Cade M. Bourque
Cade Michael Bourque is a native of North Texas who attended the University of Texas at Austin for his BS in mechanical engineering, his MS in nuclear engineering, and his PhD, also in nuclear engineering. During his graduate studies, Cade began an internship at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), where he ultimately spent six years, five of them as a full-time graduate research assistant in the Safeguards Sciences and Technology group within the Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation division (NEN-1). There, he researched and developed nuclear safeguards technologies with a particular focus on neutron-based nondestructive assay techniques.
Since March 2026, Cade has been working with Dr. Sébastien Philippe in the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a postdoctoral researcher in nuclear security.
Education & Background
During five years in the Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation (NEN) division at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Cade completed a PhD focused on nuclear safeguards. His primary work centered on developing novel detection capabilities for neutron detectors and advancing neutron-based nondestructive assay methodologies. He also collaborated on projects that employed advanced statistics and large-scale data gathering and processing to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of nuclear material control and accountancy programs.
Methods & Skills
- MCNP
- Machine learning
- Linear programming
- Python
- Discrete event simulation
- CAD
Research Interests
- Nuclear safeguards
- Nondestructive assay techniques and technologies
- Nuclear security
- Arms control
Current Projects
- Neutrino-based safeguards and monitoring
- Detection of nuclear warheads in space
Honors & Fellowships
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Graduate Research Fellowship (2019)
- G. T. Seaborg Institute Summer Research Fellowship (2022)
Location
431 Engineering Research Bldg,
1500 Engineering Dr, Madison, WI 53711
Contact
LinkedIn | Google Scholar
Outside the Lab
Cade follows cycling, Formula 1, cricket, and baseball. He plays and listens to music and enjoys attending live concerts, and has a keen interest in coffee and cooking.
Work with us
We are building an interdisciplinary team of researchers working across science, engineering, and policy to advance nuclear security and arms control.
about evident
Independent research and new technologies to understand and reduce the risks posed by nuclear weapons.
Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, MacArthur Foundation, PAX sapiens, Longview Philanthropy, and the Ploughshares Fund.