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 32Meet Chandu Bolisetti, a research scientist at INL Education background: Master’s and doctoral degrees in civil engineering from University at Buffalo, SUNY Bachelor of technology in civil engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, India Job description: I am a research scientist working with the Seismic Research Group. I do earthquake engineering research, which involves improving mathematical models that predict earthquake forces, modernizing methods that are used to calculate earthquake risk and also performing various earthquake-related experiments. What led you to become a research scientist? As a kid I was fascinated by gigantic structures like bridges and dams. I also enjoyed math, physics and writing computer programs. These interests led me to pursue an undergraduate degree in civil engineering with an emphasis on structures. After college, I found myself interested in research and asking myself the question:“Which field in civil engineering can help people the most?”Growing up in India, which has historically seen devastating earthquakes, earthquake engineering was quite an easy choice. So I went ahead, pursued a master’s and Ph.D. in structural and earthquake engineering, and here I am applying my knowledge to nuclear structures. What do you love about your job? I like to think, learn and solve problems. My job requires a lot of critical thinking, solving interesting problems and learning new things. I love the flexibility of working on different projects based on my interest, and the fact that I can come up with new ideas for research and pursue these ideas. Why is your work important to INL’s mission and the world? The main objective of my research is to make nuclear structures less expensive and safer at the same time. Less expensive nuclear power plants will lead to the production of more nuclear energy and introduce more competition in the nuclear market. Given that nuclear energy is a vital clean energy resource, I believe our work will be helpful in meeting the deadlines of global warming. What advice do you have for future research scientists? I believe that curiosity, hard work and taking care of yourself are a powerful combination for being a good scientist. Never stop learning and always look for ways to improve yourself and go forward. Curiosity is essential in science. Stay curious and keep up with the latest advances in the technologies that you like. Use resources like magazines and websites, and make reading a habit. $72,000 AVERAGE STARTING SALARY 23 “My job requires a lot of critical thinking, solving interesting problems and learning new things.”