Modarres, Mohammad
Maryland Energy Innovation Institute
Center for Risk and Reliability
EDUCATION
- Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1980
BACKGROUND
Dr. Mohammad Modarres is a prominent scientist and engineer specializing in risk and reliability engineering. He holds the Nicole J. Kim Eminent Professorship in Engineering and is a Distinguished Scholar-Teacher at the University of Maryland (UMD). He co-founded the world’s first degree-granting graduate program in reliability engineering, along with the Center for Risk and Reliability at the University of Maryland over four decades ago. These programs have made a significant global impact, awarding over 500 Ph.D. and master’s degrees, and establishing UMD as the leading institution for education and research in risk and reliability. Additionally, he co-established the Nuclear Engineering Minor Degree in the UMD’s Department of Mechanical Engineering in 2005.
Dr. Modarres' research encompasses probabilistic risk assessment, the physics of failure, nuclear power plant safety, and fracture mechanics. His contributions include both experimental and probabilistic model development. He has authored numerous textbooks, book chapters, and over 500 scholarly papers, advancing the fields of reliability science, engineering, and risk analysis.
Dr. Modarres received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Tehran Polytechnic, MS in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, and MS and Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from MIT.
SELECTED HONORS AND AWARDS
- Nicole J. Kim Eminent Professorship in Engineering
- Minta Martin Professorship in A.J. Clark School of Engineering
- University of Maryland Distinguished Scholar-Teacher
- 2019 Tommy Thompson Award for outstanding lifetime contributions to nuclear safety, American Nuclear Society
- Fellow, American Nuclear Society
- Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- Honorary Doctorate Degree in Engineering, Da Vinci University, Guatemala
- 1996 Maryland Inventor of the Year Award (in Information Sciences)
- FDA Commissioner Special Citation for Contributions to Risk Assessment Methods, 2004
- 2008 International Research Leadership Award conferred by the Society for Reliability Engineering, Quality and Operations Management
Probabilistic risk assessment, Nuclear power plant safety, Uncertainty analysis, Probabilistic physics of failure, Probabilistic fracture mechanics, Prognosis and Health Management (PHM), Applications of AI/ML to reliability engineering and risk assessment.
Recent Books and Journal Papers
For the complete list of Prof. Modarres' publications, please refer to his Website:
https://modarres.umd.edu/
CRR Coordinator DeAndre Jones receives 2025 Newcomer Staff Award
Coordinator recieves Newcomer staff AwardCRR welcomes back Ruixue Li
Welcome back RuixueUMD Reliability Engineering Students Champion Young Scientists at PGASF
UMD Reliability Engineering Judges at PGASFRAMS 2025 Reliability Engineering Program Alumni Reception
UMD Reliability Engineering Program receptionCenter for Risk and Reliability Fosters Collaborative Environment
The Center for Risk and Reliability renovated their space to enhance multidisciplinary collaboration.'They Are Playing With a Huge Fire'
With Ukraine's massive Zaporizhzhia plant in Putin's crosshairs, nuclear facilities must be taken off battlefield, UMD risk expert says.Kiger Named Distinguished Scholar-Teacher
Mechanical engineering professor recognized for his achievements in research and pedagogy.Clark School to Induct Reyes into Innovation Hall of Fame
The NuScale co-founder will address the UMD community during a ceremony on December 2.Assessing Nuclear Risk: CEE, ME Faculty Collaborate on New Tools
Research aims to explore updates to risk assessment tools and methods used by the nuclear industry.Oops-Proofing
A Collaboration Between CRR and Amazon Lab126 Seeks to Understand How Devices Can Be More DurableNuclear Pioneer Reyes Achieves Historic Milestone
NuScale Power, co-founded by UMD alumnus José Reyes, is the first to win NRC approval for a small modular reactor (SMR) design.UMD workshop examines risks related to new transportation technology
Key concerns include vehice safety, software reliabillity, and cybersecurity.Bensi, Groth Selected for Nuclear Facility Risk Assessment Faculty Development Program
The inter-department program will support junior faculty in developing solutions to advance probabilistic risk assessments.Alumni Dr. Jeong H. Kim Receives 2016 Horatio Alger Award
Kim named one of 13 exceptional corporate and civic leaders to the Horatio Alger Member Class of 2016Bruck Named a UMD Distinguished Scholar-Teacher
Professor Hugh Bruck named one of six Distinguished Scholar-Teachers for the 2016-2017 school year.New Minta Martin Professors Named
Historic honor recognizes full professors who have made significant scholarly contributions.NRC Funds Development of New Grad-Level Corrosion Courses
Ankem, Christou, and Moderres to create new modules for nuclear, reliability, and sustainability engineering programs.EERC Conducts 1st Workshop
UM faculty and Petroleum Institute review cooperation success of past year.Modarres Earns International Research Leadership Award
Award recognizes pioneering research leadership in Probalistic Risk Assessment.Gift Supplements Reliability Fellowship
$250,000 bequest supports women and minority graduate students, aids Great Expectations campaign.Clark School’s Center for Reliability Engineering to Run DoD Initiative
The U.S. Department of Defense has selected the Clark School’s Center for Reliability Engineering (CFRE), under contract to Wyle Laboratories, to run the DoD’s Reliability Information Analysis Center (RIAC) in an agreement that will bring some $5 million to the school.Other professional society fellows
- American Nuclear Society
- Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA)