AIKEN, S.C. (August 1, 2024) — A student who worked on a capstone project at Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC) heard a calling to join the nuclear industry.
And he’s glad he did.
SRMC employee Tristan Harris, who was hired in December, is a Facility System Health Coordinator at the Savannah River Site’s (SRS) Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF). SRMC is the liquid waste contractor at SRS, and DWPF is a key facility in the liquid waste mission. This facility, which began operations in March 1996, converts high-activity radioactive liquid waste stored at the Savannah River Site into a solid glass form suitable for long-term storage and disposal.
Harris’ general role is to be the engineering interface to ensure that SRMC is compliant in procedures that outline the system health program at DWPF. System health helps ensure the facility is running well and following all performance plans.
If a system breaks down frequently or is constantly out of service, it is Harris’ job to document it to help show that they need to improve it to safely meet production processing goals and expectations.
Harris found out about SRMC through his senior capstone project in May 2022. He and several students were tasked with analyzing deficiencies and purposing upgrades to the Shielded Canister Transporter.
During his capstone project, he saw DWPF up close, learned more about the process of turning the nuclear waste into a glass, and the importance of treating and immobilizing radioactive liquid waste so it does not get into the environment.
His experience at DWPF led him to a career in nuclear.
After graduating, he got an interview with SRMC after attending a job fair at the University of South Carolina and got hired. Since working at SRS, he has come to know what it is like to be passionate about a career.
“I am happy that I get to come to work every day, and I am so thankful that SRMC allows me the opportunity to be able to grow as a professional. It feels good to know that I am helping better the future in the long run” says Harris.
Tristan Harris was hired by Savannah River Mission Completion and started out as a Senior Capstone student for The University of South Carolina Aiken. He is now working at the Defense Waste Processing Facility as a Facility System Health Coordinator.
Comments