Chelsea Moss

My long term goal is to work as a nuclear engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, either at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) or the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center (REDC). Both of these facilities are actively involved in the production and purification of radioisotopes for medicine, energy, space exploration and industry. I am particularly interested in the current project at ORNL to produce Plutonium-238 for use in radioisotope thermoelectric generators, which will power the Mars 2020 rover and more. I am also very interested in the production of Actinium for new alpha therapy cancer treatment, Berkelium-249 for superheavy element research, Californium-252 for research, tracer radioisotopes, and accident-tolerant fuels for nuclear power reactors. I am thrilled that the radioisotope production program in America has not only returned, but is excelling and making breakthroughs in research. Radioisotope production benefits a wide variety of fields and industries, and it is my goal to be a part of these breakthroughs.

Nuclear engineering and quantum mechanics. It is my goal to earn a Bachelor's and Master's degree in nuclear engineering, and continue on to earn a PhD in quantum mechanics.

I enjoy both creative and research writing as a hobby. I write short stories and novels, and I also love writing nonfiction relating to science, specifically nuclear science. I have completed a 110,000 word science fiction novel, and have two novels in progress, one at 50,000 words and the other at 80,000. I also enjoy archery, fishing, hiking, kayaking, playing the trumpet, spending time with my dog, and reading about the latest new research in nuclear science and quantum physics. My favorite magazines are Nuclear News and Radwaste Solutions from American Nuclear Society, as reading them always keeps me updated on important issues and new breakthroughs in technology. I am extremely passionate about math and science, and love to explore the new STEM concepts I learn in detail by experimenting and writing about them on my own. I strive to understand the reasoning behind mathematical concepts, and what causes certain observable scientific phenomena to occur. I like to challenge myself to discover new versions of math theorems that will lead to a correct solution using alternate methods, and correctly predict the behavior of certain materials using calculations. I keep a journal of ideas of solutions to current engineering challenges, as well as my favorite mysteries in science, such as dark matter and the strange behavior of subatomic particles. I am inspired by the great scientists of history, such as Sir Isaac Newton, Nikola Tesla, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr and Marie Curie, and I love reading about their work and contributions to the mathematical and scientific methods we still use today.