Thinking about my future job prospects in Nuclear Engineering (not a US citizen)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the job prospects for a foreign student pursuing a Master's in Nuclear Engineering, particularly in the context of working in the United States. Participants explore the implications of citizenship status on employment opportunities within the nuclear engineering field, including potential challenges and pathways to citizenship.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern that being a foreigner may limit job opportunities in nuclear engineering due to security restrictions associated with nuclear technology.
  • Another participant questions whether the original poster is from a country with nuclear research facilities, suggesting that this could influence job prospects.
  • There is a discussion about the potential benefits of obtaining US citizenship, with some participants noting that citizenship might facilitate access to government jobs requiring security clearance.
  • One participant mentions that having a PhD could improve chances of citizenship, but questions whether being part of an elite group or having significant financial resources might also play a role.
  • Concerns are raised about the competitive job market in the US, particularly regarding the presence of experienced US-born nuclear scientists and the impact of plant closures on job availability.
  • Some participants note that working in commercial nuclear power may not be significantly hindered by non-citizenship, while working for the Department of Energy (DoE) or in sensitive areas like weapons facilities could present challenges.
  • There is speculation about the potential for corruption in job placements in certain countries, which could complicate the job search process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the impact of citizenship on job opportunities in nuclear engineering. While some believe that being a non-citizen is not a significant barrier in commercial nuclear power, others highlight the challenges associated with government jobs and the competitive nature of the field. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best pathways to employment and citizenship.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various factors that could influence job prospects, including the need for security clearance, the competitive job market, and the potential for corruption in hiring practices. There is also uncertainty about the specific requirements for citizenship and employment in the nuclear sector.

random_soldier
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I've mentioned my admission to MS Nuclear Engineering in the University of Florida earlier.

Thing is I am a foreigner. What with all the security most countries have surrounding nuclear technology, would I be limiting myself in the number of parties I can work with? I am aware I have other career options but I am asking strictly about options in engineering.

I did speak of taking instrumentation and control specialization possibly, earlier, which from the general definition of it would seem to open up more fields than nuclear. But then again, my degree would say I did an MS in Nuclear Engineering and not something like mechanical or electrical.
 
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@Astronuc can probably tell you more about the US. Can be challenging as foreigner.

Are you from a country that has nuclear research labs or reactors? Would that be an option?
 
Also, would you consider becoming a US citizen? I'm not sure if that would help, though. Again, @Astronuc will know the best.
 
mfb said:
@Astronuc can probably tell you more about the US. Can be challenging as foreigner.

Are you from a country that has nuclear research labs or reactors? Would that be an option?

Well yes. But I don't know about my chances. Lots of corruption in India. So it won't necessarily be the better qualified individual employed but more likely the person who knows how to pull the right strings from the right people and not necessarily with any legitimacy/legality.

Supposing I do land a job somehow, it would probably involve more dirty politics than actual engineering.

berkeman said:
Also, would you consider becoming a US citizen? I'm not sure if that would help, though. Again, @Astronuc will know the best.

I didn't realize they just passed out citizenship just like that. Though, I would have complete clearance even for government contracts with full fledged citizenship and anything short of that would make it quite difficult. Definitely no clearance for government jobs in that case.

At least that is what I gathered when asking elsewhere.

Say are there any particular times for @Astronuc?
 
Your chances of a citizenship are better the more 'sought after' your skill set/education is.
 
And it probably means more than just having a bachelor's/master's/doctor's in a particular field like being extraordinary as in part of some elite group or accomplished quite a bit, right? Or if nothing else, somebody with a lot of money to invest and improve the local market?
 
Only 2% of the US have a PhD. There are other ways to be highly educated, but with a PhD in an interesting field you are already in a very small group of highly educated experts.
random_soldier said:
Or if nothing else, somebody with a lot of money to invest and improve the local market?
It is possible to "buy" your way to a US citizenship, but that is something like a million of dollars you have to invest in the US as far as I remember.
 
mfb said:
Only 2% of the US have a PhD. There are other ways to be highly educated, but with a PhD in an interesting field you are already in a very small group of highly educated experts.

Is my field interesting?

Anyway from what I found out in a discussion elsewhere, something like the EB-1 visa gives an idea of what expertise based individuals are required to have: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EB-1_visa

The gist of it that I get is that you have to be someone of national/international acclaim at whatever it is you do. I am not or I would have published something that would have probably had people on these or other science forums abuzz.

Anyway, Any ideas on how I would use a P.hD to make an opening in the US? Or for that matter anywhere with good facilities, funding and willing to accept foreigners?

Though I have to note that I was fantasizing about pursuing it at an ivy league or something noted to be of the same/similar class like ETH Zurich hopefully by good performance during my MS (BS time wasn't that good so I kept limited choices). Just an FYI, in case it would cause a hiccup and/or you want to tell me to let it go.
 
If you want to work in commercial nuclear power in the US, being a non-citizen is a non-issue. I have known many "foreigners" from many different countries working in and for the nuclear plants.

If you want to work for DoE at one of the weapons facilities, that may be a different story, but I have no direct knowledge on that.
 
  • #10
gmax137 said:
If you want to work in commercial nuclear power in the US, being a non-citizen is a non-issue. I have known many "foreigners" from many different countries working in and for the nuclear plants.

If you want to work for DoE at one of the weapons facilities, that may be a different story, but I have no direct knowledge on that.

I know the issue with government facilities that go under weapons from posting elsewhere as well. Foreigners don't have something called a 'Q' clearance in working for the DoE and apparently an attempt at anything higher up in NASA or working for the SpaceX program can only be fulfilled by full fledged US citizens or maybe foreigners whose expertise would be indispensable.

In the case of commercial nuclear power, a guy from one of the other places said that with the closing down of some power plants, there is an excess of experienced US born nuclear scientists. How much truth do you reckon there is to that?

Also, just addressing the discussion in general. I don't necessarily fear not having the opportunity to work in the US or in the nuclear industry. What I am afraid of is not having any genuine engineering opportunities or ending up having to work with/for a party/company/country noted to be particularly toxic/corrupt.
 
  • #11
random_soldier said:
In the case of commercial nuclear power, a guy from one of the other places said that with the closing down of some power plants, there is an excess of experienced US born nuclear scientists. How much truth do you reckon there is to that?

That has some truth to it, but there are also a lot of people who have been in the industry since the 1970s and 1980s who are retiring now, making room for new hires. The only way to be sure, is to start looking to see which plant owners are hiring. Also check the reactor/fuel vendors, and engineering services companies that do work for the plants.
 
  • #12
Thanks. Will do.
 

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