Nrc newsletter fall2017_final

INSIDE:
GREETINGS
Welcome to the Fall 2017 issue
of RE:ACTIONS, the e-newsletter
that highlights the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission’s
employment opportunities and
agency culture.
NRC is deeply committed to
prioritizing safety and feels one
of the best ways to do that is
to value, educate and support
the individuals who work for the
agency. Throughout this issue, we
will explore the many ways that
NRC develops the truly amazing
talents and skills of our employees
to support its mission.
We hope you’ll enjoy this issue and
will spread the word about all the
terrific things that NRC does every
day. Please share this newsletter
with any student/alumni groups or
campus organizations that might
be interested in learning more
about NRC!
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 2, FALL 2017
INSIDE THE NRC
NRC is consistently ranked as one of the “Best Places to Work in the Federal
Government”®
. We are really proud of that. One of the reasons for those high
rankings is our commitment to our employees. We provide a variety of training and
development programs to allow all of our staff to be at the very top of their game.
The Nuclear Safety Professional Development Program (NSPDP) is a
prestigious 18 month program that provides academically outstanding recent
bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree graduates with both broad and specialized
perspective into NRC operations. Rotating through a variety of assignments,
candidates gain a rich understanding of the agency.
The NRC Career Counseling Program helps employees examine their career
decisions and develop new career strategies for the future.
The Mentoring Program provides junior employees with the opportunity to discuss
their career goals and aspirations with experienced NRC employees who volunteer
to serve as mentors on a one-to-one basis.
Developmental Rotations are short term assignments that allow employees to
develop greater overall capability and versatility, foster a greater understanding of
NRC programs, and provide broader experiences and new challenges.
The Leaders’ Academy offers a variety of programs for employees at all levels the
chance to develop their executive, managerial and supervisory skills.
The Graduate Fellowship Program (GFP) offers employees fellowships to
pursue their PhDs or Master’s degrees in high priority disciplines such as Nuclear
Engineering, Probabilistic Risk Assessment, or Materials Engineering.
2 Spotlight On
Reactor Systems Engineers
3 The NRC in Our Lives
Federal Primer
4 Hello…My Name Is Alexandra Burja
About the NRC

NRC
PROGRAMS
& GRANTS
SPOTLIGHT
Congress authorized the NRC to provide
federal funding opportunities to qualified
academic institutions to encourage
careers and research in nuclear,
mechanical and electrical engineering,
health physics and related fields to meet
expected future workforce needs.
This year the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission awarded 46 individual
grants totaling $15 million to 35
academic institutions. The grants are
used for scholarships, fellowships
and faculty development. They were
awarded to institutions in 22 states
and Puerto Rico, including minority-
serving institutions, which are a federally
recognized category of educational
establishments. A panel of expert
reviewers from academia and the NRC
evaluates all of the grant proposals.
The panel composition is diverse, with
most reviewers having both experience
reviewing proposals for government
agencies and advanced credentials in
nuclear engineering, health physics,
radiochemistry or related disciplines.
Each panelist has to certify that they do
not have any conflict of interest for the
proposals they evaluate.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
ANNOUNCEMENT
NRC issued its Funding Opportunity
Announcement (FOA) for FY18
scholarships, fellowships, faculty
development, and trade school and
community college grants. The FOA is
available at grants.gov where you can
search on the Opportunity Number:
NRC-HQ-60-17-FOA-0002.
Deadline to apply is October 30, 2017.
Find out where NRC will be participating
in outreach events around the country!
https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/
employment/outreach.html
2
REACTOR SYSTEMS ENGINEERS
Reactor Systems Engineers at NRC must As you can see, being a Reactor Systems
be on the cutting edge of new scientific and Engineer is demanding. It requires a degree in
engineering technology. Everything from Nuclear Engineering at a minimum. The scope
neutronics, to coolant systems, to computer of the work is far reaching. And the rewards
codes—Reactor Systems Engineers need to are great.
have a broad knowledge base to help fulfill
NRC’s mission to protect the health and safety Nuclear engineers in Rebecca’s office
of the American public and the environment. evaluate design, processes, parameters
and performance of reactor systems and
A specialty within the broader field of nuclear nuclear field designs for new and advanced
engineering, Reactor Systems Engineering is reactors. However, Rebecca notes: “At NRC
an occupation that is very much in demand by we encourage people to move between
NRC. Reactor Systems Engineers understand divisions and to collaborate and work on
how the systems in highly complex nuclear projects together. It’s really a good technical
reactors work together. Within NRC, there are community to learn and expand your career.”
three main organizational areas where Reactor
Systems Engineers are employed: The Office In NRR, Reactor Systems Engineers interface
of New Reactors (NRO), The Office of Nuclear with licensees, industry vendors and the
Regulatory Research (RES), and The Office of public. Oftentimes, organizations that wish to
Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR). make changes to their power plant present
their proposed changes during public
The NRO is responsible for reviewing siting, meetings and may receive critical feedback
licensing and oversight of new commercial from NRR’s Reactor Systems Engineers prior
nuclear power facilities and novel reactor to submitting their applications. In addition,
designs. RES conducts research resulting in these NRR engineers may also conduct their
regulatory actions that resolve ongoing and own confirmatory analyses to verify the results
potential safety issues, as well as research of analyses upon which the applicants justify
that reduces uncertainty in areas of potentially their licensing submittals.
high safety or security risk for both current
and future reactor designs. They develop new Rebecca has had the opportunity to work in
methodologies and analytical models to make both private industry and the public sector
the licensing process safer and more rigorous. and offers some important insights. “When
The NRR works with existing nuclear power you work in a design organization or work in
plants (those that are operating and those that industry, you may be working on a single type
are going through decommissioning); they of reactor design. It’s nice to be able to step
are responsible for broad regulatory activities back (especially if you are early in your career)
that encompass everything from licensing and see the broad picture of all the different
and oversight to incident response for nuclear design possibilities as you do in NRC. You get
power reactors. to apply your technical expertise in a variety
of situations. You get a much more varied
While each office has distinct roles and experience.”
responsibilities, Reactor Systems Engineers
share many of the same qualities. According There are also many opportunities for training
to Rebecca Karas, Chief, Reactor Systems, and career growth. NRC prioritizes time
Nuclear Performance & Code Review Branch spent developing their employees. “There are
(NRO), “They need to be very analytical, very multiple training opportunities and chances
critical thinkers. All of the staff members to attend national or international meetings
have a strong questioning attitude. It’s a very related to technical topics.”
interesting and dynamic environment to be
working in.” Eric Oesterle, NRR Reactor But for Rebecca, the best benefit of NRC is
Systems Branch Chief, adds, “Take the hard the opportunity “to work with and talk with the
classes. Get the co-ops and internships at very top people, both within government and
national labs or nuclear utilities. Do your in the industries we regulate. You’ll attend a
research for your senior project or thesis in the lot of technical presentations or audits where
area of nuclear power generation.” you will be speaking to people who are at
the very top of their field. When the private
Some of the key duties of Reactor Systems companies send someone to engage with
Engineers include: the review and evaluation us, they are always sending their best. You
of the design, process design parameters don’t necessarily get that if you are working
and performance of reactor systems and as a junior engineer at one of the design
nuclear fuel designs; conducting confirmatory organizations. NRC gives you that exposure
analyses for currently operating or new reactor and that access. I see a lot of junior engineers
licensing reviews; preparing safety evaluation come here and assimilate broad technical
and audit reports; and, presenting findings knowledge across different types of reactor
of reactor system performance to NRC designs much more quickly than I saw it when
leadership, including hearing testimony on I was in private industry. NRC is a great place
transient and accident analysis. to work.”

FEDERAL
PRIMER
Federal agencies are required to have
training programs that provide for
employee development and NRC is no
exception.
NRC has established formal
employee development and training
requirements that enable employees
and supervisors to work together
to identify competency needs and
gaps and identify specific training
courses, activities and programs to
address shortcomings. Both internal
opportunities identified in NRC’s
Learning Management System (iLearn)
Course Catalog and external training
opportunities outside of the agency
are available to employees to best
meet the needs of both employees
and the NRC. The overall objective
of NRC’s training program is to
improve individual and organizational
performance in order to achieve the
agency’s mission and performance
goals. Additional objectives include
enabling employees to learn and
maintain the skills needed to perform
their current job effectively and
broadening their capabilities to meet
NRC’s expected future skill needs.
NRC also has a Technical Training
Center located in Chattanooga,
Tennessee that is managed by its
Office of the Chief Human Capital
Officer and is part of the agency’s
headquarters organization. The
TTC provides training to meet the
integrated NRC staff needs in the
curriculum areas of reactor technology,
probabilistic risk assessment,
engineering support, radiation
protection, fuel cycle, security and
safeguards, and regulatory skills.
A spectrum of classroom and
simulator courses is provided to
meet the cumulative regulatory and
technical training needs of the NRC
headquarters and regional staff.
Additional information about the TTC
is provided within this Newsletter.
NRC IN OUR LIVES: TECHNICAL TRAINING CENTER
NRC’s Technical Training Center (TTC), located in Chattanooga, Tennessee,
provides training for NRC’s employees in various technical disciplines associated
with the regulation of nuclear materials and facilities.
The TTC provides a wide spectrum of courses designed to meet the needs of
NRC employees. Nuclear power-plant design and operation, reactor technology,
probabilistic risk assessment, engineering support, radiation protections, fuel cycle,
inspection techniques, physical security, health physics, and such disciplines as
welding, nondestructive testing, and quality assurance: the TTC covers a lot
of material.
Perhaps most notably, the TTC has collected a variety of reactor designs in one
place. As a result, NRC can train its staff on simulators for nuclear power plant
designs currently in operation around the country.
One way the TTC takes advantage of these simulators is through one of the
many training programs it offers, the Westinghouse Power Reactor Series. An
intensive seven-week course broken into three sessions, this particular training
offers participants the opportunities to learn about Pressurized Water Reactors in
a concentrated manner. Each day’s training lasts for eight hours. The first session
of the three sessions lasts for three weeks during which time the participants learn
about the systems and physical aspects of a nuclear power plant. In the next two-
week session, they learn about how the plant responds to different situations and
different transient scenarios. The last two weeks offer participants the opportunity
to be “hands-on.” The TTC uses actual simulators to provide students the chance
to take on the role of plant operator. This was Alex Burja’s (see “Hello…My Name
Is) favorite part: “Being in the simulator was really fun. And sometimes it’s nerve-
wracking because you don’t want to make the plant trip.”
She continues, “I was able to understand my job duties better because of the
training that I received at the TTC and everything that I now am responsible for
reviewing makes more sense.” And that’s the main goal of the TTC, to offer NRC
employees the knowledge they need to better deliver NRC’s safety and security
mission for the American Public.
3

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4
ABOUT
THE NRC
Created as an independent agency
by Congress in 1974, the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(NRC) ensures the safe use of
radioactive materials for beneficial
civilian purposes while protecting
people and the environment. NRC
regulates commercial nuclear
power plants and other uses of
nuclear materials through licensing,
inspection, and enforcement of
its requirements.
Susan Salter, who formerly was our
Chief, Outreach and Recruitment
Branch, recently graduated from
the Senior Executive Service (SES)
Candidate Development Program.
Since leaving the recruitment area,
Ms. Salter has served as the Chief
of the Professional Development
Branch with responsibilities
encompassing career development
programs throughout NRC.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
Kimberly English:
Recruitment Program Manager/
Employee Relations Specialist
NRC/Office of the Chief Human
Capital Officer
Workforce Management Branch & Policy,
Labor and Employee Relations Branch
Kimberly.English@nrc.gov | 301-287-0711
she received allowed her to make real contributions
during her internship.
“Education at NRC doesn’t stop when you finish
school, and even more so when you are a Reactor
Systems Engineer. Because of several cross-cutting
matters, I’ve become exposed to different areas
both within my group and outside of my group,”
Alex says. “There is a lot of flexibility within the
branch to work on different topics. For instance,
I started doing work in neutronics and reactor
physics, but I have since started to expand into
thermal hydraulics areas and transient and accident
analyses. I’m not stuck in one particular area. I’m
HELLO…MY NAME IS able to learn more about certain areas and get in-
ALEXANDRA BURJA depth, but I’m also able to gain a breadth
of knowledge.”
I read The Hunt for Red October in 6th grade and
She has been able to see a nuclear plant being
fell in love with nuclear submarines.”
constructed, which offered her a sense of the sheer
scale of that operation. She has done a rotation in a
Alexandra Burja is a Reactor Systems Engineer in
nuclear plant and learned what Resident Inspectors
the Office of New Reactors (NRO).
do on a day-to-day basis. “Being at a plant gives
you so much more perspective. All of that rotation
“I just thought they were the coolest thing ever. I
experience and expanding of knowledge has been
saw a potential in the field and I was very interested
invaluable.” She also completed a seven week
in the science behind nuclear and the fact that
course on pressurized water reactors at NRC’s
splitting apart atoms generates so much energy.”
Technical Training Center located in Chattanooga,
Tennessee.
Alex studied Nuclear Engineering at the University
of Michigan where she earned her bachelor’s
Additionally, she has had the opportunity to pursue
and master’s degrees. She has worked for NRC
external training courses at national labs. “It’s
for three years, for the last two and a half as a
a good opportunity to meet counterparts from
Reactor Systems Engineer. Within the Office of
national labs and industry. It’s a good way to see
New Reactors, she primarily performs technical
how what I do at NRC can be applicable to these
reviews of new reactor applications, ensuring
other sorts of disciplines too. It gives me a broader
the aspects she reviews are safe and meet NRC
perspective in addition to being very useful in what
requirements. She reviews new and sometimes
I’m reviewing.” Alex has attended courses at Oak
novel designs, such as the NuScale small modular
Ridge National Lab and Los Alamos National Lab
reactor. These new designs require Alex to have a
to learn about the computer codes that the new
thorough understanding of new design concepts
reactor applications she reviews use. These training
and methodologies. And that’s what she likes about
sessions are not just academic. “I actually use it in
her current work. “I like the challenge and I feel like I
confirmatory analyses for my job; it is applicable
learn something new every day.”
to what I do. The instruction has consistently been
very, very good. I am able to understand my job
Alex began her NRC career as a Project Manager:
duties better because of the training that I got
“I got to see multiple projects and applications at
there and everything that I review now makes
one time, but I was looking at it more through the
more sense.”
lens of keeping the project on track and not really
looking at the technical details. I wanted to get into
Her advice for students? “Be persistent and always
the technical details. I wanted to put my degree
be open to trying and learning new things. That
to use. And so it was just a logical next step for
flexibility may allow you to get your foot in the door
me to pursue doing the reactor systems
and go on to explore something that really is your
engineering work.”
passion. That is what happened for me. I started
as a Project Manager and found I really wanted to
Throughout her career at NRC, Alex has been
focus more on the technical aspects of the review
able to take advantage of many educational and
process, and being willing to do that good work
professional development opportunities. In fact, she
organizing all the elements of licensing allowed
had an internship at NRC her senior year. And while
me to successfully transition over to reactor
the internship application process was rigorous,
systems engineering.”
she values her experience and the terrific guidance

Nrc newsletter fall2017_final

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