Postdoctoral position in applied nuclear physics, nuclear safeguards - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Postdoctoral position in  applied nuclear physics with specialization on the development of analysis methodologies for nuclear safeguards

Are you interested in working with international research in the non-proliferation and safeguards field, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a postdoc position at Uppsala University.

The research conducted at the Department of Physics and Astronomy encompasses a wide range of physics topics, distributed over nine divisions. The department is located in the Ångström laboratory and employs nearly 400 people, 100 of whom are doctoral students. It offers a broad physics curriculum to undergraduate and graduate students, participation in nationally and internationally leading projects for researchers, and opportunities for partnership with industry and various outreach activities. Read more on www.physics.uu.se

In the division of applied nuclear physics at the Department of physics and Astronomy, research in non-proliferation and safeguards is being conducted. The reserach aims at developing methodologies and techniques to deter from the spread of nuclear weapons and equip international organs and national regulators with tools needed to ensure the peaceful applications of nuclear technology. The reserach is developed towards a number of applications such as verification of irradiated nuclear fuel using non-destructive assay methods; development and use of machine learning in nuclear safeguards; and research on methods and analysis techniques that strengthens nuclear safeguards in future nuclear energy systems.

Duties
The postdoc will conduct research on nuclear safeguards for existing and future nuclear energy systems. The research will contribute to the development of instrumentation and analysis methodologies that can be used by regulators to verify nuclear material in agreement with international treaties and national law. Research on verification of fuel before encapsulation and final storage is in focus, as is nuclear safeguards verification of fuel in future nuclear energy systems.

The research, which is partly funded by the Swedish regulator, builds on previous research in the research group and concerns further development of measurement approaches and analysis methodologies. The research is based on the use of traditional analysis methods as well as on the development of approaches using machine learning methods.

The research and development work concerning verification of fuel from existing reactors will include simulations of source terms as well analysis of emitted and detected radiation. The research also includes analysis of the radiation signatures to draw conclusion about properties of the irradiated nuclear fuel. With respect to future nuclear energy systems, this will include research on nuclear safeguards for small modular reactors and well as Generation IV systems. The research on small modular reactors is partly connected to the recently established competence centre ANItA, focussed on the deployment of small modular reactors in Sweden, while the Gen IV builds on ongoing research activities focussed on molten salt reactors (MSR). The MSR research will be performed in collaboration with external partners and vendors developing such reactors. It is also expected that the postdoc will perform research on a system level using for instance the PR&PP (proliferation resistance and physical protection) method, as well as analysis of material streams and material composition for future verification.

The postdoc is expected to participate in a number of different collaborations of varying size. These collaborations include the ANItA consortium, international research collaborations and interaction with operators, vendors and regulators.  It is also expected that the postdoc will participate in fuel measurements, should such opportunities present themselves.

The research results will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and in international and national conferences and meetings.

The postdoc will mainly perform research. Departmental duties on the level of 20% may be included.

Requirements
PhD degree in physics or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in physics. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.

In addition, it is required that the applicant has:

• Research experience and published scientific merits in the form of peer-reviewed journal publication and conference proceedings in the field of nuclear safeguards or other relevant fields.
• Programming experience of particle simulations using Monte Carlo codes, such as Serpent, MCNP and Geant,
• Experience of object-oriented programming, such as Python.
• Excellent communication skills in written and oral English.
• Capability of performing both independent research and of interacting and collaborating with colleagues locally as well as internationally.
• Ability to teach in Swedish and/or English.

Additional qualifications
Special attention will be paid to the scientific merits. Qualifications in nuclear safeguards and specifically in nuclear safeguards verification of irradiated nuclear fuel is meriting, as will experience of working with non-destructive assay methods for safeguards verification of irradiated nuclear fuel. Knowledge about and experience of working with light water reactor systems and molten salt reactor systems is considered a merit, as is experience of working with the development and/or application of machine learning methods in nuclear safeguards research. Experience of working with external partners such as nuclear operators, vendors and waste management companies is also meriting.

Teaching experience is also meriting, as it will be possible to teach on a level of 20% in this position.

Application
The application, written in Swedish or English, shall include:

• A personal letter,
• curriculum vitae,
• a copy of the PhD certificate including grades, or information about when this will be available,
• a copy of or link to the PhD thesis
• contact information to two references, one of which must be from the academy,
• information on personal circumstances that may impact the evaluation,
• list of publications, and
• any other information that may be relevant for the position.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position of three years according to central collective agreement. Full time position. Starting date 8 January or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Sophie Grape, sophie.grape@physics.uu.se, +4618-471 5842

Please submit your application by 16 October 2023, UFV-PA 2023/3441

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