Careers in Nuclear Science and Technology

1. Careers in Nuclear Science and Technology Lisa Stiles Dominion Resources Services Project Leader – Strategic Staffing and Knowledge Management

2. Overview • A Career Roadtrip • Major Fields • More opportunities • What We Need from You • Resources

3. 2b My Career Roadtrip 4 2a, 3, 7 1 5 2 6 ,8

4. Major Fields • Commercial Power • Nuclear Navy • Nuclear Medicine • Research

5. Commercial Power

6. Commercial Power Source: 2007 NEI Pipeline Survey Preliminary Results

7. Commercial Power • Up to 15,600 nuclear utility workers may be eligible for retirement in the next 5 years • Vendors, suppliers, government agencies are in the same boat! • And that’s just to keep the current fleet running • What does that mean to your students?

8. Salary Examples Nuclear Engineer I $62,000 Radiation Protection technician $36,000 (entry level) Radiation Protection technician $41,000 (step 2) Reactor Operator Trainee $37,000 Licensed Reactor Operator $64,000

9. Commercial Power • Engineers • nuclear, electrical, chemical, mechanical, materials, and civil/structural • Professionals • health physicists, RP technicians, chemists, accountants, instrumentation and control technicians, IT experts, business management, fire protection, industrial safety, security and training instructors • Skilled Trades • electricians, welders, mechanics, pipe fitters, machinists, carpenters, millwrights and heavy equipment operators.

10. Just a Few Examples • Core designers • Model the neutronic characteristics • Predict how the core will react to various operating conditions. • Optimize the parameters to safely produce electricity.

11. Just a few examples • Spent fuel management • Evaluate fuel for dry storage • Design dry storage facilities • Design and test dry storage cask designs to withstand: • Tornado winds and missiles • Earthquake • Drop • Tipover • Cold weather • Fire

13. Just a few examples • Health Physicists and technicians • Protect personnel • Protect the facility • Protect the public • Protect the environment

14. Just a few examples • Operators • Operate the equipment • Turn the valves • Read the instruments • Push the buttons and the switches • Make the megawatts! • Trained to predict, understand and respond

15. Pathways • High school→trainee • Skilled craft apprenticeship with labor union • Professional Certificate or Associate’s Degree at Technical School or Community College • Bachelor’s (or higher) degree • Navy Nuclear experience

16. High school→trainee • Usually requires pre-employment testing. Details and links to example tests at http://www.dom.com/jobs/tests.jsp#admin_support • Good math and science skills (passed Algebra 2 plus one of Physics, Chemistry, or Biology) • Pros • Immediate employment (with benefits) and on-the-job training • Cons • On-the-job training will generally take longer to get to “certificate” status • Usually will not receive credit towards a degree

17. Skilled Craft Apprenticeship • Usually requires passing an assessment test (good math and science skills plus mechanical aptitude) • Defined pay, benefits and advancement structure

18. Skilled Craft Apprenticeship • Apply with local union boards where applicable • IBEW at www.ibew.org • Utility Workers Union, http://uwua.net/ • Others include AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades, Metal Trades, Sheet Metal Workers International Association, United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry

19. Certificate or AAS Degree • Typically 2-year programs • Good math and science skills (Passed Algebra 2 plus one of Physics, Chemistry or Biology) • Credits usually transferable toward a 4-year degree • After completion, may choose to enter workforce or continue for a bachelor’s degree

20. Certificate or AAS Degree • Increasing opportunities for scholarships and paid internships • Examples • Linn State Technical College http://www.atc.org/atc04.htm • Central Virginia Community College http://www.cv.cc.va.us/Workforce/NSF/default.asp • Three Rivers Community College http://www.universities.com/On-Campus/Three_Rivers_Community_College__Norwich_CT_Associate_degree_Nuclear__Nuclear_Power_Technology__T_165507.html

21. Engineering degree • Nuclear, electrical, chemical, mechanical, materials, and civil/structural • Nuclear and health physics programs at http://www.nei.org/index.asp?catnum=2&catid=289

22. Engineering Degree • Scholarships, Fellowships, and Internships at http://www.nei.org/index.asp?catnum=2&catid=210 • At least Trigonometry (Calculus preferred) plus Chemistry and/or Physics

23. Nuclear Navy • Highly selective program for both officers and enlisted personnel • Sophomore year in college can enter the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program (NUPOC). Monthly stipend of $2,600-$4,100 and a $15,000 selection bonus • Rigorous training • 6 months at Nuclear Power School • 6 months at Nuclear Prototype School

24. Nuclear Navy • HUGE retention bonuses ($75,000!) • Many skills translate directly to the commercial industry • http://www.navy.com/

25. Nuclear Medicine • Physician • Medical School plus at least 3 years training • Technologist • Wide variety of positions • 4-year degree, Post-BS Certificate (1 year training), 2-year Associates Degree

26. Nuclear Medicine • Pharmacist • 4-year degree plus specialized nuclear training • Average about $85,000 • Physicist • Advanced degree required (usually physics, medical physics, biophysics, computer engineering, electrical engineering or biomedical engineering)

27. Research and Academia • Increase in funding for research in nuclear science & technology • DOE • GNEP • NASA • New and exciting applications of nuclear science and technology

28. Research and Academia • New reactor designs • Fission research • Fusion • Recycling and transmutation • Advances in nuclear medicine • Space technology

29. Other Opportunities • Space Technology • Environmental Applications • Industrial Applications

30. What We Need from You • Tell us how we can help you get students excited about math, science and technical careers in general and Nuclear in particular! • Tell your students about the plentiful and diverse opportunities for exciting, rewarding and well-paying careers in nuclear science and technology

31. What We Need from You • Tell your interested students to • Do well in school (and stay out of trouble) • Take math and science • Algebra 2 plus one of Physics, Chemistry, or Biology for technician trainees • Trigonometry (Calculus preferred) plus at least 3 years of science for engineering students • Consider summer opportunities like the University of Missouri-Rolla Nuclear Engineering summer camp for rising high school juniors and seniors

32. University of Missouri-Rolla Nuclear Engineering Summer Camp ANS-VA Section Scholarships

33. More Resources • Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) • www.cewd.org • Get Into Energy website for students • Includes career assessment, descriptions of jobs, interactive portions • http://www.cewd.org/ • Nuclear Energy Institute • Home page www.nei.org • Career Center http://www.nei.org/index.asp?catnum=1&catid=7 • Blog http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/ • Carol Berrigan at 202.739.8050

34. More Resources • American Nuclear Society • Home page www.ans.org • Career Center http://www.ans.org/pi/edu/students/careers/ • Health Physics Society • Home page www.hps.org • Career Center http://www.hps.org/publicinformation/hpcareers.html • Society of Nuclear Medicine • http://www.snm.org • North American Young Generation in Nuclear • www.na-ygn.org

35. Questions?