05-15-2026
While working as an operator at Fermilab, a Department of Energy national laboratory, I gained hands-on experience supporting large-scale scientific operations. In this role, I monitored systems, coordinated with technical teams and helped ensure consistent performance across complex infrastructure.
That experience strengthened my technical foundation, but it also shaped how I think about my career. I became interested in the decisions behind the work, including how projects are selected, how resources are allocated and how priorities are set. I saw how technical execution fits into a much larger system of planning and investment.
This perspective led me to think more intentionally about the type of role I want to pursue. I am interested in positions where I can contribute to how projects operate, how they are evaluated and how they are advanced.
As I explored opportunities in the nuclear energy industry, I saw how closely engineering decisions connect with financial outcomes and strategy. Today’s energy landscape includes a wide range of reactor technologies, from traditional light water reactors to emerging small modular reactors and advanced designs. Each option requires evaluation across performance, cost and long-term feasibility.
I am especially interested in the financing and project management side of this work. My goal is to move into a role where I can help guide which projects move forward and how they are executed.
This direction is something I will begin exploring further through my upcoming internship with Advanced Nuclear Advisors, where I will support work related to reactor site selection and technology decisions.
Pursuing a dual degree at Purdue allows me to build the technical and business skills needed for this path. Through the program, I am developing a deeper understanding of engineering systems while also learning how to evaluate them using tools like cost analysis, net present value and project evaluation.
The dual degree experience has expanded how I approach technical work. In addition to performance and design, I now consider how engineering decisions connect with cost, scalability and long-term value.
This perspective reflects how projects are evaluated in professional settings. Decisions are not made on technical performance alone. They also depend on financial feasibility, risk and long-term return.
Developing this combined approach has strengthened my ability to evaluate trade-offs, communicate across teams and contribute to informed decision making.
Purdue coursework has provided opportunities to apply both engineering and business thinking in a single project. In a recent nuclear engineering course, I analyzed fast reactors and thermal reactors, focusing on their design and performance. Alongside the technical evaluation, I examined the cost per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced by each system.
This combined analysis provided a clearer understanding of how each design performs in real-world conditions. It also demonstrated how engineering decisions influence cost, efficiency and viability, which are key factors in determining whether a project moves forward or not.
Dual degree programs create a pathway to develop both technical expertise and business insight within an academic experience. This combination prepares graduates to navigate industries, contribute across teams, and take on roles that require analytical and strategic thinking.
For people interested in advancing their careers, this approach supports opportunities in organizations as well as emerging environments where engineering and business are closely related.
Earning a dual degree has clarified the type of impact I want to have in my career. I am motivated by the opportunity to help evaluate and advance projects that shape the future of energy.
As I continue into my internship and beyond, I hope to contribute to the development of new nuclear technologies and play a role in expanding clean, reliable energy infrastructure.
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