Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Kansas, 2021
  • M.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Kansas, 2019
  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Kansas, 2016
Licenses & Certifications
  • Professional Engineer Chemical, Texas, #154351
  • 40-Hour Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response Certification (HAZWOPER) (TX)
  • Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI)
Professional Honors
  • Frank Bowdish Ph.D. Research Award, 2022
  • Koerner Family Foundation Award, 2021
  • Outstanding Graduate Student Academic Achievement Award, 2019
  • Honors Program Scholar, 2016
Professional Affiliations
  • American Institute of Chemical Engineers – AIChE (member)
  • American Chemical Society – ACS (member)
  • National Association of Fire Investigators – NAFI (member)
  • National Fire Protection Association – NFPA (member)
  • - Technical Committee for NFPA 484 on Combustible Metals and Metal Dusts (Principal Member: 2019-2022)
  • - Technical Committee for NFPA 67, 68, & 69 on Explosion Protection Systems (Alternate Member: 2019-2022)

Dr. Reding provides technical support for the investigation and analysis of industrial fires, explosions, and chemical process safety incidents. His investigations have concentrated around origin determination and root cause analysis, primarily within gas flaring operations and dust handling industries. 

From a preventative perspective, Dr. Reding has experience reporting on code compliance, performing dust hazard analysis, and executing established process hazard analysis procedures (HAZOP, LOPA, FMEA, SIL). Further, Dr. Reding has experience with consequence and risk assessment using PHAST and FLACS computational modeling for both facility siting analysis and the proposal of performance-based explosion prevention and protection solutions.

Prior to joining Exponent's Thermal Sciences practice, Dr. Reding worked as an Explosion Protection Application Scientist at Fike Corporation where he facilitated research for application extension & new product development, managed guidelines for explosion protection design, and provided internal consultation for nonstandard hazards (dust, gas, hybrid) & unique processing applications. Dr. Reding has served as an active primary member on the NFPA 484 technical committee for Combustible Metals & Metal Dusts and as an alternate member on the NFPA 67/68/69 technical committee for Explosion Protection Systems.  

During his industry-sponsored doctoral program, Dr. Reding executed a variety of research pertaining to process safety and combustion science. With interests ranging from development of numerical computation models for the prediction of contained deflagration pressure evolution to lab-scale thermal analytical experiments, Dr. Reding has maintained a principal focus on metal dust combustion dynamics and characterization of inertant powder materials for the mitigation of closed-vessel deflagration events. Results were corroborated on a large scale by applying discrete combustion and flammability testing techniques for the experimental analysis of dust/air mixture MIE, MIT, 20 L sphere explosibility, 1 m3 sphere explosibility, and active deflagration suppression efficacy.