Mikayla Woodward didn’t plan on pursuing a career in nuclear.  

She did her bachelor’s degree in computer science and cybersecurity in South Carolina and was set on finding a job at a tech company after graduation.   

Then she did an internship at First Nations Power Authority (FNPA), an Indigenous-led, not-for-profit organization that works to increase Indigenous participation and ownership in Canada’s energy sector. 

At FNPA, Woodward met McMaster engineering professor Dave Novog, who asked her if she’d ever thought about doing a master’s degree.  

“I hadn’t, but I knew McMaster would be the place to go,” says Woodward. 

She decided to take the leap and is currently pursuing her master’s in nuclear engineering with Novog, joining a growing network of students and researchers at McMaster helping shape the future of nuclear energy. 

A community-focused approach to SMR deployment

Nuclear has been a key source of energy in Canada for over 50 years. It currently supplies about half of Ontario’s electricity. Renewed investment, growing electricity demand and new technologies like SMRs are driving what comes next for nuclear energy in the province, across Canada and globally. 

SMRs are smaller than traditional nuclear power reactors. While a typical CANDU power reactor produces about 700+ MW of electricity, SMRs produce 300 MW or less, making them ideal for smaller, northern and remote communities, explains Woodward.  

“Provinces like Saskatchewan don’t have the grid capacity or infrastructure needed for large-scale nuclear power plants, which makes SMRs a promising alternative,” she says.  

At McMaster, Woodward’s research focuses on nuclear fuel characterization, an important part of understanding and managing nuclear waste from power reactors, including SMRs.  

She’s also supporting FNPA’s Ready4SMR program in Saskatchewan and Alberta, helping local businesses prepare to supply goods and services to the emerging SMR industry. Woodward’s work focuses on increasing Indigenous engagement in the nuclear supply chain. 

“It’s important to see First Nations as rights holders and potential partners, not just people we need to consult. When the nuclear industry takes that approach, it not only builds trust, it also creates opportunities for Indigenous communities to become part of a project’s long-term success,” she says.  

Working on Ready4SMR has been very rewarding, says Woodward, and she values the opportunity to pair her project management experience with advanced technical training at McMaster.  

Woodward is one of more than 600 McMaster students studying nuclear across the disciplines. That number will likely double in the next few years, says John Preston, McMaster’s associate vice-president, Research (Nuclear).  

“With our world-class suite of nuclear facilities and experts, McMaster is fully prepared to meet this growing interest in nuclear and help supply the industry with top-tier talent,” he says. 

As SMRs move closer to widespread deployment, the industry will need a new generation of skilled workers to bring them to life, says Woodward.  

“Today’s students will be the ones building and operating SMRs for years to come,” she says.  

Setting the stage for the next generation of leaders

Woodward isn’t the only talent from McMaster to find her way into the nuclear industry, or to help shape the future of SMRs.  

Emily Tarle, a McMaster civil engineering graduate and vice-president of New Nuclear Engineering at Ontario Power Generation (OPG), says she joined the nuclear industry “by chance.” 

Tarle was seconded to OPG in 2001 to support refurbishment of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station. She’s been working in nuclear ever since.  

Today, she’s part of the team behind the biggest nuclear build in Canada, overseeing the design and construction of the G7’s first SMR at the Darlington new nuclear site, which is expected to be connected to the grid in 2030. 

“It’s a civil engineer’s playground at the site right now. This spring, a massive crane lifted and placed the 2-million-pound steel foundation for the first unit,” says Tarle. Work is also underway to construct a large water intake tunnel under Lake Ontario. 

With previous experience in reactor operations, inspection and maintenance, Tarle has seen firsthand how the nuclear workforce has helped establish the industry’s strong safety record – and the critical role the next generation of talent will play in its future.   

“Nuclear needs everyone. There are plenty of opportunities for those with diverse technical experience, and for those with backgrounds in business, communications, environment, law and so much more,” she says, shouting out McMaster’s new interdisciplinary minor in Nuclear Studies & Society.  

McMaster has long been a global leader in nuclear research and education. The University recently launched a new major in nuclear engineering to help prepare the next generation of skilled professionals. McMaster also leads the pan-Canadian Small Modular Advanced Reactor Training (SMART) program. 

Coupled with more than $26 million in recent investments from the province, it’s an exciting time for McMaster’s nuclear enterprise and the perfect time for students to get involved, says John Preston. 

“What sets McMaster apart is the opportunity for students to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it through hands-on research in our nuclear facilities and collaboration with nuclear experts from across Canada and around the world,” he says.  

Woodward agrees with Tarle and Preston: Nuclear needs everyone.  

“Preparing the next generation of leaders for careers in this sector is so important, and that includes First Nations and Indigenous communities, who make up the fastest growing population in Canada,” says Woodward, who took part as a mentor in this year’s STEM Workshop for Indigenous Girls+ at McMaster. 

Tarle has also mentored women in nuclear, helping them find their footing and excel in a complex and evolving industry. 

“It’s been an incredibly rewarding career,” she says, reflecting on 25 years in the nuclear industry.  

“There are so many different paths in nuclear, and it’s exciting to know that the work you do will have a meaningful impact on Canada’s clean energy future.” 

Researchers at McMaster are tackling some of the biggest challenges related to SMR deployment. Read more about how they’re setting the stage for SMRs.