Nuclear Engineer

Who is a Nuclear Engineer?

• A nuclear engineer works in various capacities in a nuclear reactor setup and various other organizations which deal with nuclear materials.

• They also monitor and develop nuclear radiation in power plants and reactors.

What does a Nuclear Engineer do?

• The capacity of a Nuclear Engineer includes analysis and development of methods, instruments, and systems which are used to derive benefits from Nuclear energy and radiation.

• Their job description includes monitoring system performances like temperature, hydraulic flows, etc and has a thorough knowledge of reactor safety and emergency procedures.

What are the skills required?

Nuclear Engineers usually have an interest in building, thinking analytically and organizing. The building interest focuses mainly on work with tools and machines and the assembling and creation of new practical things. The analytical thinking area usually focuses on research, knowledge, and investigation. So, the skills you need to possess to become a nuclear engineer are:

• Analytical Thinking

• Detail Oriented

• Communication Skill

• Logical-thinking skills

• Problem-solving abilities

We have covered the field of nuclear engineering extensively so that you can have the right career counselling and guidance, and make an informed decision.

Entry-level Nuclear Engineer employed in private sectors requires a Bachelor's Degree. Students who are interested in pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Nuclear Engineering need to have a science background with physics, chemistry, and Mathematics. A strong base in calculus, trigonometry, physics, and chemistry is very important as they are the fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering.

Bachelor's degree program consists of classroom, laboratory, and field studies in various subjects such as mathematics and engineering principles. Most colleges offer internship programs so that students can have hands-on practical experience.

Some Institutes offer a five-year program that leads to both bachelor's and master's degrees. There are many fields of study to choose from when opting for higher education in India but Nuclear Engineering is a promising field.

Master's and PhD programs consist of classroom, laboratory and research efforts that are implemented to support advanced mathematics and engineering principles.

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What is the Career Scope for Nuclear Engineers in India?

Nuclear Energy is gaining momentum as a leading platform for Higher Education in India, as government and private companies all over the world are looking for alternatives to fossil fuels the demand for Nuclear energy is increasing.

Nuclear Engineers after a few years of experience can become professors/ lecturers and contribute their expertise by contributing actively towards nuclear research. Completion of NET, JEE, GATE, and PhD can further the career scope of nuclear engineers. The career graph of a Nuclear Engineer are as follows:

• Reactor Operator

• Senior Reactor Operator

• Control Room Supervisor

• Shift Manager

• Site Shift Manager

• Unit Department Leader

• Operations Director

Nuclear Engineers can get employed in Nuclear Reactors, Nuclear Power Plants and Research and Development Organisations.

The average salary of a Nuclear Engineer?

In India, the average salary for a Nuclear Engineer isRs 982,635/yr.

Major Recruiters

There are many recruiters both Government and private who hire Nuclear Engineers to develop and study reactivity plans. A PhD or MSc in Nuclear Engineering is employed as Shift Managers in various Nuclear Reactors.

Utilities that own or build Nuclear Power Reactors have traditionally employed the maximum number of Nuclear Science graduates. Development in Nuclear Medicines and diagnostic imaging in recent years has increased the demand for Nuclear Engineers. The major recruiters for Nuclear Engineering are:

• Bhabha Atomic Research Centre(BARC)

• ISRO

• Trombay

• Nuclear power corporation of India Limited(NPCIL), Mumbai

• Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research(Hyderabad)

• Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research(IGCAR)

The top colleges offering Btech in Nuclear Engineering are:

• Pandit DeenDayal Petroleum University

• IIT, Bombay

• IIT, Kanpur

• Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Maharashtra

• Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai

• IIT Madras, Tamil Nadu

What are the books and study materials available?

In order to become a nuclear engineer, you first need to pass an engineering entrance test, from among the many, whether JEE, WBJEE, COMEDK, VITEEE, BITSAT, SRMJEEE, KIITEE, BCECE, or MHT CET. Using the right study materials for entrance exams with the syllabus in mind is crucial.

• Mock tests available online

• NCERT syllabus of class 11th and 12th

• Study material available by prestigious institutes

• Consult your seniors (who have already given such exams) for guidance

• Previous year question papers

Some popular books are O.P. Tandon for Physical Chemistry, P.Bahadur (G.R.Bathla & Sons) for Numerical chemistry. Concept of Physics by HC Verma (Vol 1, Vol 2); Problems In General Physics by IE Irodov. IIT Mathematics, M.L. Khanna; Trigonometry, S L Loney; Calculus & Analytic Geometry, Thomas & Finney

Interesting Fact

Nuclear Fusion is by far the safest way to create power. It involves the fusion of two atoms to create a single atom. Almost all Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission, which is splitting one atom into two and is considered more dangerous.