What is it like living in Lynchburg?
I like Lynchburg because it's a very beautiful town and it's close to a lot of interesting things. It's not far from the beach or the mountains, the weather is very nice, and the people here are very friendly.

What drew you to AREVA NP Inc.?
AREVA NP Inc. seemed like a stable and well-organized company. Everyone I met on my interview had very good things to say about the company. Also, there are plenty of opportunities for career growth.

What does a typical day consist of?
I work in the materials and structural analysis unit at AREVA NP Inc. The majority of my time I am doing finite element analysis, using ANSYS, for various components of a reactor vessel or steam generator. Other typical tasks include doing research for an upcoming project, gathering information to be used for an analysis, and documentation work, including report writing.

What does AREVA NP Inc. offer that other companies cannot?
AREVA NP Inc. offers great opportunities for career growth and development, including paying for tuition if you desire to further your education. This is a great example of a benefit that most companies don't offer.

What has been your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge has been to learn and understand the concepts of nuclear power plants and what role AREVA NP Inc. has in the nuclear business. I had very little knowledge of nuclear power plants before I came to work for AREVA NP Inc., so I had to learn the basic concepts through job experiences and training courses. Luckily, everyone I work with is very helpful in guiding me through the learning process.

What does your future at AREVA NP Inc. hold? What are your aspirations?
I plan to go back to school and get my master's degree, which will help develop my career here at AREVA NP Inc. I also hope to get experience in various areas at AREVA NP Inc. to gain a broad base of knowledge of this company.

What was your biggest surprise at AREVA NP Inc.?
I was surprised at the many events and activities that AREVA NP Inc. has for its new-hires and co-ops.

What is the greatest opportunity you've been given as an AREVA NP Inc. employee?
I have been given the opportunity to go to various training classes that allow me to further my knowledge and advance my career.

What are the dynamics of your group?
In my group, there are many people with different backgrounds, experiences and knowledge.

Why would you recommend AREVA NP Inc. to others as a place of employment?
AREVA NP Inc. offers great benefits, making the transition from college to a career easy.

What kinds of team building events are offered?
I have been to several brown bag lunches that are very insightful. They offer a range of topics that deal with various aspects of our company and give great advice as I work at developing my career.