Areg Danagoulian will explore how nuclear physics can provide new tools for arms control and treaty verification, from neutron-based techniques for authenticating nuclear warheads to the use of cosmic-ray protons to verify the absence of nuclear weapons in space. His work connects fundamental nuclear physics with practical challenges in international security and nonproliferation.

Areg Danagoulian is an Associate Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering at MIT. He did his PhD research in Experimental Nuclear Physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Areg’s PhD thesis focused on experiments that used real Compton scattering on the proton at 2-6 GeV, allowing to probe the proton's internal structure and understand how it couples to external excitations. After his PhD Areg worked at Los Alamos as a postdoctoral researcher, and then as a senior scientist at Passport Systems, Inc. (PSI). At PSI Areg focused on the development of Prompt Neutron from Photofission (PNPF) technique, which allows to rapidly detect shielded fissionable materials in the commercial cargo traffic. Areg's current research interests focus on nuclear physics applications in nuclear security, such areas nuclear nonproliferation, technologies for treaty verification, nuclear safeguards, and cargo security.

Prof. Danagoulian's research has earned him and his research team a number of important awards, such as:

Fellow of the American Physical Society, Forum on Physics and Society (2025). Citation: “For seminal technological contributions in the field of arms control and cargo security, which significantly benefit international security.”

Arms Control Association’s Arms Control Person(s) of the Year award, “For developing an innovative new nuclear disarmament verification process using neutron beams,” 2020.

American Nuclear Society Radiation Science and Technology Award, “For technology-critical contributions exploiting nuclear resonance phenomena for warhead verification in nuclear disarmament and nuclear detection techniques in cargo security,” 2019

The NERS Colloquia Series invites leading researchers, industry experts, and thought leaders from across the nuclear engineering and radiological sciences community to share their insights with students, faculty, and guests. Covering a wide range of topics—from cutting-edge research and emerging technologies to policy, education, and professional development—the weekly talks offer an opportunity to explore current issues and innovations shaping the future of the field.