"When I first got into nuclear engineering, I started in the nuclear fusion side of things. When I got to college and started learning more and more about it, every new section that I keep finding I still think is amazing," Houghtalen said. Her progression through her college career has opened her eyes to not only the complexity and breadth of the field, but it also has assisted her in determining exactly the path she aspires to pursue. "Once I graduate with my Nuclear Engineering degree, I’ll go into a master’s program for political science and help a nuclear firm, national lab, or the government to promote the technologies of nuclear because it’s so stigmatized." 

With only 89 undergraduates enrolled in the School of Nuclear Engineering as of 2018, Natalie finds the small size to be a strength, because it can provide a community like no other. Whether participating in euchre tournaments or intramural soccer with team name "Nuke Kids on the Block", the students of the nuclear department have an evident bond. "One of my favorite things about the nuke department is the comradery and the family," Houghtalen said. "It’s easy to do well in these classes because you have all these people going with you through them."

Natalie attributes a portion of her love for Nuclear Engineering (NE) to Purdue’s ability to cater to her passion. "If you want there to be an opportunity, it will be available to you. Through this department, I’ve gone to two national conferences for the American Nuclear Society, and I have the ability to be an ambassador and do research with anyone I want," Houghtalen said. "The department head knows my name, and everyone here cares about you as an individual." 

Making pancakes with fellow American Nuclear Society students

Natalie playing Euchre in the Nuclear Engineering student lounge.

Another example of the nuclear department’s extensive opportunities is that Houghtalen has been provided with the opportunity to participate in research fundamental to non-proliferation. Working with Nuclear Engineering Professor Rusi Taleyarkan, she has helped develop detectors to sense radiological material in vehicles. "We put plutonium in a car and tested to see if our detectors could pick it up. It felt really cool to do that, because how often do you get to say you’ve used plutonium to actually achieve something?"

Natalie chats with a fellow student in the Nuclear Engineering student lounge.

When she’s not busy studying, Houghtalen keeps herself busy on the stage, in Greek life, and around the nuclear engineering building. The first to admit that she "does too much," the NE junior has participated in swing dancing, sung for the Purdue Jazz Bands for the last three years, and served on the executive boards of both the Purdue American Nuclear Society Student Chapter and her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta.

Video by Philip Jin, Photos by Zoe Malavenda