Find opportunities for future engineering PhD graduate

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around strategies for PhD students in engineering, particularly in nuclear materials, to connect with industry professionals and explore job opportunities post-graduation. The conversation touches on networking methods, potential employers, and the current job market landscape for nuclear engineering graduates.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest networking with former students of advisors as a way to make industry connections.
  • One participant mentions the importance of IEEE chapters for networking, particularly in the US.
  • Another participant expresses a focus on nuclear materials and seeks information about potential employers beyond national labs and academia.
  • It is proposed that local power companies operating nuclear plants and large corporations like GE and General Atomics are significant employers for nuclear PhDs.
  • Some participants question whether nuclear plants hire PhDs directly, with differing opinions on the current job market for nuclear engineering.
  • One participant shares a personal connection to someone working in resource planning at a power company, indicating that such roles exist for PhD holders.
  • Another participant points out that companies like Intel may also hire nuclear engineers, providing a specific job link as a resource.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether nuclear plants directly hire PhDs in nuclear engineering, indicating a lack of consensus on this point. The overall sentiment reflects uncertainty about the current job market for nuclear engineering graduates.

Contextual Notes

Participants' responses depend on personal experiences and anecdotal evidence, which may not represent broader trends in the job market. There is also a lack of detailed information regarding specific job roles and hiring practices in the nuclear engineering field.

Who May Find This Useful

PhD students in engineering, particularly those focused on nuclear materials, and individuals interested in networking strategies and job opportunities in the engineering industry.

nukapprentice
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I was wondering how I could make connections in industry while still a PhD student. I know about job fairs and conferences, but are there other ways to make friends/contacts while still in the early stages of PhDdom so that I have viable options when I graduate?
 
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A great way is networking with former students of you advisor. Most engineering fields that hire PhDs are surprisingly small worlds.

What kind of engineering are you studying? Are you in the US? If so, some IEEE chapters are very active.
 
Well, as of right now I think my focus will be nuclear materials and I am also at a college in the US. I hadn't thought of IEEE chapters, but I will give it a shot. What companies and industries are hiring nuke PhDs fresh out of school because all I see are national labs, the NRC or academia.
 
The biggest employers are local power companies that operate nuclear plants. Second are big companies like GE and General Atomics. After that are the DOE labs and academia. It's not a hot time for nuclear engineering.
 
Do nuke plants hire PhD's in nuclear? I didn't think they did. But yeah, you're right, it is definitely not a hot time for nukes unfortunately.
 
nukapprentice said:
Do nuke plants hire PhD's in nuclear? I didn't think they did. But yeah, you're right, it is definitely not a hot time for nukes unfortunately.

You know, I don't know if nuclear plants hire them directly, but I am 100% sure that the power companies that operate them do. I know a guy who works for Pacific Gas and Electric and he has a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from UC Berkeley.
 
Awesome, thanks for the advice. I have to ask though, do you know what he does exactly?
 
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Looks like your friend is a boss/pro. Thanks Carlgrace for the website, I'll be sure to check it out.
 
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