Master’s degree student of Tomsk Polytechnic University and nuclear physicist Alina Gorbunova has received a license from Rostekhnadzor (the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision) to control a nuclear research reactor independently. She has become the first girl in Russia, who possesses such a license. Alina has recently started to work at the TPU Nuclear Research Reactor, which is known to be the only operating university reactor in the country. Her job responsibilities cover a reactor startup and shutdown, control of its process parameters and implementation of other responsible tasks.
At the moment, Alina studies the first year of her master’s degree in Nuclear Physics and Technology in English.
In order to obtain a license to control the reactor, she had to complete half a year training, an internship and in total pass nine exams: both internal and external ones with Rostekhnadzor’s examination board at the reactor.
“It was quite hard to pass the exams. I would even say that the internal exams were much more difficult. Knowledge of specifications, a nuclear reactor engineer’s job duties, operation regulations of reactor equipment, nuclear safety and security, radiation safety, national standards and regulations in nuclear power use were examined. TPU gives a rather solid theoretical and what is more essential practical foundation, therefore I passed all the exams quite successful and obtained a license to operate the reactor,” comments the student.
From now on, the student combines her studies with a job as a Nuclear Research Reactor Engineer. An engineer’s work schedule implies three shifts per week. A shift lasts 12 hours and can be a day or night one. In total, two engineers control the reactor control board. They are a nuclear research reactor engineer and shift supervisor.
“An engineer under the guidance of the shift supervisor starts up the Reactor, brings up the necessary capacity requirements and then shuts down its operation. Our Reactor is a research one. There are over 1,000 experiments per year conducted here. To carry out all these experiments, various materials are put in the nuclear reactor core. For instance, it can change reactivity margin and reactor output. All of these things must be controlled. Even during those days when the Reactor is not launched, engineers must strictly control its process parameters. The work is very responsible, requiring maximum concentration on the process, however, at the same time extremely breathtaking. My male colleagues met me quite well, we have worked in harmony together,” shares her story Alina Gorbunova.
She sees her future only in nuclear power.
“Maybe after completing my master’s degree, I will continue my study with a PhD program. Maybe I will get hired at the nuclear power plant, but for sure I will not change my area of work. Nuclear physics is a unique, versatile and engrossing science,” sums up Alina Gorbunova.
The training, internship and Rostekhnadzor’s performance assessment Alina underwent with her two classmates. All of them passed the exams successfully and obtained their licenses to work.
“It has been our first experience. We made a decision to give students an opportunity already during their master’s degree to undergo an assessment and start working at the real operating reactor. They already possess the required foundation of knowledge and skills and we trained them additionally. Rostekhnadzor’s performance assessment is a quite serious procedure. The experience of its passing is a huge advantage for students in their further work. As all reactors are different, so if they then change their work positions, for instance, for a nuclear power plant, they will have to undergo an assessment again. Although they will be familiar with this procedure. Besides, to combine studies with a job in the studied area is a financial helping hand,” says Artem Naimushin, head of the TPU Nuclear Research Reactor.
“Of course, Alina is not the only girl working at the Reactor. Women work here as radiation safety engineers, chemists, researchers and so on. At the same time, a female student to control the Reactor is the first here and in Russia. She copes brilliantly with her job.”
Reference:
Tomsk Polytechnic University is a member of Priority 2030, a national program to support Russian universities, in the research leadership track.
Today, the TPU reactor is the only operating nuclear research reactor in Russia. It is listed as a unique research facility and is a mega-science site, where advanced research in nuclear technology and medicine is conducted.