How to Become a Nuclear Engineer?

WHAT'S IT ABOUT?

Nuclear engineering is all about the production and application of nuclear energy and the uses of radiation and radioactive materials. Most nuclear engineers design, construct and operate nuclear power plants, which generate electric power. They take care of every stage in the production of nuclear energy - from the processing of nuclear fuels to the disposal of radioactive wastes from nuclear reactors.

CLOCK WORK

• 9 am: Reach office/research centre
• 9.30 am: Check mail
• 10 am: Work begins
• 11 am: Run simulation of various processes involved in nuclear reactors
• 12 pm: Run a check on all the safety measures
• 1 pm: Lunch
• 2 pm: Hold discussions with faculty if in research; internal meeting with boss/ colleagues to sort problems if any had been encountered
• 3 pm: Oversee power generation work
• 4 pm: Plan next day's work. If in research attend weekly lab meeting to sum up the job done in the last seven days
• 5 pm: Attend internal meeting
• 6 pm: Call it a day

THE PAYOFF

In the government sector, a fresh nuclear engineering graduate is selected for the post of scientific officer ‘C' in pay band 3 with pay scale Rs 15,600 to Rs 39,100 a month and with grade pay of Rs 5400. A scientific officer can move up to the post of director of the institute in pay band apex scale Rs. 80000 (fixed) per month. A fresh nuclear engineering graduate, in the private sector, is selected as assistant engineer where the lowest package is about Rs 5 lakh per annum and the highest about Rs 7.5 lakh per annum. Pay scale of nuclear engineers abroad is, however, high.

SKILLS

• She/He should be passionate about engineering
• Good knowledge about properties of materials is mandatory
• Should have good communication skills
• Good concepts in mathematics and physics
• Basic knowledge of thermal hydraulics, instrumentation, control and nuclear physics is desirable
• A nuclear engineer must have problem-solving skills and the ability to put theoretical knowledge into practice

HOW DO I GET THERE?

You must opt for physics, chemistry and math at plus-two before you write the engineering entrance examination conducted by central and state bodies. Get a graduate (engineering) degree after clearing IIT-JEE joint exams. Go for an MTech in nuclear science and engineering. You can start working after this or do a PhD.

INSTITUTES & URLS

• Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai. M.Tech Nuclear Engineering www.hbni.ac.in/
• IIT, Kanpur. M.Tech, as an inter disciplinary programme www.iitk.ac.in/
• JNTU, Kakinada. First University in AP to introduce PG course www.jntukakinada.edu.in/
• Delhi University. M.Tech Nuclear Science & Technology www.du.ac.in/
• Manipal Institute of Technology. M.Tech Nuclear Engineering www.manipal.edu/
• Sastra University, Thanjavur M.Tech Nuclear Engineering www.sastra.edu/
• Mumbai University. B.Tech Nuclear Engineering www.mu.ac.in/

PROS & CONS

• Satisfaction of working in high-tech field and serving humanity
• Chance to get academically updated on all fronts. Scope for learning and acquiring higher qualification
• Good salary
• Reactors located at remote places, adjustment may be required and lifestyle to be modified.
• Should be alert on the job as chances of getting exposed to radioactivity and irradiation exist during reactor maintenance and operation, and at laboratories while handling nuclear material, if not careful.

Source: HT Horizons

Date: 24th June, 2010

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