Uppsala University, Department of Physics and Astronomy

The Division of Applied Nuclear Physics conducts research in the areas of nuclear data, nuclear fuel diagnostics, encapsulation of spent nuclear fuel, the future needs of nuclear power plants, nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation issues, neutron diagnostics for fusion energy and interaction of high velocity ions in various materials (with applications ranging from archaeology and medicine to the ageing of materials in nuclear reactors). The Division of Applied Nuclear Physics also offers training and expertise in instrumentation, numerical modeling and computer simulation of nuclear reactions and interactions as well as nuclear measurements techniques.

The fission group focuses on measurement techniques, instrumentation and analysis methods for the (fission) nuclear energy sector, for usage in nuclear fuel diagnostics and safeguards, and in future reactor concepts. We are developing techniques that utilize various radiation types to examine nuclear materials, e.g. neutron transmission tomography, gamma spectroscopy and tomography, Cherenkov imaging.

Description of the project: Recently, the technique of Gamma Emission Tomography (GET) has been applied with success in the research reactor in Halden, where it is used to study the behavior of nuclear fuels upon irradiation with neutrons. This technique offers nonintrusive measurements of the radioisotope distributions in the fuel, which enables data on nuclear fuel phenomena such as migration of fission products, burnup and power distributions, and dimensional changes of fuel and cladding. These data can be obtained in a timely manner using a GET system in close proximity to the reactor.

In this project, enhancement of the GET technique is envisioned, by improving the ability to resolve small spatial features of the nuclear fuel, toward 100 μm. Such a tool may greatly aid in the development phase of enhanced-accident tolerant nuclear fuels (ATF), by providing non-destructive, high-resolution images of freshly irradiated test fuels in close vicinity to the reactor.

Our group maintains the necessary infrastructures for instrument development, such as a radiation laboratory facility with a GET prototype and a computer cluster for radiation transport simulations. The project is a part of a collaboration financed by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research. It is a collaboration between Uppsala University, CTH, KTH as well as industry partners.

Main responsibilities: The postdoc will take part in the development of novel detector designs for spatially resolved gamma spectrometry. This entail the conceptual modelling and optimization of detector geometries and analysis of its performance, using gamma-ray tracking codes such as MCNP. In addition, the assembly of an experimental device is envisioned, where the postdoc will participate in construction, assembly and performing experiments.

Communication with project members and external partners is encouraged in order to present the developing capabilities within GET for nuclear fuels to potential users and in order to make the new GET technique to benefit the Accident Tolerant Fuel community.

As a postdoc, you primary task is to perform research in the area of the subject. In addition, the position may also include some teaching and administration.

Requirements: The basic eligibility requirement is a PhD exam in a field of relevance for the subject of this postdoc. You must have the doctoral degree before the application deadline and it should generally not be older than three years. In special circumstances the PhD can have been completed earlier, for example in case of leave of absence due to sickness, parental leave.

Meriting skills: The project spans over many topics such as radiation effects on nuclear fuel, radiation simulation and detection and tomographic imaging. Therefore, it is important to note that we will seriously consider your application even if you don’t have all the skills listed below. However, the list reflects skills and experience that would benefit the project group.

  • Experience of radiation transport codes such as MCNP or Geant.
  • Familiarity or expertise on nuclear fuel behavior under irradiation in a reactor is meriting. Knowledge on phenomena such as fuel swelling, fission product migration, fission gas release is valued.
  • Experience of practical laboratory experience.
  • Experience with nuclear and/or particle physics instrumentation and radiation detectors and data acquisition systems.
  • Programming skills, such as in MATLAB, Python, C or C++.
  • Excellent English writing and oral skills.
  • Ability to work effectively in a mixed gender, multi-cultural environment and to promote team spirit.
  • Willingness to work abroad for extended periods of time with our collaboration partners abroad.

 The application should include the following documents

  1. Your Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages).
  2. A copy of your doctoral degree diploma along with other official transcripts
  3. A letter of motivation (maximum 1 page) describing your reason for applying and why you consider yourself to be a good match for the position.
  4. Contact information for reference persons, such as your PhD supervisor.
  5. Personal circumstances that may be of positive relevance in merit evaluation should be mentioned in the CV.
  6. Complete publication list, including URL/DOI to respective papers.
  7. All other documents that you want us to consider.

Uppsala University strives to be an inclusive workplace that promotes equal opportunities and attracts qualified candidates who can contribute to the University’s excellence and diversity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and from people of all backgrounds.

Salary: Individually negotiated salary.

Starting date: 01-01-2019 or as otherwise agreed.

Type of position: Temporary part-time position (100%) ending 31-12-2020.

For further information about the position please contact Peter Andersson, peter.andersson@physics.uu.se, phone +46 18 471 3042.

Please submit your application by 25 November 2018, UFV-PA 2018/3583

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? If so, you will find a lot of information about working and living in Sweden at www.uu.se/joinus. You are also welcome to contact International Faculty and Staff Services at ifss@uadm.uu.se.

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment 20190101
Salary Fixed salary
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Uppsala
County Uppsala län
Country Sweden
Reference number UFV-PA 2018/3583
Union representative
  • Ellena Papaioannou, Seko, 018-471 3315
  • Suzanne Borén Andersson, TCO/ST, 018-471 6251
  • Per Sundman, Saco-rådet, 018-471 1485
Published 08.Nov.2018
Last application date 25.Nov.2018 11:59 PM CET

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