Short Bio:
Dr. Sylvester Attakorah Birikorang is currently a postdoctoral researcher and a 2024-2025 Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow with the Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives (NSSPI) at Texas A&M University, where he is researching the nuclear security risks associated with the decentralization of nuclear infrastructure in West Africa. He holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering, which he completed in 2014 through an IAEA sandwich fellowship program at the Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences (SNAS), University of Ghana, and Universita di Pisa, Italy. He also holds a First Level Special Master’s in Nuclear Safeguards from Dipartimento Di Energia, Politecnico Di Milano, Italy, funded by the European Union, which he completed in October 2022. Before the Stanton fellowship program, he worked as the Head of the Nuclear Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Department at the Nuclear Installation Directorate of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority in Ghana. He worked with the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission in the National Nuclear Research Institute for 8 years as a Research Scientific Officer and was the lead of the Reactor Physics Group at the Ghana Research Reactor-1 (GHARR-1) facility. Before leaving the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission for the Nuclear Regulatory Authority, he moved from the grade of Research Scientist to Senior Research Scientist. Dr. Birikorang played a crucial role in IAEA-coordinated research projects, leading to the conversion of Ghana Research Reactor-1 (GHARR-1) fuel from High Enriched Uranium (HEU) to Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) and was the lead for transport and emergency preparedness and response of the core conversion project group. He was the local technical expert for the CBRN COE project 60, which supports the Center of Excellence of Eastern and Central Africa in nuclear security. He has been a member of the CBRN committee in Ghana and was involved in developing the CBRN national action plan (NAP). Dr Birikorang has been a Senior lecturer at the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, supervising numerous MPhil and PhD students. He was also a part-time lecturer at the Winneba College for Distance and E-Learning at the University of Education, Winneba, supervising more than 30 post-graduate students and graduate students respectively. Dr. Birikorang has more than 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals. His areas of expertise encompass Radiological Management and Radiation Safety, Nuclear Safeguards and Non-Proliferation, Nuclear Reactor Safety, and Nuclear Security, all aligning with IAEA best practices. His duties have included drafting nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation regulations, inspecting and verifying research reactors and industrial facilities, and training officers on nuclear safeguards, radiation safety, and the use of radiation detection equipment. Furthermore, Dr. Birikorang has vital experience in organizing workshops and training programs focused on nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation, bringing together experts, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers from Africa and around the world to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and enhance the capacity of individuals and organizations involved in nuclear safeguards efforts.