What began as a summer internship at Westinghouse Electric became a career launchpad for a Slippery Rock University student. Nathan Sharp, an SRU senior dual physics and mechanical engineering major from Wexford (Pine-Richland HS), took advantage of real-world engineering experience this through his internship at Westinghouse Electric in Cranberry Township and turned into a job offer.
Sharp spent his summer in the fluid systems department at Westinghouse, tasked with technical writing projects that required a very particular style of writing. In his previous semesters at SRU, Sharp had taken courses on technical writing and fluid systems analysis, which prepared him well for his work at Westinghouse.
“Technical writing has to be concise and precise,” Sharp said. “It’s about getting information across in a way that is easily readable and digestible.
The role that technical writing plays in communication within an organization is an issue of vital importance for the efficiency of any company, but this is amply so in a high-risk setting like a nuclear plant.
Sharp said that his responsibilities at Westinghouse allowed him to further his knowledge of how real nuclear energy works. He became more familiar with regulations, standards and the importance of documentation regarding nuclear projects, issues that Sharp plans to take into his own work for the remainder of his time at SRU and his future career. Conveniently enough, due to his performance this summer, Westinghouse has offered Sharp a full-time position upon graduation as a fluid systems mechanical engineer.
“Westinghouse is one of the leading nuclear providers for the whole planet right now,” Sharp said. “Getting involved in the nuclear industry is jumping into the deep end, especially since nuclear energy can offer so many solutions to the energy crisis.”
Sharp is optimistic about his future in this industry, and he can move into this new chapter with confidence, thanks to the comprehensive and career-focused education he received at SRU.
More information about the physics and engineering programs can be found on the College of Engineering and Science webpage.