Future Engineers Get Real-World Jolt from New Nuclear Industry Alliance

For Emma Kramer, the path from classroom theory to career-ready confidence is powered by firsthand access to industry pros—and thanks to a dynamic new partnership between Antares Nuclear and University of South Carolina Aiken, that access is happening now. The mechanical engineering major says hearing directly from working engineers about real decisions, challenges, and day-to-day problem-solving has energized her preparation for the workforce and brought her future into sharper focus. 

“As a student, I benefit the most when experienced engineers take the time to explain not just how a problem is solved, but why specific choices are made,” she said. “It has really been great getting to hear real perspectives about the field and what a typical day looks like on the job.” 
 
USCA leadership agrees, which is why the university recently partnered with Antares Nuclear, an emerging leader in nuclear technology. Several Antares engineers were on campus recently for a defense and space manufacturing seminar. Senior representatives from the start-up shared with students how they produce micro-nuclear reactors and how their technology will be used by the military and commercial enterprises. 
 
“Engineering students learn fundamentally critical technical skills here, and we are working hard to ensure our students also understand how their technical skills fit in the current industrial landscape,” said Dr. Gerald Prendergast, associate professor of engineering.  
 
“Our weekly engineering seminar series in the spring, like the one presented by Antares, is one important effort to raise the situational awareness of our students.” 
 
Antares leadership shared with the students how they are advancing nuclear technology. 

“It is an exciting time to get involved in nuclear energy. At Antares, we are confident that we are building microreactor technology that advances U.S. national security and energy resilience while decreasing electricity costs,” said Tom Mancinelli, head of federal strategy and policy for the company. “We need to expand the talent and workforce pipeline to find top engineers, technicians, and analysts, and that’s why we want to attract students from USC Aiken and across the country to come build with us.” 
 
USCA will have a chance to play an active role in some of Antares’ initiatives. Research opportunities are also part of the newly formed partnership. 

“Faculty and students are excited to work on applied research projects that solve problems that are highly relevant to our local community and beyond,” Prendergast said. “With their innovative approach to nuclear power, Antares is an agile company that is well-positioned to partner with USCA in such meaningful research projects.”

Students who attended the seminar gained insight, not only into a leader in the field but also into how they can join the nuclear workforce--possibly with Antares. They asked pointed questions about where and how they can gain the hands-on experience needed to launch their careers.  
 
Internships, and that aspect of the USCA-Antares partnership is what Kramer and many other engineering students are most excited about. 
 
“For me, being workforce ready means stepping out of the classroom and being able to contribute to a professional engineering team with confidence,” she said. 
 
“The transition from being a student to becoming a full-time employee can be daunting, which is why I think that getting real experience from interning is so incredibly important. Not only does it allow you to gain an inside perspective of the field, but it helps you stand out to employers by having real experience.” 

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