Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32$71,000 AVERAGE STARTING SALARY Meet Aaron Craft, a nuclear engineer at INL Education background: Ph.D. in nuclear science and engineering from Colorado School of Mines Master’s and bachelor’s degrees in nuclear engineering from Missouri S&T Job description: As a nuclear engineer at INL, I work on many exciting projects to develop advanced nuclear fuels and the instruments that examine how these fuels perform in a nuclear reactor. One main project I lead is to develop advanced neutron radiography capabilities for evaluating nuclear fuel, which is similar to X-ray radiography at a doctor’s office but uses neutrons instead of X-rays. What led you to become a nuclear engineer? In high school, I enjoyed science and engineering, and I always wanted to know how things work. Some classes that led me to choose an engineering degree include engineering and drawing, chemistry and physics classes. I enjoyed these classes, and they inspired me to pursue engineering in college. The math was difficult at times, but I worked through it and succeeded. Nuclear engineering is a challenging but prestigious field. The systems that nuclear engineers work on are complex and very interesting. Our world faces significant energy challenges in the future, and nuclear power is the answer to the long- term power needs of advanced societies. Nuclear power is carbon- free. Also, advanced nuclear power plant designs are safe, really safe. Combining new reactor designs and an advanced fuel cycle could supply the world’s power needs for thousands of years to come. I found, and still find, the promises of nuclear power to be worth pursuing, and I am still glad I made that decision. What do you love about your job? I get to work on really cool things that have a real and positive impact on society. I love all things nuclear, and this is where nuclear energy happens. I also appreciate history, and INL was the place where the very first nuclear power plant was built, and was also the location where over 50 other reactors were built. This is the place to be for someone like me who loves nuclear power and wants to work to see it succeed. Solving big problems is what INL does, and it is rewarding to be part of a team working on important projects. Why is your work important to the mission of INL and the world? The projects I work on help make better nuclear fuels for safer and more efficient nuclear power plants. Additionally, my work contributes to a smarter fuel cycle, from mining to disposing of nuclear waste. These important projects at INL will lead to a safer world and more environmentally friendly energy source for generations to come. What advice do you have for future nuclear engineers? If you want to be a nuclear engineer, it’s important to do well in your classes now. Invest the effort; you’re worth it. Also, get involved in design teams if they are available. Team sports will also help develop teamwork skills that are necessary for engineers. Math and science seem to be the common advice, and those things are important. More important, however, is developing a genuine interest in them. Start asking yourself,“How does this work?”Think creatively. There are many types of engineers, and they all take the same basic courses in college before choosing what kind of engineering they want to specialize in. All engineering fields require someone who is intelligent, but the best engineers are creative too. 17