Nuclear Energy Research Professional Interview

Nuclear Plants help in generating and delivering clean energy, which is important not just for a sustainable world but also for reducing carbon emissions.Parth Kulkarni, our next pathbreaker, PhD student at the Nuclear Energy Futures CDT program (Imperial College London), works on issues related to nuclear materials, including creep and fatigue prediction, using digital image correlation.Parth talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about his experiences working on an anti-corrosion application system for a steam generator used in a nuclear reactor, which strengthened his interest in nuclear energy.For students, always look for careers that offer exciting opportunities to work on something that can have a big impact on the future.Parth, can you share your background with our young readers?Hi, I’m Parth Kulkarni. I grew up in Pune, India. From a young age, I was always curious about how things worked, how they are made and what makes them resilient. I was not an exceptionally bright child, and used to be involved in sports more than school studies. But when I decided to pursue a diploma in mechanical engineering followed by a bachelorette degree, things took a different turn.I opted for the diploma route to continue on to engineering further as I thought it would lay a solid foundation for not only a theoretical way of developing engineering solutions but would also help me develop a industry relevant skillset useful for practically oriented thinking. Hence, I immediately opted for a diploma after 10 th .This was probably due to my passion towards the field and my curiosity towards breaking things. My parents played a big role in nurturing this passion. My dad is a metallurgical engineer and hence our home was always filled with interesting conversations about science and learning. Besides studying, I loved participating in science fairs and public speaking competitions. These activities really helped shape my early interests in engineering and technologyWhat did you do for graduation/post-graduation?For my higher education, I studied Mechanical Engineering at Savitribai Phule Pune University. After that, I went on to get a Master’s (MSc) in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Bristol. Currently, I’m working towards my PhD in Nuclear Engineering at Imperial College London’s under the Nuclear Energy Future’s CDT.What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional in Nuclear Engineering?Choosing this career was influenced by several things:I was always fascinated by how technology could solve real-world problems, and seeing engineers at work made me want to be part of that world. When I was first introduced to non-classical physics ( especially Atomic physics ) in my first year of Diploma course, I was fascinated by the way atomic physics works and it laid a foundation in incubating a strong sense of fascination towards nuclear engineering. I was always interested in learning core modules like Mechanics, Strength of Materials, Thermodynamics and Material science and Metallurgy. Hence, I decided to pursue a career which would allow me to use my engineering knowledge and would also let me explore the world of nuclear physics.My dad was a big influence and his passion for engineering and the way he explained things to me made a huge impact. I have been blessed with extremely well trained teachers and professors throughout my higher education career, who helped me not only nurture my scientific temperament, but also made sure that all my basic modules required to become a competent engineer were well taught.Participating in science fairs and engineering workshops during school got me hooked on the idea of building and understanding mechanical systems. A module called as power plant engineering introduced me to different types of nuclear reactors and the way they work which led me to attending a few workshops on the same, hence strengthening my interest towards pursuing nuclear engineering as a career.A significant turning point was during my internship at FLASH VIVEN MACHINING TECHNOLOGIES. Working on reducing shaft distortion during heat treatment really opened my eyes to the practical applications of engineering.Tell us about your career pathMy career path is a mix of careful planning and seizing opportunities:I focused on getting a broad range of experiences through internships and projects, which gave me practical skills and knowledge.I started with an internship at FLASH VIVEN, then worked as a technical support engineer at Udadhi infrastructure.Udadhi Infrastructure is a Pune based engineering consultancy which primarily works in areas like HVAC, Systems engineering, Balance of Plants and Anti corrosive coating systems. I worked on three different projects during my term at Udadhi, ranging from project execution of large scale evaporative air cooling systems to design of ducting and cooling towers. As it was not a very big organisation, I got to have hands-on experience on various aspects. I did not just limit myself to design and execution but also worked on ERP systems.Subsequently, I applied for a master’s in Nuclear science and Engineering at the University of Bristol while I was working at Udadhi Infrastructure. I was specifically driven to apply for this course due to my academic interest. While working at Udadhi, I was also deployed on an execution project of an anticorrosion application system for a steam generator used in a nuclear reactor, which strengthened my interest even further.I selected University of Bristol specifically because they offered the best course in the field and the modules that they offered were the best fit to my liking. Along with that, University of Bristol’s MSc is associated with the south west nuclear hub and the nuclear consortium, which was going to enable me to expand my professional and academic network. My masters thesis was on optimising fatigue life prediction models for steam turbine blades, using probabilistic methods like monte-carlo simulations and then experimentally validating the data obtained from simulations. I received a partial 5000 pounds “ think big” scholarship from the university.After graduating from MSc, I worked as a Mechanical Engineer at Rolls-Royce and a Mechanical and Nuclear Engineer at ALTEN LTD.I worked on two projects, which were running in tandem with each other, during my tenure at Rolls Royce. One was on Materials and System design for SMRs. The Small Modular Reactor (SMR) business is one of the ways in which Rolls-Royce is helping to ensure that UK continues develop innovative ways to tackle the global threat of climate change, and the second one being developing a multiphysics based heat transfer model for jet engine component.Due to my experience gained from my internships, professional work not just at FVMT and Udadhi, but also at Rolls Royce, followed by an academic inclination towards nuclear materials engineering, I decided to apply for a PhD in Materials engineering for Nuclear Fusion.My degrees in Mechanical and later in Nuclear science engineering, along with ongoing PhD studies, have been crucial in advancing my career.Networking and seeking mentorship from experienced professionals helped me a lot in navigating my career.How did you get your first break?My first big break came during my internship at FLASH VIVEN MACHINING TECHNOLOGIES. The project I worked on, gave me hands-on experience and skills that were valuable in my future roles.What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?Challenge 1: Adapting to different work cultures, especially when moving from India to the UK. I tackled this by being open to new experiences and learning quickly.Challenge 2: Balancing practical work with academic studies. Good time management and prioritising tasks helped me manage both. I am also a social person and that became a big challenge in the UK as I had to establish new relations right from scratch to get a similar comfort with my friends in India.Challenge 3: Keeping up with the fast pace of technological advancements. Continuous learning and professional development were key to staying updatedWhere do you work now?Right now, I’m a PhD student at the Nuclear Energy Futures CDT program held under Imperial College London.What problems do you solve?I work on issues related to nuclear materials, including creep and fatigue prediction, using digital image correlation.What are the skills needed in your role?You need skills in material science, mechanical engineering, and most importantly fundamental understanding of nuclear reactors, and atom scale physics. Along with that, simulation tools like Abaqus and skills in coding especially for data analytics are a must. I gained these skills through my education and various projects.What’s a typical day like?My day usually involves research in the form of lots of experiments using huge test rigs, making alloy samples and running down from one lab to the other to get the results out from the experiment. It also includes frequent use of Electron Microscopes, running simulations, analysing data, and collaborating with other researchers.What do you love about this job?I love contributing to the development of safer and more efficient nuclear energy solutions. It’s exciting to work on something that can have a big impact on the future.How does your work benefit society?My work helps in creating safer and more efficient nuclear energy systems, which are important for sustainable energy and reducing carbon emissions.Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!A memorable project was investigating the sensitivity of probabilistic fatigue models and comparing the predicted fatigue lives with experimental data. It was significant because it provided valuable insights into improving the reliability and safety of engineering components.Your advice to students based on your experience?Stay curious and keep learning. Practical experience is just as important as what you learn in books. Don’t be afraid to take on challenges and seek advice from mentors. Networking and continuous professional development are essential for a successful career.Future Plans?I plan to complete my PhD and continue contributing to innovative research in nuclear engineering. I hope to work on projects that enhance the safety and efficiency of nuclear power plants and possibly transition into academia to inspire future engineers. #J-18808-Ljbffr