LIBRTI Senior Breeder Scientist

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in contributing and helping to shape the future of the world’s energy? If so, read on. Fusion, the process that powers the Sun and Stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research for groundbreaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid, supported by tomorrow's power stations. In pursuit of our mission, UKAEA embraces core values: Innovative, Committed, Trusted, and Collaborative.

As an employee of UKAEA you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• Corporate bonus scheme up to X % (insert the relevant percentage: up to 7% for Levels 1 - 7, as well as 3rd and 4th year apprentices. Up to 15% for L8+ positions).
• Relocation allowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment.
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders.
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays.
• Wide range of career development opportunities.
• A vibrant culture committed to equality and being fully inclusive.

The salary for this role is £56,596 (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 feeder stream 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 power plant design and build.

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.
• 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, Breeding science, Tritium modelling including simulation of tritium production, Metallics (steels, alloys), Non-metallics (ceramics, CERMETS, composites, coatings, magnets), Microstructural analysis/design/modelling, Mechanical/corrosion testing, Materials fabrication/processing, Density functional theory/finite element modelling or similar on materials, Irradiation campaigns.
• Previous experience of working in a laboratory environment/materials 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 modelling 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.) OR experience with Fortran/C#/FEA type models OR experience in engineering design codes.

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.