Nuclear & Thermal Systems
SMR repowering concept studies, energy-system integration, safety-conscious design, thermal/process analysis, and monitoring workflows.
Nathan Segar
Mechanical · Nuclear · Italian Engineering
Senior engineering student | Mechanical · Nuclear · Italian
Mechanical Engineer | Nuclear Systems, Microsystems & Robotics
Mechanical engineer with experience spanning nuclear power systems, thermal/process monitoring, microfluidics research, embedded robotics, hardware prototyping, and technical design integration.
Designed as a living portfolio – updated as new projects and research milestones ship.
About
A quick overview of my academic path, technical interests, and why I’m drawn to high-performance engineering and analytical environments.
I’m completing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Nuclear Engineering and a B.A. in Italian at the University of Rhode Island (GPA 3.3). My technical foundation comes from courses in power plant system design and safety analysis, materials in nuclear applications, space nuclear power and propulsion, finite element methods, and more.
Professionally, I’ve worked as a Manufacturing Engineer Intern at Barnes Aerospace and an Engineering & Design Intern at General Dynamics Electric Boat. I’ve supported projects ranging from consumable tool optimization and NPI documentation to engineering calculations, mechanical drawings, and change notice revisions for Columbia-class submarines.
Right now I’m in the Italian International Engineering Program, completing my fifth year studying and working abroad in Italy at Università Degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope. I’m currently pursuing a 6-month internship at Graded S.p.a where I can bring together my experience in power systems, manufacturing, and safety-critical design — with a special interest in high-performance environments.
Education
URI · MechE, Nuclear, Italian
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Nuclear Engineering
B.A. Italian
Industry experience
Aerospace & defense
Manufacturing Engineer Intern – Barnes
Engineering & Design Intern – EB
Capstone with PPL Electric Utilities
Research Intern – Graded S.p.a
Leadership
Lacrosse & research
URI Men’s Lacrosse Captain
AIAA Engineer
Microfluidics research lab
Core skills
Power plant / reactor design
Nuclear materials
CAD & design engineering
Manufacturing processes
MATLAB
Fluid mechanics / CFD fundamentals
Currently learning
Energy & propulsion systems
Advanced control & modeling
Data-driven performance analysis
Deeper Italian technical vocabulary
Thermal treatment
Waste-to-energy research
Engineering Focus
MEMS & Microsystems
Microfluidics research support, SolidWorks fixture design, experimental test systems, and sample-handling workflows.
Robotics & Embedded Integration
3D-printed mechanical systems, embedded controls, Raspberry Pi and Arduino prototyping, sensor integration, and Python-based monitoring/AI prototypes.
Mechanical Design
SolidWorks
Thermal Systems
Nuclear Power
Microfluidics
Embedded Systems
Python
Testing & Validation
Hardware Prototyping
What is my value?
How my skills and mindset align with the type of engineering culture expected today.
Performance mindset
Engineering for performance, not just grades
From college athletics to engineering internships, I’m used to measuring success by real-world performance: does the system run faster, safer, and more efficiently? That mindset aligns well with the industry’s focus on reliability, safety, and extracting actionable performance data from complex systems.
Outcome-driven
Systems thinking
Connecting power, materials, and control
My work ranges from converting coal plants to SMR-powered stations for AI data centers, to microfluidic devices, and robotics. I enjoy working at the interfaces between power, materials, control, and software — where real systems become reliable products.
Cross-disciplinary
Cultural fit
Comfortable in Italian & international teams
Studying and working in Italy as part of the International Engineering Program and speaking Italian helps me adapt quickly and collaborate across cultures. I bring clear communication, curiosity, and a bias toward action.
Italian + English
Projects & Experience
A selection of projects, research, and industry experience that shows how I approach engineering problems from concept to result.
Mechanical Engineering Capstone · Nuclear Systems
Coal-to-Nuclear Repowering for AI Data Centers
Collaborated on a conceptual systems-design study evaluating how a retired coal-power site could be repurposed with small modular reactors to support a 250 MW-class AI data center and grid-connected power delivery. The project considered site reuse, reactor safety concepts, containment, cooling, power distribution, and operational resilience.
Explore nuclear case study ↗
University Team Project · Radiation Detection
Radiation Detection Robot Prototype
Developed a mobile radiation-surveying prototype concept combining a custom 3D-printed enclosure, motor-control hardware, and an onboard Geiger-counter integration approach for remote operation in potentially hazardous environments.
Explore RDR project ↗
Undergraduate Research · Microsystems
Acoustofluidics for Microplastic Separation
Supported a surface-acoustic-wave microfluidics research project focused on microplastic separation. Contributed mechanical design support through SolidWorks fixtures and templates for experimental capsule geometry variants while gaining hands-on exposure to microfluidic test systems, particle manipulation, and interdisciplinary microsystems research.
Explore MEMS case study ↗
Independent Student Build · Robotics
Voice-Controlled Robotic Arm Integration
Contributed to a university-team robotic-arm integration project built on the open-source BCN3D Moveo platform. Work included mechanical assembly, motor-control setup, Raspberry Pi development, stepper calibration/testing, and Python-based voice and AI interaction prototypes.
Explore robot build ↗
Industry · Aerospace
Consumable tool optimization & NPI support
Owned a consumable tool consolidation project to reduce the number of tools purchased and increase machined parts per tool. Supported programmers and process engineers with control plans, NPI documentation, and clear operator instructions. Also supported fluorescent penetrant inspection, GD&T, and first-piece/final inspection.
Industry · Defense
Engineering calculations & part tracking
Worked in the Common Missile Compartment group for Columbia-class submarines, performing engineering calculations for forces and stresses, reviewing mechanical drawings and tolerances, supporting change notices, and building spreadsheets for part tracking and reliability. Conducted part inspections for access door seals for the missile tubes.
Leadership · URI Men’s Lacrosse
Student-Athlete Leadership
Led as a senior captain and served as social and fundraising chair across junior and senior year, balancing engineering coursework with team leadership, event coordination, accountability, and competitive national-tournament seasons.
Explore leadership story ↗
University Team Project · AIAA Rocketry
Ground Launch-Control Interface
Designed and assembled a compact control enclosure for a university rocket team, integrating the protective housing, panel-mounted controls, fuse access, indicator hardware, connector interface, and internal wiring layout.
Explore controller build ↗
Research Internship · Thermal Systems
POTTERS — Smart Monitoring for a Modular Sludge Dryer
Developed a simulation-backed monitoring and decision-support prototype for a proposed WVO-fueled thermal sludge-drying system. The platform validates telemetry, calculates process KPIs, analyzes six drying zones, models abnormal operating conditions, and generates engineering recommendations for future sensor and control integration.
Explore case study ↗
Resume
A concise snapshot of my experience. Full CV available as a PDF download.
My resume focuses on technical coursework, projects that show ownership and problem-solving, and experiences that highlight teamwork and communication — from research collaborations to college athletics.
- Mechanical Engineering B.S., Nuclear Engineering minor, Italian B.A. at URI (GPA 3.3).
- Capstone with PPL Electric Utilities on SMR-powered conversions of coal plants for AI data centers.
- Manufacturing Engineer Intern at Barnes Aerospace and Engineering & Design Intern at General Dynamics Electric Boat.
- Research in microfluidics plus radiation-detecting robotics project work.
- Leadership experience as Captain and Executive Board Member of URI Men’s Lacrosse.
CV preview
Updated regularly
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Contact
If you’d like to talk about a full time opportunity, a project, or anything related to engineering, you can reach me directly here.
I’m currently looking for a full time position following my study-abroad year. I’m especially interested in roles related to power systems, testing, control, or engineering projects that sit close to energy solutions. I am also willing to work outside of traditional engineering roles, where my engineering experience is also valued.
- Phone
- +1 (860) 936-1026
- nate18819@icloud.com · natesegar18@gmail.com
- Location
- Napoli, Italy · Southern New England (CT, RI, MA)
- Languages
- English (native), Italian (fluent)