Careers in Nuclear Science and

Technology Lisa StilesDominion Resources ServicesProject Leader – Strategic Staffing and Knowledge Management

Overview

• A Career Roadtrip

• Major Fields

• More opportunities

• What We Need from You

• Resources

My Career Roadtrip

Major Fields

• Commercial Power

• Nuclear Navy

• Nuclear Medicine

• Research

Commercial Power

Commercial Power

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

18-2

2

23-2

7

28-3

2

33-3

7

38-4

2

43-4

7

48-5

2

53-5

7

58-6

2

63-6

767

+

Age Range

Em

plo

ye

es

2003

2005

2007

Source: 2007 NEI Pipeline Survey Preliminary Results

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?

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

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.

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.

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

Just a few examples

• Health Physicists and technicians– Protect personnel– Protect the facility– Protect the public– Protect the

environment

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

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

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

Skilled Craft Apprenticeship

• Usually requires passing an assessment test (good math and science skills plus mechanical aptitude)

• Defined pay, benefits and advancement structure

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nuclear Navy

• HUGE retention bonuses ($75,000!)

• Many skills translate directly to the commercial industry

• http://www.navy.com/

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

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)

Research and Academia

• Increase in funding for research in nuclear science & technology – DOE– GNEP– NASA

• New and exciting applications of nuclear science and technology

Research and Academia

• New reactor designs

• Fission research

• Fusion

• Recycling and transmutation

• Advances in nuclear medicine

• Space technology

Other Opportunities

• Space Technology

• Environmental Applications

• Industrial Applications

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

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

University of Missouri-Rolla

Nuclear Engineering Summer Camp

ANS-VA Section Scholarships

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

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

Questions?