Lansing Horan IV

Program Year:

University:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Field of Study:

Plasma Physics

Advisor:

Nuno Loureiro

Degree(s):

M.S. Nuclear Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, 2020; B.S. Nuclear Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2018

Practicum Experience(s)

Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico (2024)

Practicum Supervisor(s):

Katherine

Chandler

Practicum Title:

Towards X-pinch radiography on Z: "X-periments" on Mykonos at Sandia

Annual Program Review Abstracts

First Shadowgraphy Measurements of a Radiatively-Cooled Magnetic Reconnection Layer on the Z machine (2024)

Shadowgraphy Imaging to Infer Electron Density Profiles in High Energy Density Plasmas on Sandia's Z machine (2023)

Publications

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PUBLICATIONS
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(4) T. W. O. Varnish, J. Chen, S. Chowdhry, R. Datta, G. V. Dowhan, L. S. Horan IV, N. M. Jordan, E. R. Neill, A. P. Shah, B. J. Sporer, R. Shapovalov, R. D. McBride, J. D. Hare. "Quadrupolar Density Structures in Driven Magnetic Reconnection Experiments with a Guide Field." Physics of Plasmas, 2024, Volume 32, Issue 2. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0251581
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(3) Lansing S. Horan IV. "Counting to Nuclear Zero is Hard: How Can the World Prepare to Verify the Absence of Nuclear Weapons?" On The Horizon, 2023, Volume 5, Pages 96-114. https://www.csis.org/analysis/horizon-vol-5-collection-papers-next-generation
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(2) Lansing S. Horan IV, Darren E. Holland, Megan Bruck Syal, James E. Bevins, Joseph V. Wasem. "Impact of neutron energy on asteroid deflection performance." Acta Astronautica, 2021, Volume 183, Pages 29-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2021.02.028
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(1) Lansing S. Horan IV, Darren E. Holland, Megan Bruck Syal, Joseph V. Wasem, Michael L. Dexter, James E. Bevins. "Neutron Energy Effects on Asteroid Deflection." 2020 IEEE Aerospace Conference, 2020, Pages 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1109/AERO47225.2020.9172255
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CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
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(12) April 2025, Invited Talk. 2025 Nuclear Science and Engineering (NSE) Research Expo. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). https://calendar.mit.edu/event/2025-nse-research-expo
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(11) March 2025, Contributed Talk. 2025 U.S.-Japan Workshop on Magnetic Reconnection (MR2025). Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). https://sites.google.com/pppl.gov/mr2025/home
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(10) October 2024, Poster Session. 2024 APS Division of Plasma Physics (DPP). Atlanta, Georgia. https://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DPP24/Content/4590
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(09) August 2024, Poster Session. 2024 Z Fundamental Science (ZFS) Program Workshop. Albuquerque, New Mexico. https://www.sandia.gov/pulsed-power/z-fundamental-science-program-workshop-2024/
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(08) June 2024, Poster Session. 2024 DOE NNSA SSGF/LRGF Annual Program Review. Las Vegas, Nevada. https://www.krellinst.org/ssgf/conf/2024
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(07) October-November 2023, Poster Session. 2023 APS Division of Plasma Physics (DPP). Denver, Colorado. https://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DPP23/Content/4436
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(06) August 2023, Poster Session. 2023 Z Fundamental Science (ZFS) Program Workshop. Albuquerque, New Mexico. https://www.sandia.gov/pulsed-power/workshop-2023/
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(05) June 2023, Poster Session. 2023 DOE NNSA SSGF/LRGF Annual Program Review. San Francisco, California. https://www.krellinst.org/ssgf/conf/2023
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(04) April 2021, Accepted Abstract and e-Presentation. 2021 International Academy of Astronautics Planetary Defense Conference (IAA PDC). (virtual). https://iaaspace.org/event/7th-iaa-planetary-defense-conference-2021/
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(03) January 2021, Invited Talk. 2021 Workshop for Applied Nuclear Data Activities (WANDA). (virtual). https://conferences.lbl.gov/event/504/
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(02) March 2020, Invited Talk. 2020 IEEE Aerospace Conference. Big Sky, Montana. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=9172334
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(01) August 2017, August 2018, Poster Session and Contributed Talk. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) student intern presentations. Livermore, California.
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Awards

(11)
Signature oral presenter,
MIT Department of Nuclear Science & Engineering (NSE),
April 2025.
- 1 of 3 graduate students selected for signature oral presentation at the 2025 MIT NSE Research Expo

(10)
2025 Student Highlight (upcoming),
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA),
October 2024.
- 1 of ~9 NNSA fellowship students/alumni selected for the upcoming 2025 Academic Programs Annual publication "to highlight exceptional research activities and people"

(09)
Letter of Commendation,
MIT Department of Nuclear Science & Engineering (NSE),
January 2023.
- In recognition of outstanding performance during the Fall Term 2022

(08)
Exemplary Civilian Service Award (ECSA),
Department of the Air Force,
August 2022.
- Formal certificate citation & commemorative bronze medal "in recognition [of] distinguished performance in support of the United States Air Force"
- Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC), 23rd Analysis Squadron (23 ANS)

(07)
Special Act Awards,
Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC),
July 2021 & June 2022.
- Lump-sum monetary awards recognizing short-term and/or one-time accomplishments or other extraordinary efforts

(06)
Grade Promotions,
Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC),
May 2020 -- March 2022.
- Three promotions in job grade in less than two years

(05)
SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program,
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD),
August 2018 -- May 2020.
- The Science, Mathematics, And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program is a merit-based national fellowship funded by the DoD
- 2018 Cycle Statistics: 382 awards out of 12,665 total applications received (3% acceptance rate) and 2,122 complete applications reviewed (18% award rate)

(04)
Distinguished Graduate of the Class 20M,
Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT),
March 2020.
- Criteria encompasses academic scores, the "whole person" concept based on professional qualities, and the Department Heads' recommendation (no more than 10% of each graduating class)
- 22 awards out of 227 total students graduating with AFIT master's degrees (March 2020)

(03)
Civilian of the 3rd Quarter,
Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT),
July 2019 -- September 2019.
- 1 award out of 160 total civilian students enrolled (Summer 2019 Academic Quarter)

(02)
Summa Cum Laude (Cumulative GPA 3.9+),
Texas A&M University (TAMU),
May 2018.
- 126 awards out of 2,529 total engineering students graduating with bachelor's degrees (2017-2018 Academic Year)

(01)
Engineering Honors Program Graduate,
Texas A&M University (TAMU),
August 2015 -- May 2018.
- Competitive admission limited to top ~10% of each class
- Graduation requirements include undergraduate research, GPA 3.5+, honors course credits, annual reports, semesterly honors advisor meetings & student activities, etc.