WINS had the privilege of hosting Ms. Charu Sharma, a Research Scholar at India’s Homi Bhabha National Institute, last month as part of the CRDF Global Robin Copeland Memorial Fellowship programme. Following her fellowship at WINS, we had the chance to sit down with Ms. Sharma to discuss her experiences during her month-long stay.
Reflecting on her fellowship, Ms. Sharma expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am extremely thankful to both CRDF Global and WINS for giving me this unique opportunity to meet and connect with nuclear security practitioners from all over the world at WINS events and at the IAEA’s General Conference.”
Ms. Sharma’s journey into the nuclear sector began during her Master’s in Nuclear Science and Technology, where she interned at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research. She is currently pursuing her PhD on the impact of nuclear radiation on electronic devices at the same institution.
“It was during my time as a Master’s student when I first heard about WINS from a professor. I have closely followed WINS since then – so I was overjoyed when I learned that I was coming to WINS as part of the Robin Copeland Memorial Fellowship programme,” she said.
During her fellowship, Ms. Sharma had the opportunity to participate in WINS’ three-day, in-person workshop on Mitigating the Cyber Insider Threat in the Nuclear Sector. She valued the group discussions, stating, “I got the opportunity to meet people from different countries and sectors, and it was eye-opening to learn about their working cultures and regulations in their home country. It was great exposure for me.”
Additionally, Ms. Sharma contributed to the development of a WINS webinar on the Development of Training in the ASEAN Region, gaining hands-on experience in organising and conducting webinars.
A highlight of her fellowship was visiting the TRIGA Mark II research reactor in Austria, an experience she found invaluable. “As a nuclear engineer, we often read about things like Cherenkov radiation, but seeing it in person at the reactor was a completely different experience. Visiting the research reactor also deepened my understanding of its operations, safety protocols and their security culture, which you can’t fully appreciate until you see it firsthand,” she remarked.
Ms. Sharma was also nominated by WINS to attend the IAEA’s 68th General Conference, held from 16-20 September, where she had the opportunity to meet a diverse group of professionals, from operators to ministers. “It was incredible to see people from all over the world come together. I met many individuals who motivated me and offered insights into job opportunities and career development,” she commented.
In addition to the professional exposure, Ms. Sharma also benefited from mentorship and guidance from WINS staff throughout her fellowship, remarking, “The WINS staff was incredibly helpful, providing me with career advice and guidance in connecting me with other professionals in the field. My journey was wonderful thanks to the collective effort of the entire WINS team.”
She also enrolled in the WINS Academy module on Nuclear Security for Scientists, Technicians, and Engineers, with plans to complete the course and earn certification.
“As I near the completion of my PhD, my next goal is to secure a job. Becoming a Certified Nuclear Security Specialised Professional will give me the credentials I need to stand out in the job market. I’m also excited to become a WINS Academy Alumni and to use the HIVE platform to connect with others and explore new opportunities like job postings,” she shared.
Commenting on Ms. Sharma’s time at WINS, Lars van Dassen, Executive Director at WINS, said, “It was an absolute pleasure to have Ms. Charu Sharma with us for her fellowship at WINS. Her enthusiasm for nuclear security and eagerness to learn from international experts were impressive. We believe her experience at WINS will have a lasting impact on her future work and the global nuclear security field.”
