Dr. Gaiven Varshney

Research Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering

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Dr. Gaiven Varshney is a Research Assistant Professor at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. She worked for AFIT as a post-doctoral researcher for 3 years. She received her M. Phil. and Ph.D. from Zakir Hussain College of Engineering and Technology, A.M.U, Aligarh, India in the field of Applied Chemistry. Her current research focuses on the investigation of debris from nuclear weapons accidents and cold nuclear tests for detecting nuclear forensics signatures assisting in the nuclear-related mission of the U.S. This work strengthens our nation’s capability to preserve nuclear forensic evidence and utilize forensics techniques for nuclear attribution. In addition, Dr. Varshney’s research interests also include characterization of actinide oxide based semiconductors for solid state neutron detection, nanomaterials, organic pollutants, and environmental remediation.

• Co-Chair, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Graduate Certificate Program (2020-Present)

Education

Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry (2004 - 2008)
Department of Applied Chemistry, Zakir Hussain College of Engineering and Technology, A.M.U. Aligarh, INDIA.

Masters of Philosophy in Applied Chemistry (2003 - 2004)
Department of Applied Chemistry, Zakir Hussain College of Engineering and Technology, A.M.U. Aligarh, INDIA.

Masters of Science in Analytical Chemistry (2001 - 2003)
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, INDIA

Awards

Academic

• 2021 Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) Promising Professional Award. Recognized in SASE’s magazine and website (2021)
• Recognized by Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)/Nuclear Science Engineering Research Center (NSERC). (2020)
• Graduate School 3rd Quarter CY20 Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Team award. (2020)
• AETC Nuclear Deterrence Operations Professional Team of the Year Award. (2019)

Publications

 Peer-Reviewed Publications

• G. Daniel, G. Varshney, A. Holland, J. McClory and A. Bickley, “A Machine Learning Approach to Characterizing Particle Morphology in Nuclear Forensics” Journal of Radiation Effects, Research and Engineering, Vol 39, 141-148, 2021.
• J. Cezeaux, G. Varshney, A. Bickley and J. C. Petrosky “Morphological Classification and Analysis of Fuel Bearing Debris from a Non-Critical Event”, Journal of Radiation Effects, Research and Engineering, Vol 38, Issue 1, 2020. (S//RD)
• Gaiven Varshney, Jason Cezeaux, and James C Petrosky. Investigation of Fissile Materials Collected from a Non-Critical Nuclear Explosion Site using Non-destructive Analytical Techniques. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2018, 318 (1) 505-513.
• Gaiven Varshney, David M. Kempisty, Sushil R. Kanel, Endalkachew S. Demessie, Rajender S. Varma, Mallikarjuna Nadagouda, Abinash Agrawal, and Vikas Varshney. A Nanoscale TiO₂ films and their Application in Remediation of Organic Pollutants. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 2016, 306, 43-64.
• Charu Varshney, Gaiven Varshney, Hamir Singh Rathore, Khwaja Ishratullah, and Subhash Chandra Mojumdar. Synthesis, Characterization, Fungicidal and Bacterial Activity of Metal diethyldithiocarbamate Fungicides. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 2008, 94 (1), 75.
• Gaiven Varshney, Hamir Singh Rathore, Khwaja Ishratullah. Assessment of the Movement of some Dithiocarbamate Fungicides by Soil Thin-Layer Chromatography. Indian Journal of Chemical Technology, 2007, 14 (2), 400.
• Gaiven Varshney, Hamir Singh Rathore, Khwaja Ishratullah. A Simple Suspension Phase Volumetry for the Determination of some Dithiocarbamate Fungicides in their Formulations. Journal of Rural Technology, 2007, 3(3), 93-99.
• Gaiven Varshney, Hamir Singh Rathore, Subhash Chandra Mojumdar and Saleh M. T. Synthesis, Characterization and Fungicidal Activity of Zinc diethyldithiocarbamate and Phosphate. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 2007, 90 (3) 681.
• Gaiven Varshney and Hamir Singh Rathore. A New Spot Test for the Detection of Dithiocarbamate Fungicides in Soil and Water. Journal of Indian Chemical Society, 2005, 82, 926.

Presentations & Conference Proceedings

• Gaiven Varshney, Jason R Cezeaux, Abigail Bickely and James C Petrosky. Presentation on “Morphological and Elemental Characterization of Environmental Actinide Bearing Particles Formed by a Non-Nuclear Weapon Accidents”  American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition, Conference, April 2019, Orlando, FL, USA.
• Gaiven Varshney, Jason R Cezeaux, and James C Petrosky. Poster presentation on "Investigation of Fissile Materials Collected from a Non-critical Nuclear Explosion Site using Non-destructive Analytical Techniques". Methods and Applications of Radioanalytical Chemistry (MARC XI) Conference, April 2018, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA.
• Jason R Cezeaux, Gaiven Varshney, and James C Petrosky. Poster presentation on "A Comparison of Nuclear Accident Particles". Methods and Applications of Radioanalytical Chemistry (MARC XI) Conference, April 2018, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA.
• Gaiven Varshney, Jason Cezeaux, and James C Petrosky. Oral presentation on “Separation and Characterization of Fissile Materials in Non-Nuclear Detonations for Nuclear Forensic Analysis”. Interagency Technical Nuclear Forensics Program Review (ITNFPR), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, July 2017, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA.
• Gaiven Varshney, Mallikarjuna Nadagouda, Changseok Han and Nikki Kesav. Poster Presentation on “Resource Recovery and Reuse: Recycled Magnetically Separable Iron-based Catalysts for Phosphate Recovery and Arsenic Removal”. 251st American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition, March 2016, San Diego, CA, USA.
•  Gaiven Varshney, Elisabeth Martin, Soryong Chae, Nikki Kesav, and Maillarjuna Nadagouda. Poster presentation on “Phosphate Removal and Recovery using Drinking Water Plant Waste Residuals” 47^th Central Regional Meeting, May 2016, Kovington, KY, USA.
• Gaiven Varshney, Hamir Singh Rathore, and Khwaja Ishratullah. Oral Presentation on “Mobility and Adsorption of Diethyldithiocarbamate on Soil and Soil Containing Charcoal”, 25^th Conference of Indian Council of Chemists at Birla College of Arts, Science and Commerce, December, 2006, Mumbai, Maharashtra, INDIA.
• Gaiven Varshney, Charu Varshney, and Hamir Singh Rathore. Poster Presentation on “A Simple Suspension Phase Volumetry for the Determination of Dithiocarbamate Fungicides in their Formulations”, 25^th Conference of Indian Council of Chemists at Birla College of Arts, Science and Commerce, December, 2006, Mumbai, Maharashtra, INDIA.
• Subhash Chandra Mojumdar, Gaiven Varshney, Hamir Singh Rathore, and M.T. Saleh. Presentation on “Synthesis, Characterization and Fungicidal Activity of Zinc Diethyldithiocarbamate and Phosphate” 16^th Annual Workshop & Exhibition, Canadian Thermal Analysis Society, May, 2006, Mississauga, Ontario, CANADA.