Help me find my niche in the nuclear field

[SMRnuc]

Hello, I am entering my final year of a top 5 nuclear engineering program. My problem is that at this moment, I haven't exactly found my particular niche within nuclear engineering. The nuclear field is very broad and an undergraduate education includes a little bit of every other engineering field along with its own. My problem is, I'm not too sure I know what I want to focus on for graduate school and the rest of my life. I have been doing research with a professor for over a year with instrumentation and control. I enjoy it for the most part, but I do not want to work on it for the rest of my life, and I am looking to specialize in something different.

Any recommendations to either a more obscure sub-field I am not aware of, or any hot fields right now. Just to help out with recommendations:

No Interest in:
Materials
Instrumentation and controls
Reliability Eng.
Nuclear Forensics/Security

I also have a minor in Physics if that matters

Thank you for any help or recommendations.

 

[Astronuc]

Hello, I am entering my final year of a top 5 nuclear engineering program. My problem is that at this moment, I haven't exactly found my particular niche within nuclear engineering. The nuclear field is very broad and an undergraduate education includes a little bit of every other engineering field along with its own. My problem is, I'm not too sure I know what I want to focus on for graduate school and the rest of my life. I have been doing research with a professor for over a year with instrumentation and control. I enjoy it for the most part, but I do not want to work on it for the rest of my life, and I am looking to specialize in something different.

Any recommendations to either a more obscure sub-field I am not aware of, or any hot fields right now. Just to help out with recommendations:

No Interest in:
Materials
Instrumentation and controls
Reliability Eng.
Nuclear Forensics/Security

I also have a minor in Physics if that matters

Thank you for any help or recommendations.

Besides what is not of interest, it would help to know what is of interest, e.g., neutronics or reactor/neutron physics (diffusion and transport theory), heat transfer, fluid mechanics, modeling & simulation, . . . .

Materials is a broad area in and of itself. Designers of the reactor and nuclear fuel are faced with many challenges (and constraints) in trying to get the most out of the reactor and fuel while maintaining sufficient margin to various technical limits related to structural integrity and fission product retention. Degradation of materials is a critical matter in nuclear plant design and operation.

Waste disposal and spent fuel storage/disposition are important areas, especially since the US has yet to decide on a final disposition of spent fuel.

 

[SMRnuc]

Thanks for the reply, and I apologize for the delay in responding. Modeling and simulation sound like something I might be interested in, but I don't really have any knowledge of it. What types of programming would this entail? SIMULINK? I am not too interested in any thermodynamics and I have taken upper level electives/grad classes in Monte Carlo theory and radiation physics. I think I would be interested in dealing with radiation interactions and nuclear collisions. However, I feel this might be more of a physicists realm. I would like to deal with radiation, but I don't want to be a health physicist and manage the risks of radiation to a business or public. I guess I just don't really know what all I could do with my interests/dislikes.

Sorry for being kind of all over the place here. Just rambling.

 

[Thermalne]

Thanks for the reply, and I apologize for the delay in responding. Modeling and simulation sound like something I might be interested in, but I don't really have any knowledge of it. What types of programming would this entail? SIMULINK? I am not too interested in any thermodynamics and I have taken upper level electives/grad classes in Monte Carlo theory and radiation physics. I think I would be interested in dealing with radiation interactions and nuclear collisions. However, I feel this might be more of a physicists realm. I would like to deal with radiation, but I don't want to be a health physicist and manage the risks of radiation to a business or public. I guess I just don't really know what all I could do with my interests/dislikes.

Sorry for being kind of all over the place here. Just rambling.

Have you considered nuclear detector research? There is a lot of hands on and modeling work for both. Also, just generic programming skills seems useful in modeling and simulation.

 

[alphy]

First of all, congratulations on almost completing your undergraduate degree in a top nuclear engineering program! It's completely normal to feel unsure about your specific area of interest within a broad field like nuclear engineering. In fact, many professionals in the industry often explore different areas before settling on a niche.

One approach to finding your niche is to consider your strengths and interests. You mentioned that you have been doing research with a professor in instrumentation and control, but you do not see yourself working in this area for the rest of your career. However, you could still use this experience to your advantage by identifying the aspects of instrumentation and control that you enjoy the most. Is it the hands-on work with equipment? The data analysis? The problem-solving aspect? Identifying these strengths can help guide you towards a more specific area within nuclear engineering that aligns with your interests.

Another approach could be to explore the current trends and developments in the nuclear industry. For example, nuclear fusion research is gaining more attention and funding, and this field requires expertise in both nuclear engineering and physics. With your minor in physics, this could be a potential area for you to specialize in. Additionally, with the growing focus on renewable energy sources, there may be opportunities for nuclear engineers to work on projects related to advanced reactor designs or nuclear waste management.

Furthermore, networking and connecting with professionals in the nuclear industry can also provide valuable insights and recommendations for potential niche areas. Attend conferences, join professional organizations, and reach out to alumni or industry professionals to learn more about their work and potential opportunities within the field.

In summary, finding your niche in the nuclear field may require some exploration and self-reflection, but it's important to keep an open mind and stay informed about the current trends and developments in the industry. Utilize your strengths, interests, and connections to help guide you towards a fulfilling and rewarding career in nuclear engineering.