Work at the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls?

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by thedavidwilson

bump.





bump.

thedavidwilson,

While I may have an idea of what you were trying to say, or not; I believe it's best to ask you to clarify. Would you please explain your previous post as I'm not sure everyone will understand what you are trying to say.

Thanks,

MSR

[thedavidwilson]

Originally Posted by Mtn. States Resident

thedavidwilson,

While I may have an idea of what you were trying to say, or not; I believe it's best to ask you to clarify. Would you please explain your previous post as I'm not sure everyone will understand what you are trying to say.

Thanks,

MSR

Just moving the post to the top of the queue to get more visibility.

[lee9]

I am figuring since you have chosen Idaho Falls, you would be familiar with the culture of this area? Although things are improving for those of us from other areas, the majority of bars are simply dives; ones you would never have stepped foot in back home. When my husband and I arrived here several years ago, there was barely a coffee shop. We now have two really great local coffeehouses and have just recently got a Starbucks. Politics tend to be on the very conservative end; the Idaho Falls mayor actually commented something along the lines of "Idaho Falls and its community stands for the same values" - this uttered at a Mitt Romney appearance locally. Regardless of where on the political spectrum you reside, it is still nice to have a choice. Most counties, Madison for example, typically does not have a single democratic candidate running for any offices.

Most of our political representation at the state level comes from farming backgrounds and schools are nowhere near where they should be in regards to funding; that is also true of teachers salaries.

INL specifically is extremely dependent on what goes on in D.C. (as an earlier post referred to). My husband and I are specifically here because of the site and we are leaving soon because of the site. There are layoffs in the works; this is mostly with the clean-up side of the project. I am not certain where you would find a job where it was entirely secure. I don't think we live in times similar to those of our parents. Most companies do provide relocation assistance; this can often be negotiable. Salaries are quite good, providing the cost of living is relatively small. But, be prepared for sticker shock. Estimated in the cost of homes is the potential for development of unfinished basements and therefore, this additional square footage is added to the above ground living space to arrive at the cost of the home. If you are from other parts of the country, the idea of living in a basement, much less having children's bedrooms downstairs is abhorrent. But, space is a premium here with many large families. Car insurance, taxes, etc are all still relatively cheap. Your INL salary should carry you far.

Electrical, mechanical, and other engineering disciplines are in fact employed at the site. As far as program managers backgrounds - this will vary tremendously and there is not a mandate from DOE that says a program manager must have this background in order to do x job. Usually that is left up to the department of the company doing the hiring.

There are quite a few people in town and many in site. My husband used to comment that the most dangerous thing he did daily was the drive to site (mind you, this was during the winter months). Some companies participate in the bus system, where you would be able to ride the bus to and from the site. Other companies provide car pooling opportunities and many times provide the vehicles as well. Many of the companies at the site provide 4 day work weeks - 10 hour days. If you work in town, there is a good possibility that you will be off every other Friday rather than every Friday as you may not be required to work 10 hour days.

Benefits are some of the best I have seen. This can however, vary from company to company. Overall, having INL on your resume and obtaining the experience of working there will only further your career opportunities, whether it be at other sites (like Hanford, for example) or other employment centers - government or private. There is a military presence at INL (Navy), DoD, DOE, and DEQ, among others. You will certainly have some opportunities upon arriving here. But, if federal funding is cut for certain programs, it is quite difficult, if not impossible, to find local work elsewhere (outside of the site) because there is not much else here. Best wishes!

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by lee9

I am figuring since you have chosen Idaho Falls, you would be familiar with the culture of this area? Although things are improving for those of us from other areas, the majority of bars are simply dives; ones you would never have stepped foot in back home. When my husband and I arrived here several years ago, there was barely a coffee shop. We now have two really great local coffeehouses and have just recently got a Starbucks. Politics tend to be on the very conservative end; the Idaho Falls mayor actually commented something along the lines of "Idaho Falls and its community stands for the same values" - this uttered at a Mitt Romney appearance locally. Regardless of where on the political spectrum you reside, it is still nice to have a choice. Most counties, Madison for example, typically does not have a single democratic candidate running for any offices.

Most of our political representation at the state level comes from farming backgrounds and schools are nowhere near where they should be in regards to funding; that is also true of teachers salaries.

INL specifically is extremely dependent on what goes on in D.C. (as an earlier post referred to). My husband and I are specifically here because of the site and we are leaving soon because of the site. There are layoffs in the works; this is mostly with the clean-up side of the project. I am not certain where you would find a job where it was entirely secure. I don't think we live in times similar to those of our parents. Most companies do provide relocation assistance; this can often be negotiable. Salaries are quite good, providing the cost of living is relatively small. But, be prepared for sticker shock. Estimated in the cost of homes is the potential for development of unfinished basements and therefore, this additional square footage is added to the above ground living space to arrive at the cost of the home. If you are from other parts of the country, the idea of living in a basement, much less having children's bedrooms downstairs is abhorrent. But, space is a premium here with many large families. Car insurance, taxes, etc are all still relatively cheap. Your INL salary should carry you far.

Electrical, mechanical, and other engineering disciplines are in fact employed at the site. As far as program managers backgrounds - this will vary tremendously and there is not a mandate from DOE that says a program manager must have this background in order to do x job. Usually that is left up to the department of the company doing the hiring.

There are quite a few people in town and many in site. My husband used to comment that the most dangerous thing he did daily was the drive to site (mind you, this was during the winter months). Some companies participate in the bus system, where you would be able to ride the bus to and from the site. Other companies provide car pooling opportunities and many times provide the vehicles as well. Many of the companies at the site provide 4 day work weeks - 10 hour days. If you work in town, there is a good possibility that you will be off every other Friday rather than every Friday as you may not be required to work 10 hour days.

Benefits are some of the best I have seen. This can however, vary from company to company. Overall, having INL on your resume and obtaining the experience of working there will only further your career opportunities, whether it be at other sites (like Hanford, for example) or other employment centers - government or private. There is a military presence at INL (Navy), DoD, DOE, and DEQ, among others. You will certainly have some opportunities upon arriving here. But, if federal funding is cut for certain programs, it is quite difficult, if not impossible, to find local work elsewhere (outside of the site) because there is not much else here. Best wishes!

lee9,

I think I wrote about the funding cycles of D.C. (indirectly) and INL. Don't know how long you've been connected with INL (how many name changes and companies too - boy does that get old!), but some things are different than they use to be.

You are correct about Mayor Fuhrman's remark. I don't know why or where that came from. However, history will also show a Democrat attorney who didn't practice law, rather was the Mayor of Idaho Falls for 3 terms. A divorced, Democrat female mayor is not who many think of when thinking of Mayor of Idaho Falls.

I do agree the clean up side of things is winding down at INL. Your information about various companies offering various packages, trasnporation etc. really was good. Sometimes, I think many don't understand it's not just one company at INL.

As for the future, I also think so much depends both on the military contracts (of which you spoke) and where GNEP's 3 components are located. Washington D.C. has a closer connection with Idaho Falls than many would believe. I think that is one reason United is working to add the direct flight from Chicago to Idaho Falls.

I've already been told Starbucks is kicking themselves for being so slow in the Idaho Falls market. Somebody really missed the boat on their demographics and needs. More stores are coming quicker. Apparently, one of the local coffee drive throughs has plans to franchise. I don't go there myself, so I don't know about their products. Java Express, I think it is. But, I might be wrong. It's the one with the most drive throughs. Anyway, while Starbucks hasn't been the presence they should have been (and now realize), other locals have built their mom and pop coffee establishments.

Besides the Villa (www.thevillacoffeehouse.com (broken link)) what other coffee shop do you like? There is a new one by Destinations Inn, but I didn't think it was open yet. Just curious what you've found. I've always wished McNeil would have put one in at Taylor's Crossing. And why Starbucks didn't build both by INL by ISU-I.F. and Hitt Road - well, they are asking the same question now.

It's good to have your post, lee9. I also agree with you that having INL on one's CV never hurt anyone. With the role of clean up coming to a close, I think different missions and different spin offs are in store for INL. But we'll all be a lot wiser in a year after seeing where GNEP and other projects locate.

I'm a bit more optomistic than you, perhaps falsely so. But, Grow Idaho Falls has been working for many years to get the diversification so not everything is INL. I don't know if you were around in the mid 90s when the plug got pulled on so much of INEEL (at the time) and everyone predicted Idaho Falls would totally shrivel up. It didn't because of the diversification.

What I don't know is how many of the companies Grow Idaho Falls is working with to either relocate or grow locally, need engineering services. I think some other types of businesses are being recruited.

Also, I think you make an superb point that we don't live in the era of our parents and jobs aren't as secure any more. I believe, per an MSNBC article 3-4 years ago, the most recent stats and projections are the average worker will now change jobs 7 times/career. Perhaps not all will change their specific job, but will need to relocate for some. Others will change directions 7 times. I don't know if this takes college jobs into consideration or not.

I wish you and your husband the best in your relocation and further adventures in your lives and future work.

[Mtn. States Resident]

Often, I think many not very familiar with INL think only two missions are performed there: clean up and nuclear work. Not so. It is a national science lab.

Perhaps this article will expand what some may think, or may want to learn.

The International Herald Tribune, on November 6, 2007, published the following AP story:

"US energy lab testing plug-in hybrid cars in Seattle"

"IDAHO FALLS, Idaho: A U.S. energy lab is testing 13 hybrid cars retrofitted with mileage-boosting batteries that can be plugged into a regular household electrical outlet.

"The U.S. Department of Energy demonstration project is aimed at judging the performance of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in an urban area. Over the next 12 months, 13 converted Toyota Prius cars owned by the city of Seattle, King County, Port of Seattle and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency will drive the streets of western Washington state in the study by the Idaho National Laboratory.

"So far, the cars' mileage per gallon has about doubled after being outfitted with lithium plug-in batteries, to 125 miles per gallon in city driving conditions.

" 'We've done some testing where we've seen over 200 miles per gallon' " under laboratory conditions, said Jim Francfort, who leads the program. " 'Where you've got a lot of city driving, we're seeing 125 miles per gallon, plus.' "

" Currently, there are 10 versions of hybrid cars available in North America, with versions from Toyota, Honda, Ford, Lexus, Mercury and Mazda. Hybrids generally use power from their gas-fueled engines or generated by braking to charge their batteries to propel them in rush-hour and city traffic; in higher-speed situations like highway driving, the engine kicks in.

"The Prius comes from the factory with a 1.3 kilowatt-hour battery pack. INL is testing vehicles that have been given 5 kwh to 10 kwh packs. Scientists hope to reduce the cost of a plug-in hybrid battery to just $3,000 (€2,000) per car."

This is the link: US energy lab testing plug-in hybrid cars in Seattle - International Herald Tribune

Perhaps some new info for some to think about concerning INL. (Idaho National Laboratory)

[djysrv]

I'm the blogger who's site is referenced earlier in this thread at Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes I follow nuclear energy and nonproliferation NEI topics. The blog is listed on the blog roll of the Nuclear Energy Institute, which is the nuclear industry's trade association. NEI blog: NEI Nuclear Notes

INL will benefit from long-term government funding commitments to nuclear R&D especially for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) and Generation IV nuclear R&D. The GNEP program has not fared well with Congress which cut the 2008 budget request from $395M to $170M. The appropriation bill is still not out of Congress so that number may change. Also, the National Research Council just issued a report that is critical of the GNEP program. More info at The National Academies: Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine

The lab contractor is Battelle out of Columbus, OH, and is emphasizing the science side as compared to the lab's prior history with an engineering focus. Key prospects for the main mission of the lab will have a Ph.D. in the nuclear field from a well-respected university. See its website for details. Idaho National Laboratory click on the careers link on the left side of the main page for employment listings, description of benefits, and related information.

The government is also spending about $500M/ year on the cleanup of nuclear and hazardous waste at the INL. As cleanup milestones are achieved, the jobs there come to an end. However, some of the cleanup subcontractors have robust markets around the US that they serve. Firms include Northwind, Portage, and several others. Contact the local economic development nonprofit Grow Idaho Falls for a list. Grow Idaho Falls, Inc.

Idaho Falls is a regional retail center with a trade area serving eastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and southwestern Montana. It is also a regional medical center and this part of the economy is growing. Contact the Chamber of Commerce for details Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce You can search for some jobs here Idaho Falls Jobs - BetterIdahoFallsJobs.com: Jobs in Idaho Falls and Careers in Idaho Falls - The major job boards also have listings, e.g., Careerbuilder, Monster, etc.

Housing is far less expensive than big cities on either coast, but wages are lower too. Population within the city limits is estimated to be 50-55,000.

[Mtn. States Resident]

Another award for INL. This time from Homeland Security: INL nuclear materials detection technology wins national security award

Congratulations INL!

MSR