANS Professional Engineering Examination Committee (PEEC). Outside of work he enjoys the time with the family, as well as table tennis, music, poker, and reading.