What motivated you to apply for the Summer University?

I’ve always enjoyed physics, and nuclear physics seemed to me like one of the most fascinating fields. When the department sent out an email to students with the opportunity to apply for the Summer University, I didn’t hesitate. I quickly put together my CV and sent in the application, even though it was literally at the last minute.

The selection process is quite demanding. What did you have to go through?

After submitting the application, we had to take psychological tests, which took place either directly at Dukovany or in Prague. The testing had three parts, with the first one—the performance test—being the most important. These weren’t classic IQ tests like those used by Mensa, but rather tasks focused on accuracy, logical thinking, and working under time pressure. The power plant needs people who don’t make mistakes. If you didn’t do well enough on the first part, you couldn’t continue. In the second part, we were given personality tests—two of them were for everyone, and the third one was only for candidates applying to be operators. Since I did very well on the first part, I got to complete all three questionnaires. After that, there was an interview with psychologists, who then put together the final list of recommended participants.

What was the program of the Summer University like?

After the initial training, we received temporary entry passes, which allowed us to access almost all parts of the power plant. We also visited the training center in Brno, went on several excursions, and attended lectures across different departments.

What impressed you the most?

The entire two weeks were very intense, with an incredibly varied program. It’s hard to say what impressed me the most, because everyone finds something for themselves there. But one of the most powerful experiences was definitely visiting the controlled area, which is a place the public normally never gets to see.

Did this experience change your view of nuclear energy?

Definitely. Before that, I had no real idea what working at a nuclear power plant actually involves. For example, I didn’t know that before starting, you have to go through training at the training center, which depending on the position can last several months. Operators or nuclear physicists can spend up to two years there before they can start working in operation. After a few years or after a longer absence, the training has to be repeated again.

What kind of job could you imagine yourself doing?

Thanks to my good results in the psychological tests, I was offered an operator’s scholarship. Before the Summer University, I wasn’t sure whether I was more interested in research or practical work, but now I find the idea of working in a company or directly at a power plant increasingly appealing. Even though there are stressful situations and shift work, I believe I could handle it. Plus, many employees we met said that starting as an operator is a huge advantage because you get to understand the functioning of the entire plant, and over time you can move on to other specialized positions.

Are there also women working as operators?

Yes, although it’s still rare. I know of two female operators—one at Dukovany and the other at Temelín. Another three women are currently training at the training center. Energy is still more of a male-dominated field, but the atmosphere at the Summer University was friendly, and the colleagues definitely didn’t make any distinctions between men and women.

Have you considered working as a nuclear physicist?

Yes, that also interests me. However, there are very few of those positions, and it’s not easy to get one.

Would you recommend the Summer University to other students?

Absolutely. Even if they eventually find out that nuclear energy doesn’t appeal to them at all, it’s worth giving it a try. They’ll get an idea of what the work looks like in practice, visit the operations, meet great people, and the HR staff will already know about them. The selection process is demanding, and not everyone succeeds on the first try, but it’s definitely worth attempting.