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What courses can I pursue after my undergrad education that will enable me to work on next gen nuclear technologies?
What kinds of people work in these areas and what career paths do they choose?
I've read a lot about the different kinds of people working on Gen 4 reactors(LFTRs, TWRs) and fusion technology and their varied backgrounds. For instance, if you look at MSR technology, Alvin Weinberg who worked on the ORNL MSR experiment had a PhD in Biophysics, Kirk Sorensen (Flibe Energy, gave a few talks on TED) has degrees in mech and aerospace. There are all sorts of people working in the field of fusion power-I'm most aware of the work of plasma physicists.
This is the part where this answer becomes a rambling by a confused guy.
The interlapping areas of physics and engineering are a bit confusing and intimidating, because I don't want to be on a path to a degree/education that takes me somewhere absolutely unexpected. As of now, I'm studying as a generic applied physics major with courses in quantum, nuclear engineering basics, electronics, cmp etc.
While I'm still a naive undergrad, my interests are a bit on the theoretical side-by that I mean I love working on mathematical modelling/R&D. I started off studying reactor physics, shell models etc on my own and ended up doing some particle physics R work with a professor for quite a while(due to lack of options in nuclear) which I feel might restrict me in that field. Why would a grad school admit me for a programme of nuclear engineering if all I've done is particle physics? I like what little I know of particle physics but I doubt whether I know enough to even pursue it. I thought I'll just focus on the physics that I like and it will all work out but what I'm doing and what I want to do are becoming totally separate things and I have serious doubts about what I should be doing.It may be a good thing, but I want to know where I'm headed and what will be my options in terms of grad school.
What kinds of people work in these areas and what career paths do they choose?
I've read a lot about the different kinds of people working on Gen 4 reactors(LFTRs, TWRs) and fusion technology and their varied backgrounds. For instance, if you look at MSR technology, Alvin Weinberg who worked on the ORNL MSR experiment had a PhD in Biophysics, Kirk Sorensen (Flibe Energy, gave a few talks on TED) has degrees in mech and aerospace. There are all sorts of people working in the field of fusion power-I'm most aware of the work of plasma physicists.
This is the part where this answer becomes a rambling by a confused guy.
The interlapping areas of physics and engineering are a bit confusing and intimidating, because I don't want to be on a path to a degree/education that takes me somewhere absolutely unexpected. As of now, I'm studying as a generic applied physics major with courses in quantum, nuclear engineering basics, electronics, cmp etc.
While I'm still a naive undergrad, my interests are a bit on the theoretical side-by that I mean I love working on mathematical modelling/R&D. I started off studying reactor physics, shell models etc on my own and ended up doing some particle physics R work with a professor for quite a while(due to lack of options in nuclear) which I feel might restrict me in that field. Why would a grad school admit me for a programme of nuclear engineering if all I've done is particle physics? I like what little I know of particle physics but I doubt whether I know enough to even pursue it. I thought I'll just focus on the physics that I like and it will all work out but what I'm doing and what I want to do are becoming totally separate things and I have serious doubts about what I should be doing.It may be a good thing, but I want to know where I'm headed and what will be my options in terms of grad school.
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