MIT: Laboratory for Nuclear Security and Policy

Margaret Root is a graduate student in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering and a graduate research assistant at Los Alamos National Laboratory. She grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico and received a B.S. in nuclear engineering from the University of New Mexico (UNM) in 2011, where she was president of the American Nuclear Society student chapter. Her research has focused on radiation detection for nonproliferation. Prior to joining MIT, she participated in research projects at UNM, Sandia National Laboratories, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, all of which primarily focused on radiation-detection technologies. She is currently focused on nuclear-material safeguards and the policies related to these technologies. After graduating, she hopes to either work on detector technology development at a national laboratory, or on policy development for nonproliferation. Outside of school she spends a significant portion of her time in the outdoors rock climbing and hiking. Margret manages the MIT climbing wall, and sings in the MIT chamber chorus.