Solntseva Ekaterina

• Advisor to the administration of the private institution "Science and Innovation".

• I am engaged in one of the most complex and interesting international mega–science projects of Rosatom - the creation of a multi-purpose research fast reactor MBIR, which is designed to become the most powerful research facility.

• I always did well at school and my favorite subjects were chemistry, physics and mathematics, so I entered MEPhI. In 2009, during the preparation of my thesis ("Automated R&D Project Management System", which I defended with honors) I got to FSUE "Research Institute of NPO LUCH" as an engineer in the department of non-reactor and reactor tests and research. Here I was engaged in a systematic analysis of complex studies of materials and structural elements of space nuclear power plants and advanced reactor installations. I was very lucky, I got into a team of Soviet-trained test experts, real professionals in their field. It was thanks to them that my interest in research activities was born and remained for a long time.

• During the testing process, it is necessary to constantly improve existing methods and tools, sometimes to develop new ones, so the work of a scientist requires regular updating of knowledge, the use of new technologies, and the exchange of experience with colleagues. Therefore, in 2011 she entered graduate school in the specialty Nuclear Power plants, from 2013-2015 she received the second higher education with a focus on radiation materials science. For 10 years of work at the research institute, I have gone from a simple engineer to a chief specialist (head of R&D projects). 

• After defending my dissertation in 2018, I was offered to move to a management company where I was engaged in the development of scientific and technical cooperation. And in 2020, she was appointed to the position of adviser to the administration of the private institution "Science and Innovation". I am engaged in perhaps the most ambitious project in Russia – the creation of a multi-purpose fast neutron research reactor MBIR. There are no analogues of this installation. It has the highest neutron flux, which makes it possible to study materials under high-intensity irradiation and in a very short time to obtain data on new properties of projected advanced reactor installations, such as fast reactors.

• One of the most interesting projects was R&D on the creation and research of a new type of fuel – mixed uranium-plutonium nitride for Generation 4 fast reactors. For this purpose, a whole series of research works was carried out, including out-of-reactor testing, design of irradiation devices, reactor and post-reactor studies. By a team of scientists from LUCH and IRM, we have created unique irradiation devices that allow us to collect all the data about what happens to the fuel inside the reactor online. This has never been done in the world before. It was a real challenge for me. In any difficult task, the most important thing is the team. When it is possible to solve extremely complex and ambitious tasks that at first seem impossible, step by step to get the desired result – it surprises and inspires new achievements. 

• I consider my main scientific merit to be the development of methods and experimental devices that allow conducting a complex of pre-, intra- and post-reactor studies, increasing efficiency and significantly reducing the time of the experiment. The application of this approach allowed us to obtain new experimental data on the operational properties and characteristics of promising fuel element materials, which are necessary to justify the service life and ensure the safe operation of fast neutron nuclear power plants. 

• By the way, based on the results of R&D, I have issued patents and scientific publications in leading domestic and foreign scientific journals ("Issues of Atomic Science and Technology", "Atomic Energy", Hydrogen energy, Annals of nuclear energy), and in 2014 I was awarded the title of Person of the Year in the nomination "Scientist-physicist" (it was very unexpected and exciting).

• I have always wanted to do science, and Rosatom is a high-tech scientific company where it is possible to realize my scientific ideas, discover and develop myself as a professional, show creativity, learn new things from colleagues.If you have a desire to invent and create, to be part of a large team of experts, scientists and professionals, to implement your discoveries and inventions in mega-science projects, then the scientific block is perfect. 

• Rosatom is more than a modern company with a sea of opportunities. 

• Since 2018, the youth movement has been actively developing, of which I am a part - I am part of the administration of the Branch Youth Council, where many initiatives and projects of young employees are supported. Competitions of youth scientific projects, forums of young power engineers FAST and FURIOUS, industry and divisional gatherings of youth are held.

• During my work, I have also developed my competencies in lean production systems – since 2016, as a certified trainer of the Rosatom Production System (PSR), I have conducted more than 30 trainings (in 6 different courses) of the PSR program within the scientific block. All this contributed to the development of the AKP and to the increase of the efficiency of the processes of scientific institutes.

• It seems to me that at Rosatom, if you are ready to work and develop, then, regardless of gender, you will be able to realize your professional ambitions. 

• I am now surrounded by an energetic and successful team of colleagues - specialists, leaders, mentors. This gives even more confidence – together you can achieve success in creating new unique projects, implementing various programs, and developing professionally and personally.

Don't be afraid of anything and go ahead!