Every summer, Loviisa nuclear power plant employs dozens of summer trainees. One of this year’s trainees was William Buddas, 22. Many young people have found a vocation in the nuclear power industry through summer internships and have returned to the industry permanently after their studies. William, on the other hand, was already sure of his career plans in high school when he decided to pursue a degree in chemical and process engineering. This summer, the young man was able to put his university studies into practice as part of a team of process chemistry analyst technicians at the nuclear power plant. The summer job strengthened his career aspirations in the nuclear industry.
A second-year student of chemical and process engineering at Åbo Akademi University, William Buddas had an instructive summer. He was a a summer trainee of Loviisa nuclear power plant’s team of analyst technicians.
The team is tasked with monitoring the nuclear power plant’s water chemistry and ensuring the accuracy of the data provided by the sensors to enable proper control of the plant’s water chemistry.
“In the mornings, we go through the results of the analysers and observe any deviations from the various measurements, such as water pH, sodium and acidity levels. Based on the measurement results, the water chemistry team is able to adjust the water composition to the desired level,” William explained his work.
The work done by William’s team is vital to the lifetime of the power plant, as the wrong water composition causes corrosion in the plant’s systems, and corrosion ultimately leads to major additional maintenance work.
The work is done in a close-knit team of less than ten people, which was just right for William.
“A small team means that colleagues get to know each other, and there’s a really low threshold for presenting questions to the more experienced people. Plus, you can always be sure that guidance is available. This has allowed room to grow in the job and ultimately to take on more responsibility,” he explained.
For William, his career and related dreams have always been clear. Being from Loviisa himself, he has a special local connection with the Loviisa plant – and like most Loviisa residents he too has relatives who work there. In fact, he had decided to pursue a degree in chemical and process engineering already back when he was in high school.
“Many factors have definitely influenced my career dreams, but my first year at university and my summer trainee position at Loviisa have confirmed my conviction that I am in the right field,” he noted.
William still has a few years to go in his studies, but a career in the nuclear industry looms in his future.
“I’m really happy with my summer trainee position at Loviisa, and I’ll definitely apply again next year and probably the year after that. The nuclear industry will continue to be my number one career choice after graduation. It’s a field I would recommend without reservation to anyone pondering career choices.”