Nathan Segar headshot
Nathan Segar
Mechanical · Nuclear · Italian Engineering
Senior engineering student | Mechanical · Nuclear · Italian

Turning complex systems into reliable performance.

I’m a senior Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Rhode Island, with a minor in Nuclear Engineering and a B.A. in Italian. After internships in aerospace manufacturing and submarine design, I’m spending my fifth year studying in Italy and actively working a 6-month engineering internship at Graded S.p.a — conducting research on the Portable Thermal Treatment for Effective and Regenerative Sludge Management (POTTERS), started in early 2026.

Mechanical & nuclear engineering
Power plant system design & safety
Aerospace & defense experience
Fluent Italian & English
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Designed as a living portfolio – updated as new projects and research milestones ship.

About

A quick overview of my academic path, technical interests, and why I’m drawn to high-performance engineering and analytical environments.

I’m completing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Nuclear Engineering and a B.A. in Italian at the University of Rhode Island (GPA 3.3). My technical foundation comes from courses in power plant system design and safety analysis, materials in nuclear applications, space nuclear power and propulsion, finite element methods, and more.

Professionally, I’ve worked as a Manufacturing Engineer Intern at Barnes Aerospace and an Engineering & Design Intern at General Dynamics Electric Boat. I’ve supported projects ranging from consumable tool optimization and NPI documentation to engineering calculations, mechanical drawings, and change notice revisions for Columbia-class submarines.

Right now I’m in the Italian International Engineering Program, completing my fifth year studying and working abroad in Italy at Università Degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope. I’m currently pursuing a 6-month internship at Graded S.p.a where I can bring together my experience in power systems, manufacturing, and safety-critical design — with a special interest in high-performance environments.

Education
URI · MechE, Nuclear, Italian
B.S. Mechanical Engineering Minor: Nuclear Engineering B.A. Italian
Industry experience
Aerospace & defense
Manufacturing Engineer Intern – Barnes Engineering & Design Intern – EB Capstone with PPL Electric Utilities Research Intern – Graded S.p.a
Leadership
Lacrosse & research
URI Men’s Lacrosse Captain AIAA Engineer Microfluidics research lab
Core skills
Power plant / reactor design Nuclear materials CAD & design engineering Manufacturing processes MATLAB Fluid mechanics / CFD fundamentals
Currently learning
Energy & propulsion systems Advanced control & modeling Data-driven performance analysis Deeper Italian technical vocabulary Thermal treatment Waste-to-energy research

What is my value?

How my skills and mindset align with the type of engineering culture expected today.

Performance mindset

Engineering for performance, not just grades

From college athletics to engineering internships, I’m used to measuring success by real-world performance: does the system run faster, safer, and more efficiently? That mindset aligns well with the industry’s focus on reliability, safety, and extracting actionable performance data from complex systems.

Outcome-driven
Systems thinking

Connecting power, materials, and control

My work ranges from converting coal plants to SMR-powered stations for AI data centers, to microfluidic devices, and robotics. I enjoy working at the interfaces between power, materials, control, and software — where real systems become reliable products.

Cross-disciplinary
Cultural fit

Comfortable in Italian & international teams

Studying and working in Italy as part of the International Engineering Program and speaking Italian helps me adapt quickly and collaborate across cultures. I bring clear communication, curiosity, and a bias toward action.

Italian + English

Projects & Experience

A selection of projects, research, and industry experience that shows how I approach engineering problems from concept to result.

Capstone · Systems

Converting coal plants to SMR power for AI data centers

URI Capstone · Sponsor: PPL Electric Utilities 2024–2025

Developing a replicable process to convert existing coal power plants into nuclear plants using small modular reactors (SMRs). Work includes infrastructure reuse, safety and decarbonization analysis, and exploring how SMRs can reliably power AI data centers with high and variable demand.

SMR technology Power systems Safety analysis
Special Problems · Robotics

Radiation-detecting robot

Detection & mapping 2025

Designing a robot capable of detecting multiple radiation sources or spills within a lab environment. Focus on sensor integration, mapping, and ensuring reliable detection while keeping operators at a safe distance.

Sensing Robotics Safety-critical
Research

Microplastics separation with surface acoustic waves

Microfluidics & Microsystems Lab 2024

Contributed to research on a microfluidic device that uses surface traveling acoustic waves (STAW) to separate microplastics from blood. Supported experimental design and analysis to understand separation efficiency and device behavior. My role as a mechanical engineer was to create new tool fixtures and templates for different geometries of drug capsules.

Microfluidics STAW Experimental work
Independent Research

Custom built robotic arm integrated with AI and ML

Creative design & intuitive engineering 2024–present

A special project: my friend and I spent 6 months developing a fully functional robotic arm from scratch. We designed and 3D-printed housing components, integrated an AI model for voice control, and continue iterating on performance and reliability.

Robotics Design Experimental work
Industry · Aerospace

Consumable tool optimization & NPI support

Manufacturing Engineer Intern – Barnes Aerospace 2024

Owned a consumable tool consolidation project to reduce the number of tools purchased and increase machined parts per tool. Supported programmers and process engineers with control plans, NPI documentation, and clear operator instructions. Also supported fluorescent penetrant inspection, GD&T, and first-piece/final inspection.

Manufacturing Process optimization Aerospace
Industry · Defense

Engineering calculations & part tracking

Engineering & Design Intern – Electric Boat 2023–2024

Worked in the Common Missile Compartment group for Columbia-class submarines, performing engineering calculations for forces and stresses, reviewing mechanical drawings and tolerances, supporting change notices, and building spreadsheets for part tracking and reliability. Conducted part inspections for access door seals for the missile tubes.

Structural calcs GD&T Defense systems
Leadership

URI Men’s Lacrosse – Captain & Exec Board

Social & Fundraising Chair 2021–2025

Led teammates on and off the field while managing fundraising, events, and team culture. This role sharpened my communication, accountability, and ability to perform under pressure — skills I bring directly into engineering projects. Our team made four straight national tournament appearances from 2021–2025; in my final season I earned captain.

Leadership High-performance teams
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

AIAA – Systems Engineer

Control systems 2023–2025

Designed rockets and launch systems with a team for a national competition. I designed the ignition system with a 3D-printed housing and appropriate safety measures. As a group we successfully launched a rocket to 30,000 ft with 2 L of fuel.

Propulsion Fluid dynamics Teamwork
Working abroad in Italy · Research

Research intern for waste-to-energy

Thermal Treatment · Waste-to-energy 2026–present

I will spend 6 months working as a research intern for Graded S.p.a in association with Università Degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope in Naples, Italy. I’m working on the POTTERS project, currently assisting with the preheating and ignition system of our burner.

Thermal systems Waste-to-energy Safety & testing

Resume

A concise snapshot of my experience. Full CV available as a PDF download.

My resume focuses on technical coursework, projects that show ownership and problem-solving, and experiences that highlight teamwork and communication — from research collaborations to college athletics.

  • Mechanical Engineering B.S., Nuclear Engineering minor, Italian B.A. at URI (GPA 3.3).
  • Capstone with PPL Electric Utilities on SMR-powered conversions of coal plants for AI data centers.
  • Manufacturing Engineer Intern at Barnes Aerospace and Engineering & Design Intern at General Dynamics Electric Boat.
  • Research in microfluidics plus radiation-detecting robotics project work.
  • Leadership experience as Captain and Executive Board Member of URI Men’s Lacrosse.
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Contact

If you’d like to talk about a full time opportunity, a project, or anything related to engineering, you can reach me directly here.

I’m currently looking for a full time position following my study-abroad year. I’m especially interested in roles related to power systems, testing, control, or engineering projects that sit close to energy solutions. I am also willing to work outside of traditional engineering roles, where my engineering experience is also valued.

Phone
+1 (860) 936-1026
Email
nate18819@icloud.com · natesegar18@gmail.com
Location
Napoli, Italy · Southern New England (CT, RI, MA)
Languages
English (native), Italian (fluent)

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