Nuclear Engineering

What Do They Do?

Nuclear engineers are involved in the design, construction, and operation of nuclear power plants for power generation, propulsion of nuclear ships and submarines, and space power systems. Nuclear engineers are also involved in the handling of nuclear fuels, the safe disposal of radioactive wastes, and in medical uses of radioactive isotopes.

Nuclear Engineering is Everywhere!

Examples of Work Projects

• Management, dealing with political and strategic issues related to nuclear energy
• Designer of waste disposal systems
• Supervisor of plant operations
• Develop equipment used to process nuclear fuels and dispose of radioactive material
• Develop equipment using radioactive material for health reasons
• Researcher of the application of radioisotopes

Various Job Titles

• Design Engineer
• Researcher
• Professor
• Safety Engineer
• Radiological Safety Officer

Some Employers of Nuclear Engineers

• Research Companies, both private and governmental
• Nuclear Power Plants
• Factories that make nuclear equipment or weapons
• Companies involved in medical diagnosis and treatment
• Companies Hiring Nuclear and Radiological Health Engineers

Major Areas of Specialization

• Radiological Health
• Reactor Physics
• Safety Engineering / Radiation Effects (TAMU offers a graduate program for this)
• Environment and Pollution
• Fuel Cycle Analysis
• Radiation Effects
• Particle Transport

Links

• TAMU Department of Nuclear Engineering
• TAMU American Nuclear Society