Mark Deinert

Dr. Deinert received a Ph.D. in Nuclear Science and Engineering from Cornell University in 2003. Following his postdoctoral work in the Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics at Cornell, he joined the faculty of the Cockrell School of Engineering in 2008.

Dr. Deinert's research centers on problems that fall broadly into the areas of energy and fluid systems. He uses tools from engineering analysis, thermodynamics, statistical physics and computation to understand problems where dynamics, non-equilibria and complex structure play an important role. He is particularly interesting in systems level models that give a “big picture” view of a problem. His current projects include developing multiscale models for fluid transport in porous media and their application to understanding phase changes in natural systems, the global hydrologic cycle and geothermal energy systems. He is also looking at how spatial and temporal variation in the availability of alternative energy sources affects policies that are aimed at increasing their use. His work on nuclear energy systems centers on applications of nuclear reactor physics to understanding the uncertainty associated with simulations that are done to calculate the time dependent concentration of radioisotopes in a nuclear reactor core. This in turn has significant implications for life cycle analyses of Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles.