Lada Protcheva

Biography

Lada Protcheva is a Ph.D. student in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences (NERS). She holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and has experience in software engineering, robotics, and computer vision. Currently, she is a member of the Artificial Intelligence and Multiphysics Simulations (AIMS) group, working under the guidance of Professor Radaideh. Her research focuses on autonomous systems for radiation mapping and inspection using drones and robotic dogs, integrating explainable AI and real-time sensing. She is particularly interested in applying machine learning to enhance reactor safety, optimize multiphysics simulations, and support decision-making in high-stakes nuclear environments.