LIBRTI Senior Breeder Scientist in Abingdon

The salary for this role is £57,117 (inclusive of a Specialist Allowance). Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week, however, we actively support requests for flexible working. This role can be based at any of the following sites; Culham, Oxfordshire. This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions and possibly a search of open source data.

LIBRTI is a £200m fusion fuel capability programme which aims to deliver a world first testbed for engineering scale fusion fuel prototype testing at Culham site in Oxfordshire. The programme comprises adaptation of a building, installation of a 14 MeV neutron source and an extensive suite of feederstream research in subjects as varied as tritium accountancy/ chemistry and molten salt chemical engineering, to multiphysics simulations of hydrogen isotope movements at high temperatures, and uncertainty quantification novel theory. LIBRTI’s end goal is to run multi-tonne experiments under neutrons with global partners, delivering digital twin learnings for future fusion powerplant design and build.

The Role

The programme is seeking to hire a number of candidates in the fields of materials, chemistry, chemical/process engineering and maths and physics. Research is fast paced, involves work with UK universities and international fusion labs, and offers the chance of conference attendance and overseas short secondments if of interest. The team work together with specialists in materials, plasma, computing, robotics, tritium and engineering on a campus which includes two coffee shops, lots of green space and a vibrant social culture.

Responsibilities:

• Participate in UKAEA’s research programs on breeder development for fusion. Organise and coordinate short- and long-term projects, arranging equipment availability, scope of work and resources for sample preparation, testing, and modelling.
• Deliver and lead high quality, novel research or engineering in the field of tritium breeding through own endeavour and creative input.
• Compile and present results within technical reports and where required at scientific conferences and through publication of high-quality research articles.
• Build, and provide management to, a small team of scientists and engineers, providing research direction and allocating them to projects as required. This may also include leading teams during experiments or modelling exercises, to ensure that data is collected and reported in a robust and timely manner.
• Complete all aspects of line management and support recruitment activities, where relevant.
• Lead in the materials and technology required for operation in a fusion power plant, collaborating closely and building a network not just with internal stakeholders but with other fusion and GenIV partners in both academia and industry.
• Manage relationships with external collaborators (including universities, public sector research establishments and industry in fusion and related fields) in order to complement UKAEA’s internal capability and enable access to additional expert knowledge and facilitate new project proposals.
• Propose, secure funding for, and contribute to, delivery of novel projects and capability aligned with internal strategy (e.g. STEP, EPSRC, PhD, Masters placements, graduates).
• Represent UKAEA at both domestic and international conferences, as well as at various meetings and functions as required.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Technical expertise in at least one of the following areas: Tritium experimentation, Tritium breeding science, Microstructural analysis/design of lithium containing materials for fusion, Materials fabrication/processing of lithium containing materials for fusion, Irradiation campaigns.
• Previous experience of working in a laboratory environment/materials or tritium research group/experimental campaign.
• Ability to work well within a team and able to readily articulate complex technical information to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Desirable:

• A PhD in materials science or related area.
• Prior experience of materials processing OR development OR analysis OR qualification for an engineering application.
• Experience working in tritium labs or with tritium.
• A good understanding of nuclear environments and irradiation damage.
• Experience of high-resolution analytical instruments (XRF, TEM, STEM etc.).

A full list of our benefits can be found here. UKAEA's mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds who want to help us achieve our mission. We are under-represented from some groups and so want to encourage applications in particular from women in STEM, people from Black British Caribbean and African backgrounds and from Pakistani and Bangladeshi British backgrounds. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) and Wellbeing and our EDI Networks actively promote Inclusion and takes steps to increase diversity within our organization. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

UK Atomic Energy Authority is committed to being accessible. Please email talent@ukaea.uk if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, for example, changes to the way we interview or share information.

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.