Faculty Directory

Leventon, Isaac

Leventon, Isaac

Adjunct Lecturer
NIST Research Associate
Fire Protection Engineering
JM Patterson Bldg

Isaac Leventon is an alumni of the University of Maryland (UMD), where he completed his BS, MS, and PhD with the Department of Fire Protection Engineering. He currently works as a Research Associate in the Fire Research Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). His research focuses on the design, construction, and use of experimental apparatus to quantify the material properties and controlling mechanisms that define material burning behavior. In his free time, Isaac volunteers with the Gaithersburg Washington Grove Volunteer Fire Department and with the USA Warriors and MYHA Hockey Programs.

Isaac Leventon leads the Material Flammability Characterization Project at NIST. This project focuses on the design, construction, and use of experimental apparatus for use in material property determination, experimental analysis of material degradation, and validation of computational fire modeling with specific emphasis on:

  • Development of a material flammability property database
  • Measurements of the mechanisms controlling fire growth
  • Burning behavior of composite materials
  • Modeling of upward flame spread
  • Material property characterization
  • Electrical cabinet fires
  • Measurement and Computation of Fire Phenomena (MaCFP)

Collaboration Opportunities

We hope you are as excited as we are about the direction of our research.  If you want to collaborate with us in these or related research areas, especially if you wish to inquire about available research positions with the project team, please consider contacting the EFSP Project Leader, Isaac.Leventon@NIST.gov.  

Current job openings, including postdoctoral research associateships and summer undergraduate research fellowships are available online: https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/material-flammability-characterization/collaboration-opportunities

Adjunct Professor

Fire Dynamics (ENFP 415 / 651)

https://fpe.umd.edu/course-schedule/course/ENFP415

Structural Fire Protection (ENFP 405 / 621)

https://fpe.umd.edu/course-schedule/course/ENFP405 

Enclosure Fire Modeling (ENFP 425)

https://fpe.umd.edu/course-schedule/course/ENFP415

Graduate Fire Dynamics Laboratory (ENFP 620)

https://fpe.umd.edu/course-schedule/course/ENFP620

 

Lecturer

Fire Dynamics, Structural Fire Protection Engineering

https://fpe.umd.edu/news/story/fpe-engineers-conduct-firesafety-program-in-israel

 

Program Developer and Lecturer

An Introduction to Math and Physics through Fire Dynamics

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/sparking-love-science-studying-christmas-trees-burn

Please visit Google Scholar for a full list of publications.

An updated list of NIST publications (including written work and data and software publications) is available online.

Christmas Tree Burning Demonstrations Shed Light on Holiday Safety Practices

Annual live experiments showcase the importance of keeping natural trees well watered for the holidays.

Four Fire Protection Engineers Among Clark School’s Distinguished Alums

The alums were inducted to the Early Career Distinguished Alumni (ECDA) Society, Class of 2024. 

UMD Calls for Holiday Safety Practices with Christmas Tree Fire Demonstrations

Live experiments showcased the impact of watering natural Christmas trees to reduce their fire risk.

In the News: Maryland Engineers Advance Holiday Safety, Fire Data Research

Fire Protection Engineering’s Christmas Tree Burn Demonstration promotes public safety and nearly a decade of data collection for fire protection research.

Enjoy a Festive, but Safe Holiday Season

FPE hosts its annual Christmas tree fire safety demonstration.

FPE Honors Two John L. Bryan GRA Award Recipients

Mahdi Tlemsani and Genevieve Tan are the 2021/2022 recipients.

Joe Alascio Wins 2020 John L. Bryan GRA Award

Alascio, a senior, will continue into his master’s program in the fall.

Christmas Trees Are Festive, and Potentially Hazardous

FPE hosts its 5th annual Christmas tree fire safety demonstration, steered by alum Isaac Leventon.

FPE Engineers Conduct Fire-Safety Program in Israel

Ken Isman, Isaac Leventon and Bill Koffel offer a pilot program in fire dynamics, suppression and alarm systems.

FPE Hosts 4th Annual Christmas Tree Fire Safety Demonstration

Alumnus Isaac Levonton (Ph.D. '16) showed reporters how important it is for people to keep their holiday trees hydrated. 

Fire Safety Demo Sparks Interest of Local Teen

Sienna Fink of Essex, MD, conducted her own fire experiments and won a national competition.

FPE Hosts 3rd Annual Christmas Tree Safety Demonstration

Fire engineers show possible risk in Christmas tree negligence.

Getting a Head Start on a Career In Computer Science with FPE

High school intern helps develop user interface for pyrolysis model.

Leventon Earns ASME and NIST Fellowships

Ph.D. candidate plans to pursue career in academia.

What We Can Learn–and Teach–from the Annapolis Mansion Fire

Fire Protection Engineering educates students, public to help prevent future tragedies.

Burning Christmas Trees…for Science!

University of Maryland fire protection engineer teaches fire science and safety with a holiday twist.

Lund University FPE Students Visit Maryland

FPE@UMD hosts tours, presentations.

FPE Hosts Fire Science Session for Maryland Counts Students

Kids learn what fire is, how it's controlled, and why it's studied.

How Can Lighting a Flame Play a CD?

FPE participates in Clark School’s 3rd annual Alumni Cup.

SFPE Engineering Technology Conference and Annual Meeting

The Dept. of Fire Protection Engineering will be well represented at the Austin, TX conference.

New Fire Protection Program for High School Students

FPE Offers Introduction to Math, Physics through Fire Dynamics Program to HS Students

Women In Engineering Camp Featured by Fox 5 TV

Exploring Engineering camp is part of summer fun at the University of Maryland.

Leventon Receives 2013 SFPE Student Scholar Award

FPE Student Isaac Leventon receives 2013 Society for Fire Protection Engineers Student Scholar Award

FPE Team Submits Entry to Flame Challenge

Students, staff and faculty answer 'What is a Flame?'