A consortium of researchers dedicated to improving the understanding of the human causes and consequences of terrorism

Nuclear Terrorism

Title Investigators Project Period
Advancing U.S. CWMD/CWMT Capabilities in Support of the SIGMA+ Program through Development of Anticipatory Human Social Systems Models and Adversary Weapon Selection Decision Processes Steve S. Sin, Ph.D., Thomas Guarrieri -
Anatomizing Radiological and Nuclear Non-State Adversaries Gary Ackerman, Jeffrey Bale, R. Karl Rethemeyer -
Cargo Aviation Insider Threat Assessment Tool (CAITAT) Thomas Guarrieri -
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency SIGMA+ Thomas Guarrieri, Marcus A. Boyd, Steve S. Sin, Ph.D. -
Developing Integrated Radiological and Nuclear Detection Architecture for the Interior and International Mission Space Steve S. Sin, Ph.D., Marcus A. Boyd -
Dissuading Adversaries and their Radiological/Nuclear Pathways: Integrating Deterrence Theory and Analytics in the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA) Amy Pate, Brandon Behlendorf, Gary Ackerman, John Sawyer, Steve S. Sin, Ph.D., Hamid Mohtadi, Marcus A. Boyd -
Distinctive Characteristics of Terrorist Groups Gary LaFree, Laura Dugan -
Dynamics of Terrorism and Counterterrorism Campaigns Gary Ackerman, Joseph Young, R. Karl Rethemeyer, Victor Asal -
Failure Points in Smuggling Networks Brandon Behlendorf -
Global Nuclear Detection Architecture: A Study of South Asia Sharad Joshi -
Insider Threat for Inbound International Air Cargo Gary Ackerman -
Integrated Discovery of Emerging and Novel Technologies (IDENT) Steve S. Sin, Ph.D. -
Integration of International Architecture Analysis Brandon Behlendorf, Emily Iarocci, Gary Ackerman, John Sawyer -
International and Regional Architecture Reports Brandon Behlendorf, Emily Iarocci, Gary Ackerman, Steve S. Sin, Ph.D. -
Mobile Radiation Detectors: Threat Perception and Device Acceptance Brooke Liu, Elizabet Petrun Sayers, Gary Ackerman, Steve S. Sin, Ph.D., Thomas Guarrieri -
More Bang for the Buck?: Examining the Effect of Technological Change on Terrorist Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction Gary Ackerman, Jeffrey Bale -
Organized and/or Transnational Crime/Drug Cartel Nexus with Illicit Radiological/Nuclear Trade, Smuggling and/or Terrorism in Europe and North, Sahelian and West Africa Amy Pate, John Sawyer, Marcus A. Boyd, Steve S. Sin, Ph.D. -
PRND Capability Development Framework Mapping John Sawyer, Marcus A. Boyd -
Profiles of Incidents Involving CBRN and Non-state Actors (POICN) Database Markus Binder -
Radiological/Nuclear Adversaries Future Project Gary Ackerman, John Sawyer -
Terrorist Groups and Weapons of Mass Destruction Gary Ackerman, Jonathan Wilkenfeld, R. Karl Rethemeyer, Victor Asal -
The Threat of Pakistani Criminal Organizations: Assessing the Potential for Involvement in Radiological/Nuclear Smuggling, Collaboration with Terrorist Groups and the Potential to Destabilize the Pakistani State Amy Pate, Gary Ackerman -
Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) Process John Sawyer, Steve S. Sin, Ph.D. -
Project Title Publication Date Publication Type
A semi-stochastic algorithm approach to generating CBRNE terrorist attack plot scenarios 2023-07-24T12:00:00 Journal Article
An Army of One: Assessing CBRN Pursuit and Use by Lone Wolves and Autonomous Cells 2014-01-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Application of a Profile Similarity Methodology for Identifying Terrorist Groups That Use or Pursue CBRN Weapons 2017-09-01T12:00:00 Book Chapter
Attacking Nuclear Facilities: Hype or Genuine Threat? 2016-01-01T12:00:00 Book Chapter
Aum Shinrikyo’s Nuclear and Chemical Weapons Development Efforts 2016-03-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Back to the Future: Teaching about the End of the World 2019-07-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
CBRN Activity and Attacks by Insurgent Organizations 2015-10-01T12:00:00 Research Brief
CBRN Terrorism 2023-02-22T12:00:00 Journal Article
Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Terrorism 2018-04-01T12:00:00 Book Chapter
Connections Can Be Toxic: Terrorist Organizational Factors and the Pursuit of CBRN Weapons 2012-02-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Countering Nuclear and Radiological Materials Illicit Trafficking Through Maritime Security Initiatives: Paper Tiger or Concrete Solution? A Case Study 2015-05-01T12:00:00 Conference Paper
Defining Knowledge Gaps Within CBRN Terrorism Research 2009-01-01T12:00:00 Book Chapter
Developing Consensus on Strengthening Article X(1) of the NPT 2015-02-01T12:00:00 Research Brief
Diffusing Portable Radiation Detectors Among First Responders: Device Acceptance and Implications for Community Resilience 2016-08-01T12:00:00 Book Chapter
Dissuading Adversaries and Their RN Pathways: Integrating Deterrence Theory and Analytics in the GNDA 2018-11-01T12:00:00 Research Brief
Gauging the Threat 2013-08-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
How Prepared Are the Public and Responders for Nuclear Terrorism? 2018-02-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
How terrorist actors in Pakistan use nuclear weapons for political influence 2019-03-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Insider Threat for Inbound International Air Cargo 2015-10-01T12:00:00 Research Brief
Islamist Use and Pursuit of CBRN Terrorism 2008-11-01T12:00:00 Book Chapter
Modeling Terrorist Attack Cycles as a Stochastic Process: Analyzing Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Incidents 2020-08-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Non-State Actors, Terrorism, and Weapons of Mass Destruction 2005-03-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Nuclear Matters: Lithuanian Security Culture in the Context of NATO Trends 2018-01-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Nuclear Smuggling and Threats to Lithuanian Security 2016-12-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Nuclear Weapons and Existential Threats: Insights from a Comparative Analysis of Nuclear-Armed States 2014-10-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Nuclear Weapons as Shields 2009-07-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Pick Your POICN: Introducing the Profiles of Incidents involving CBRN and Non-State Actors (POICN) Database 2019-03-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Profiling the WMD Terrorism Threat 2009-08-01T12:00:00 Book Chapter
Risk Analysis of Chemical, Biological, or Radionuclear Threats: Implications for Food Security 2009-06-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Searching for the Nuclear Silk Road: Geospatial Analysis of Potential Illicit Radiological and Nuclear Material Trafficking Pathways 2016-01-01T12:00:00 Book Chapter
Terrorism Risk and Optimal Policy Response: Theory and Empirics 2019-10-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Testimony Before United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Hearing on Nuclear Terrorism: Assessing the Threat to the Homeland 2008-04-01T12:00:00 Congressional Testimony
The “New” Face of Transnational Crime Organizations (TCOs): A Geopolitical Perspective and Implications to U.S. National Security 2013-05-01T12:00:00 White Paper
The DNI's Open Source Center: An Organizational Communication Perspective 2007-02-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
The Interplay between Terrorism, Nonstate Actors, and Weapons of Mass Destruction: An Exploration of the Pinkerton Database 2005-03-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
The Trust Paradox in Nuclear Smuggling 2015-12-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Transnational Illicit Trafficking (TransIT) Geospatial Tool: Project Fact Sheet 2013-09-01T12:00:00 Project Fact Sheet
Unconventional Weapons and Technology (UWT) Research Division 2018-10-01T12:00:00 Project Fact Sheet
Winning with the Bomb 2009-04-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
WMD Terrorism Research: Whereto From Here? 2005-03-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
WMD Terrorism: The Once and Future Threat 2018-05-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Title
Apply Now: Summer Workshop on Teaching about Terrorism
Background Report: Truck carrying radioactive material stolen in Mexico
Breiger turns regression models 'inside out'
CBRN terrorism by non-state actors
Current Job Opportunities at START
DARPA-SIGMA+ interns get a great start at START
Database spotlight: Big Allied and Dangerous (BAAD)
Database Spotlight: Radiological and Nuclear Non-State Adversaries (RANNSAD)
Hybrid organizations have greater motivational and operations ability for RN trafficking
Hybrid political criminal organizations pose RN smuggling threat
JOB OPPORTUNITY: START Special Research Projects IT Assistant
New project seeks to provide DARPA with ways to deter CBRN attacks by non-state actors
New study shows alliances and not religious ideology are key to forecasting CBRN pursuit
Research Brief: Terrorism Trends with a Focus on Energy and Mining
Researcher Spotlight: Lauren Pinson
Researcher Spotlight: Ronald Breiger
START Advisory Board member quoted in "Daily Telegraph" and CNN
START aims to strengthen defense capabilities against WMD-seeking terrorists
START Announces Fellowships for 2005-06
START Director speaks with National Nuclear Security Administration fellowship students
START intern serves her country by fighting disease and discrimination
START launches online course on terror-crime nexus and CBRN
START Partner Center for Biosecurity Launches
START researcher presents paper on preventing illegal weapons trafficking in international waters at CBRNe USA Conference
START Researchers Present at American Political Science Association Annual Conference
START researchers present work on transnational criminal organizations, terrorism and radiological/nuclear (RN) smuggling
START seeking 2014 Outstanding Article Award nominations
START study leads to support for SLTT officials
START workshop gives better understanding of CBRN technologies
START’s Steve Sin chaired CBRNe Asia 2014 conference
The Non-Conventional Threat CBRNe event series comes to America
Unconventional Weapons and Technology division announces upcoming CBRN Data Suite and Portal
Unconventional Weapons and Technology division launches CBRN Data Suite and Portal
Title Job Title Institution
Brandon Behlendorf Brandon Behlendorf Assistant Professor, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity, SUNY Albany University at Albany, State University of New York
Gary Ackerman Gary Ackerman Associate Professor, SUNY Albany University at Albany, State University of New York
Tinsley_Herbert Herbert Tinsley Analyst, Government Accountability Office
Sawyer John John Sawyer Director of Strategic Corporate Research Relationships University of Maryland
Boyd_Marcus Marcus A. Boyd Geospatial Research Unit (GRU) Director, START
Director of Graduate Studies, START 		University of Maryland
Binder_Markus Markus Binder Project Manager/Researcher, START University of Maryland
Jacome_Michlle Michelle Jacome Operations Officer on International Finance Cooperation at the World Bank
Prabhakar misra Prabhakar Misra Professor of Physics Howard University
Steve S. Sin Steve S. Sin, Ph.D. Associate Research Scientist & Director, Unconventional & Asymmetric Threats Division
Adjunct Professorial Lecturer, School of International Service, American University
Adjunct Instructor for Forensic Sciences, Oklahoma State University
Chief Academic Officer, Platinum East 		University of Maryland
Guarrieri Thomas Guarrieri Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies
Assistant Research Scientist, Unconventional Weapons &
Technology (UWT) Division, START 		University of Maryland
Clark tyler Tyler A. Clark Data Scientist, Doctoral Student University of Maryland
Asal_Victor Victor Asal Associate Professor of Political Science and Chair of Public Administration University at Albany, State University of New York
Abbreviation Thumbnail Image Title Direct Link
Advancing U.S. CWMD/CWMT Capabilities in Support of the SIGMA+ Program through Development of Anticipatory Human Social Systems Models and Adversary Weapon Selection Decision Processes
Anatomizing Radiological and Nuclear Non-State Adversaries
Cargo Aviation Insider Threat Assessment Tool (CAITAT)
CBRN CBRN: Violent Non-State Actor Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Data Portal Go
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency SIGMA+
Developing Integrated Radiological and Nuclear Detection Architecture for the Interior and International Mission Space
Dissuading Adversaries and their Radiological/Nuclear Pathways: Integrating Deterrence Theory and Analytics in the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA)
Distinctive Characteristics of Terrorist Groups
Dynamics of Terrorism and Counterterrorism Campaigns
Failure Points in Smuggling Networks
Global Nuclear Detection Architecture: A Study of South Asia
Insider Threat for Inbound International Air Cargo
Integrated Discovery of Emerging and Novel Technologies (IDENT)
Integration of International Architecture Analysis
International and Regional Architecture Reports
Mobile Radiation Detectors: Threat Perception and Device Acceptance
More Bang for the Buck?: Examining the Effect of Technological Change on Terrorist Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction
NuFAD Nuclear Facility Attack Database Go
Organized and/or Transnational Crime/Drug Cartel Nexus with Illicit Radiological/Nuclear Trade, Smuggling and/or Terrorism in Europe and North, Sahelian and West Africa
PRND Capability Development Framework Mapping
Profiles of Incidents Involving CBRN and Non-state Actors (POICN) Database
RANNSAD Radiological and Nuclear Non-State Adversaries Database (RANNSAD) Go
Radiological/Nuclear Adversaries Future Project
Terrorist Groups and Weapons of Mass Destruction
The Threat of Pakistani Criminal Organizations: Assessing the Potential for Involvement in Radiological/Nuclear Smuggling, Collaboration with Terrorist Groups and the Potential to Destabilize the Pakistani State
Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) Process