309 Minerals & Materials Engineering Building
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI 49931
Ph.D., Duke University 
M.S., The Ohio State University 
B.S.E., Duke University
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My research is in the field of heat transfer. I study how energy moves in, and through physiological systems. I have a particular interest in tissue & organ heating effects from exposure to radio-frequency (RF) fields. This work has implications to health & safety standards for a variety of devices (e.g., cell phones, wireless LANs) as well as therapies to treat certain cancers. It's also a fascinating field of research!
Here's what I've written recently: Nelson, D.A., Curlee, J.S., Curran, A.R., Ziriax, J.M. and Mason, P.A. "Determining localized garment insulation values from manikin studies: computational method and results" European Journal of Applied Physiology 95(5-6):464-73(2005)
Walters, T.J., Ryan, K.L., Nelson, D.A., Blick, D.W., Mason, P.A. “Effects of Blood Flow on Skin Heating Induced by Millimeter Wave Irradiation in Humans” Health Physics 86(2):115-120 (2004)
Nelson, D.A., T.J. Walters, K.L. Ryan, K.B. Emerton, W.D. Hurt, J.M. Ziriax, L.R. Johnson, and P.A Mason,. “Inter-Species Extrapolation of Skin Heating Effects from Millimeter Wave Irradiation: Modeling and Experimental Results” Health Physics 84(5):608-15 (2003)
Gasjek, P., T.J. Walters, W.D. Hurt, J.M. Ziriax, D.A. Nelson and P.A. Mason, “Empirical Validation of SAR Values Predicted by FDTD Modeling” Bioelectromagnetics 23:37-48 (2002)
Nelson, D., M. Nelson, T.Walters, and P. Mason, "Thermal Effects of Millimeter Wave Irradiation: Model Results" IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques 48(11):2111-2120 (2000)
Mason, P., W. Hurt, J. D’Andrea, T. Walters, K. Ryan, P. Gajsek, D. Nelson, K. Smith and J. Ziriax, "Effects of Frequency, Permittivity, and Voxel Size on Predicted Specific Absorption Rate Values during Electromagnetic Field Exposure" IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques 48(11):2050-2058 (2000)
Nelson, D., S. Zia, R. Whipple and M. Ohadi, "Corona Discharge Effects on Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop in Tube Flows" Journal of Enhanced Heat Transfer 7(2):81-95 (2000)
Mason, P.A., J.M. Ziriax, W.D. Hurt, T.J. Walters, K.L. Ryan, D.A. Nelson, K.I. Smith and J.A. D'Andrea "Recent Advancements in Dosimetry Measurements and Modeling" In: B.J. Klauenberg and D. Miklavic (Eds.), Radio Frequency Radiation Dosimetry, Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 141-155 (2000)
Walters, T.J., P.A. Mason, K.L. Ryan, D.A. Nelson, and W.D. Hurt “A Comparison of SAR Values Determined Empirically and by FD-TD Modeling” In: B.J. Klauenberg and D. Miklavic (Eds.), Radio Frequency Radiation Dosimetry, Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 207-216 (2000)
Nelson, D., Walters, T., Ryan, K. and Johnson, L.R. "Skin Heating Effects of Millimeter Waves: Inter-Species Variability" Advances in Heat Transfer and Mass Transfer in Biotechnology 1999, ASME HTD-Vol. 363; BED-Vol. 44, pp. 141-4 (1999)
Nelson, D. "Invited Editorial on Pennes 1948 Paper Revisited" Journal of Applied Physiology 85:2-3 (1998)
Nelson, D. and S. Nunneley "Brain Temperature and Limits on Transcranial Cooling in Humans: Quantitative Modeling Results" European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology 78:353-359 (1998)
Nelson, D., M. Barker, and B. Hamlin "Thermal Effects of of Acrylic Cementation at Bone Tumor Sites" International Journal of Hyperthermia 13(3): 287-306 (1997)
Ross David, Lukas John, Julia Louise (on lap), and Paige Linnea Nelson
Front: Paige (age 8), the lovely and gracious Nancy, and Julia (age 1)
Back: Luke (12) and Ross (8)
Here are some more pictures of the kids (Thanks again, Boni!):
Links
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Minnesota Biomedical Business Network job board
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