Sai Zhang

Photograph

Title Postdoctoral Research Associate

Department Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering

Biography

Dr. Sai Zhang is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate with the Socio-Technical Risk Analysis (SoTeRiA) Laboratory. She holds a Ph.D. from Tsinghua University and a B.S. from Harbin Engineering University in China, both in Nuclear Engineering. She was also a visiting student at the University of Maryland at College Park.

Dr. Zhang’s research interests include (1) Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) and (2) risk-cost optimization for nuclear power plants. She was involved in multiple research projects funded by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ministry of Science and Technology and National Nuclear Safety Administration of the People’s Republic of China. She is the author of 7 publications in leading journals and conferences.

Currently, Dr. Zhang is focusing on the development of Multi-Unit PRA (MUPRA) methodologies, including: (1) inter-unit dependency modeling, (2) inter-unit common cause failure modeling, (3) maintenance optimization on a multi-unit basis. Since joining the SoTeRiA, she is working on expanding the research scope by incorporating human and organizational factors into MUPRA.

Email saizhang@nospam662344dd0d57b.illinois.edu

SoTeRiA Lab to Co-Host International Conference on AI and Risk AnalysisSeptember 1, 2023
The Socio-Technical Risk Analysis (SoTeRiA) Laboratory is set to lead the upcoming International Association for Probabilistic Safety Assessment and Management (IAPSAM) topical conference titled “Artificial Intelligent (AI) & Risk Analysis for Probabilistic Safety/Security Assessment & Management.” This conference will be held virtually on October 23-25, 2023, and will bring together international AI and risk assessment […]
SoTeRiA Laboratory Receives DOE Grant to Advance Dependency Treatment in Risk Assessment of Existing Plants, Advanced ReactorsJune 26, 2023
The SoTeRiA Laboratory, in collaboration with Constellation Energy, Idaho National Laboratory, Southern Company, Electric Power Research Institute, and X-Energy, has recently been awarded a $1,000,000 grant by the Department of Energy for the treatment of component dependencies in nuclear reactors. The project titled “Simulation-informed Dependency Treatment to Enhance Operational Flexibility, AvoidProduction Loss, and Maintain Safety […]
Mohaghegh Appointed to Another National Academies CommitteeFebruary 6, 2023
SoTeRiA Lab Director and NPRE Associate Professor Zahra Mohaghegh has been selected to serve as a member of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee on “Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of the Coast Guard Certificate of Compliance Examination Program for Gas Carriers.” The focus of this committee is to provide solutions […]
Congratulations to Dr. Wen-Chi Cheng for his successful Ph.D. Defense!January 4, 2023
Congratulations to SoTeRiA graduate student, Dr. Wen-Chi Cheng, who recently passed his Ph.D. defense! He received his Ph.D. degree from the Department of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering, with a specialization in Risk and Reliability analysis. Wen-Chi’s research has focused on Finite Element Based Probabilistic Physics-of-Failure Analysis to Estimate Piping System Failure Rates for Risk Assessment […]
Congratulations to Research Assistant Professor Tatsuya Sakurahara for receiving the George Apostolakis Fellowship from the International Association for Probabilistic Safety Assessment and Management (IAPSAM)!July 21, 2022
https://soteria.npre.illinois.edu/files/2022/07/PSAM_Tatsuyas-Fellowship.png This fellowship (https://www.iapsam.org/PSAM16/apostolakis.html) is intended to honor an individual with demonstrated potential to be one of tomorrow’s leaders in the advancement of Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA). The Apostolakis Fellowship honors Prof. George Apostolakis (on the right in the foreground in the above photo) for his contribution to the science of risk analysis as well […]
Interactions of Safety & Financial Performance in Nuclear Power Plants, DOE NEUP-funded Research @ PSAM 16!June 27, 2022
The authors of this paper are John Beal, Pegah Farshadmanesh, Tatsuya Sakurahara, Seyed Reihani, Ernie Kee, and Zahra Mohaghegh from the SoTeRiA Lab (https://soteria.npre.illinois.edu) SoTeRiA Lab will virtually present this paper, supported by the DOE Project (https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1817917), at the 16th Probabilistic Safety Assessment & Management (PSAM 16) conference (https://lnkd.in/gHfYZU4d), chaired by Curtis Smith. This will […]
National Academies’ Panel on Evaluation of the Transport Airplane Risk Assessment Methodology @ PSAM 16 conferenceJune 22, 2022
In 2021, the National Academies appointed an ad-hoc committee of 12 members to undertake a study to evaluate FAA’s Transport Airplane Risk Assessment Methodology. This panel will discuss the report created by this committee. Moderator: George Ligler (Professor and Dean’s Excellence Chair, Multidisciplinary Engineering, Texas A& M University; member of the National Academy of Engineering) […]
SoTeRiA Laboratory Presents Risk-Informed Analysis for Advanced Reactors, IAEA-Sponsored Project @ PSAM 16June 18, 2022
SoTeRiA Lab will present “Risk-informed Analysis for Advanced Nuclear Power Reactors” at the 16th Probabilistic Safety Assessment & Management (PSAM 16) conference. It is time-critical to conduct research on risk-informed analysis of advanced reactors, in parallel with technology developments, in order to establish scientifically-justifiable and technology-inclusive risk methodologies that support the nuclear industry and the […]
SoTeRiA Laboratory Presents Fire PRA Research, Academia-Industry DOE Sponsored Project @ PSAM 16June 18, 2022
SoTeRiA Lab will present the final report of the DOE Fire PRA Project at the 16th Probabilistic Safety Assessment & Management (PSAM 16) conference. The authors are Tatsuya Sakurahara, Sari Alkhatib, Mohammad Albati, Seyed Reihani, Ernie Kee, and Zahra Mohaghegh (SoTeRiA Lab); Terry L. von Thaden, Richard Kesler, and Farzaneh Masoud (Illinois Fire Service Institute); Kristin […]
SoTeRiA Ph.D. Student Was Selected as One of the Mavis Future Faculty Fellows for the 2022-2023 academic year!May 27, 2022
Sari Alkhatib, a Ph.D. Candidate in the SoTeRiA Lab, has being selected as one of the Mavis Future Faculty Fellows (MF3) for the 2022-2023 academic year. Through this program, the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois aims to train next generation of engineering professors to be proficient in research, teaching, and mentoring. […]

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