Biography
Dr. Steven Simon received a B.S. in physics from the University of Texas, an M.S. in radiological physics from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Dallas, and a Ph.D. in radiological health sciences from Colorado State University. Prior to joining NCI, he was on the research faculty at the University of Utah, the academic faculty at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, served as a medical physicist for the University of New Mexico at Los Alamos National Laboratory, as a senior staff officer at the National Research Council, and as director of the Marshall Islands Nationwide Radiological Study. He joined the NCI in 2000. Dr. Simon is a recognized expert in dose reconstruction methods for epidemiologic studies involving all types and sources of radiation exposure. Dr. Simon retired from government service in April 2022, and continues to support research in DCEG as a special volunteer.
Dr. Simon received NIH Merit Awards in 2004, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2018, and 2020 for his research into applications of radiation dosimetry to epidemiological research. In 2010, he received the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics Exemplary Service Award for his deployment to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo during the Fukushima nuclear crisis, where he served as a DHHS technical expert in radiation dose and risk. In 2018, he received the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Health’s Award for Superior Service for “Contributions to four Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Administrative Review Panels for the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) of 2000.” In 2021 he received the Health Physics Society’s Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award in recognition of his publication record, contributions to the science of radiation protection, and 25 years of continuous service to the Editorial Board of Health Physics.
Dr. Simon has worldwide experience in monitoring nuclear test sites for residual radioactivity (including test sites in the Marshall Islands, Johnston Island, French Polynesia, and Algeria) and at assessing historical radiation doses from nuclear weapons fallout (including Nevada, New Mexico, Kazakhstan, Marshall Islands, and global fallout). He has provided advice over many years to national and international organizations on issues related to environmental contamination from nuclear testing and the related radiation exposures.
Dr. Simon has been a member of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements for more than 14 years and is currently a Scientific Vice President and Chair of the NCRP’s Program Area on Radiation Measurements and Dosimetry. In 2018, he completed 25 continuous years as an Associate Editor of Health Physics.
Research Interests
- Radiation dosimetry and dose reconstruction methods
- Dose estimation for cohorts exposed to environmental, medical, or occupational radiation
- Analysis of uncertainty of radiation exposure models
- Health risks from radiation exposure
- Doses received from nuclear testing worldwide
- Radioactivity in man and the environment and quantitative transfer of radioactive materials to organisms
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