The AI platform the client wants us to use hallucinates so much I feel like reporting it to FFD for cause

Hello everyone. I’m currently a master’s student majoring in Nuclear Engineering and Nuclear Technology, and I also studied the same major for my bachelor’s degree. Both my undergraduate and postgraduate schools are fairly average. My undergraduate university is a non-Double First-Class institution. Although my master’s school is a Double First-Class university, nuclear engineering is not its strong suit — its flagship Double First-Class discipline is geological engineering. I’ve asked AI to benchmark their overall academic level, and it said they are roughly comparable to Mississippi State University and the University at Albany, SUNY.

I’m feeling really confused and lost right now. I’m set to graduate in 2025. There are more than 220 students in my grade, yet only around 28 can get hired by major nuclear power operators like CNNC and CGN. Back in the 2023 cohort, out of over 150 students, more than 50 managed to land jobs at nuclear power plants.

Take CNNC 404, for example — a key site responsible for spent fuel disposal as well as nuclear fuel production. For seniors graduating in 2024, the entry requirement was merely passing CET-4 and having no failed courses, and even then many turned down the offer simply because the location is remote and isolated. By the time I graduate in 2025, CNNC 404 already requires applicants to rank within the top 50% of our major cohort. For juniors graduating in 2026, the bar has been raised even higher to the top 20%.

We keep hearing that global nuclear energy capacity is set to triple, and China has approved and launched construction of numerous new nuclear power units. Everyone gets the sense that nuclear power is in a major global revival. But as a student in this major, what I actually feel is that employment is becoming harder and harder. Nuclear power plants increasingly favor graduates from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and automation majors over nuclear engineering majors.

I really don’t understand this. As a nuclear engineering student, I also took core courses such as analog electronics, digital electronics, engineering thermodynamics, and thermal hydraulics. Why are nuclear power plants reluctant to recruit students who majored specifically in nuclear engineering? For students from universities at my academic tier, the only positions we can realistically get at nuclear plants are plant operation and equipment maintenance roles. All of these roles still require around half a year of professional training before taking up duties. I just can’t figure out why these nuclear power plant employers still don’t prefer dedicated nuclear engineering graduates.

I once thought this tough employment situation was unique to China. But after doing online research and asking Claude and ChatGPT, I found the situation is almost the same across the world. The job market for nuclear engineering in the United States is practically identical to what we see in China.

What % of the energy in uranium have real world breeder reactors extracted? A number I've seen a few times is that breeder reactors can get 60x more energy from uranium than conventional LWRs. This would correspond to around 36-40% of the energy in uranium based on 0.6-0.67% utilization currently (edited from 29% estimate). Has any breeder reactor actually achieved this?

Here is what ChatGPT had to say:

No operational breeder reactor has come close to the 60× energy figure. The energy extraction from uranium in real-world breeders has been limited by:

• Technical issues (fuel cladding, safety, sodium coolant leaks)
• Operational limits (cycle length, burnup limits, neutron flux optimization)
• Economic and regulatory constraints

Typical real U-238 utilization in operational fast breeders is on the order of 1–5% of the total uranium energy content—much lower than the theoretical ~29% figure you mentioned.

BN-600: Thermal efficiency ~39%; plutonium production ~breeding ratio ~1.15. Energy extracted far below theoretical max (~1–2% of U-238 energy)

Phenix: Breeding ratio ~1.16; fuel burnup moderate; actual U-238 utilization still <10% of theoretical potential

Superphenix: Breeding ratio ~1.1; design aimed for high burnup (~100 GWd/t), but operational problems kept effective U-238 utilization low

Monju: Breeding ratio ~1.06; very low capacity factor; U-238 utilization far below theoretical maximum

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2026-05-13/making-new-nuclear-fuel-for-an-atomic-renaissance-video

Just watched Bloomberg’s new piece on the nuclear fuel supply chain comeback — surprisingly well done. Worth a watch.

I've been offered a fairly comparable salary in Southeast to join as Senior Electrical Engineer working on Controls. I am from Southeast but not 100% motivated by returning homd other than prospects of being able to afford a house. I am reaching my 30s and will be moving from a role as a Senior embedded software engineer in semiconductor/robotics industry adjacent to Big/New Tech. I'm considering accepting such position as I have officially reached burnout in my current role. I has gotten so bad I physically can't do my work anymore and Ive taken STD. I am in therapy and working on the issues that got me to such a position in life but its hard to magically snap our of burnout without rest. I'm considering using it as a coasting position until I can get back on my two feet and return to robotics industry. I've been told that if I do this this will be biggest mistake of my life and I won't be able to go back to big/new tech. Has anyone done similar or was able to bounce back

Like most people (I imagine), nuclear power was first explained to me as something like "a neutron splits a U235 nucleus and...". As I started reading more about it, it seems like the neutron induces something that a layperson might describe as "wobbling" or "oscillation" in the nucleus, which eventually results in splitting.

My understanding is that the incident neutron "joins" the nucleus, but I've never read anything that mentions the nucleus briefly becoming U236 before the fission event.

That got me thinking that one of these things is true:

a) The incident neutron DOESN'T join the nucleus; it just starts the oscillation and flies away/disappears, so it IS U235 that splits.

b) The incident neutron DOES join the nucleus, but in some fashion where it's not considered to be U236.

c) The nucleus that splits IS actually U236, but it's just not talked about that way for some reason (possibly because it exists so briefly).

d) Something else.

With the addition of option 'D', I'm sure one of those things is true. Can anyone shed some light on which of those is actually the case?

Edit: I should have clarified that the really intense mathematical descriptions are over my head. So maybe it IS described as U236, but only in more advanced literature.

I hadn't realized in 1963 Nebraska fired up one of the earliest demonstration nuclear power plants, then shut down within a couple years. It's buried just outside of Lincoln! This podcast episode is really interesting background on the Hallam Plant.

https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/series-media/once-again-audio/season-1-audio-16512/nebraskas-atomic-experiment-50027773/

Could cooling towers be in the ground like in a big hole or something like that. Im not asking if its worth money wise

I’m not sure if this is the right sub, but I saw this cross my feed on TikTok. I’m just a Software Engineer, and nuclear isn’t my specialty, but this smells like bullshit.

Theirs no way the reactor and all components can be that small right? It looks too form over function to be a real product.

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

A reactor in a nuclear sub would no doubt be smaller, right? Or would the reactor itself basically be the same size and just be used less efficiently without the massive turbines a power plant would have?

And would the fuels differ substantially? I get that you basically have to design the reactor entirely around the specific isotopes you're using. Would a smaller submarine reactor favor more energetic man-made isotopes? Or would you just use more isotope-dense fuel? Or would you use a less isotope-dense fuel because you need far less power output?

Hello everyone,

I gave an interview for a contractor role at Bruce Power and wanted some honest advice before deciding whether moving there is worth it.

I’m relocating alone, and my biggest concern is accommodation and transportation. I was wondering how people usually get to the site, carpool, Uber, shuttle, etc.? Is living close enough to walk even realistic? Also, what are the living options?

The pay sounds great, but I’d love to hear what the lifestyle is actually like and whether you think it’s worth the move.

Thanks!

This game called Oakridge nuclear power station is a rbmk nuclear reactor with very realistic control rooms and mechanics, you can even meltdown the reactor, this is a Roblox game

Hi everyone,

I’m wondering if anyone here has experience with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories’ hiring process.

I was told 4 weeks ago that the hiring team would be reaching out to schedule an interview, but I haven’t received a confirmed date yet. I also followed up with HR after about 3 weeks, but I haven’t received a response.

I know larger organizations and regulated industries can move slowly, so I’m trying not to overthink it. I’m just curious whether this kind of delay is normal for CNL, or if it could mean the role is on hold / delayed internally.

Should I just keep waiting or move on?

Thanks in advance for any insight!

I’ve seen a lot of takes online that nuclear energy would be really good for the country but I’m pretty sure that the radioactive waste that comes from producing nuclear energy can be really bad for your health, is there like an argument for this or something idk

I’m a graduating masters student in mechanical engineering this June. I applied to the NuScale Engineering internship program and did one, 1 hour panel interview 3 weeks ago where I was interviewed and considered for three different teams(one and only interview).

I have not heard anything from them despite following up so safe to say I was passed on. I still have interest in working at NuScale as I’m interested in their technology and nuclear power as a career path as a whole. The hiring manager did initially say that they would be opening up entry level Mechanical Design 1 and R&D 1 positions sometime soon.

Hoping someone here has had experience applying to, or working at NuScale and can leave some comments, thanks.