Nuclear energy
What’re people’s thoughts on it as a future energy source in the US? Idk a whole lot about it but I’ve always been fascinated by nuclear capability’s. Just don’t have much physics experience post high school. However, once I got to the end of my senior year in university (studied data science stuff) I was being recruited to participate in the Navy’s “nuclear pathway”. I passed all their tests and they wanted to give me $40k signing bonus, but the actual job sounded awful— cause it was sitting in a sub underwater/out at sea for up to months making sure the nuclear power on board worked. And then I think the sleeping arrangements are like 12 guys to a room with bunk beds? Learning about nuclear energy sounds cool and enticing to me, but then I was worried about being recruited to work on future weapons for the military if I signed a contract (usually are 5 years I think) which I absolutely had no interest in doing. So I passed on the offer. However, recently I was PIPd cause I complained about my job too much and my managers grew sick of hearing me and “poisoning the well” of future recruits tor their positions in manufacturing plants (had a new role assigned with significantly more responsibility compared to when i was wfh due to Covid and no pay raise in sight so I blabbed). DTE, Detroit’s electricity provider, has started posting hiring opportunities for nuclear engineers and… now that I am back on the hiring market I am intrigued by nuclear capability’s again. However, i don’t have any formal education on nuclear engineering. But I’m seeing this: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2019/12/05/detroit-bulk-storage-revere-copper-detroit-river-uranium/2618868001/ and am worried about discarding nuclear waste. Looks like the predominant ways to dispose of it lately are via just digging big holes in the ground… 1 https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2021/05/31/finland-breaks-ground-on-its-deep-geologic-nuclear-waste-repository/ 2 http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2011/ph241/ali2/
Forbes
I’d presume you would need a degree in nuclear … something to qualify for those gigs? The navy pays you to get a degree. Not sure how much training they would do in the industry…
Right. I didn’t put this in the post cause I have so much going on in it already but I’ve already made it a goal of mine to go back to school and get a PhD or masters. Thinking about potentially studying nuclear engineering… When I was being recruited it seemed like nuclear energy was being decommissioned in the US, but now it kinda feels like it’s coming back into the spotlight?
I dunno, seems like a pretty niche field outside of the military. I can think of like 2 nuclear plants in all California, but there are literally 100s of tech companies with 100m+ market cap within 20 miles of my house. Most important thing is to do what interests you though. Think of all the Homer Simpson jokes you could make 😂. Good luck with your journey, a PHD in anything is a worthwhile Endeavour !