Postdoctoral position in nuclear science using fast neutrons

Postdoctoral position in nuclear science using fast neutrons

Are you an expert in experimental techniques using fast neutrons? Do you want to work 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 position is located within the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Division of Applied Nuclear Physics. Here we conduct research in the field of nuclear science and connect fundamental nuclear physics research with applications in nuclear technology. Examples of our research areas are experimental studies of nuclear fission, neutron spectrometry for plasma diagnostics in fusion, nuclear data evaluation methodology, and technical aspects of nuclear safeguards and disarmament.  

Read more at www.physics.uu.se

Duties
Your main tasks will be to finalize the NESSA 14-MeV neutron facility and contribute to developing the experimental program at NESSA. Neutrons are a key player in nuclear applications. The availability of neutron sources is especially important for developing and testing detectors for nuclear physics experiments and applications, development and testing of nuclear instruments for verification of nuclear safeguards and disarmament, radiation-shielding studies, development and verification of simulation tools for neutron transports, and irradiation of material and electronics. After the closing of several research reactors and accelerator-based neutron sources (e.g. The Svedberg Laboratory in Uppsala), there is a current lack of neutron facilities in the Nordic countries.

The NESSA facility is located in the FREIA hall at Ångström laboratory in Uppsala. It is planned to be equipped with an intense, 10^10 n/s DT generator that needs to be procured. For testing existing installations in the bunker, a weaker DT generator will be installed in early 2025.

In this project, we test NESSA with the weaker generator, procure a commercially available strong DT generator, and commission the facility. You will work together with researchers from research groups at the division and other interested partners to develop and perform, e.g., test experiments related to fission and fusion research, detector development, electronic irradiations, material analysis, and educational activities for students and industrial partners.

Depending on your experience and background, your tasks may include the following:

• Procurement of an intense DT generator.
• Installing and testing of the weak and eventually the strong generator.
• Testing and calibrating neutron detectors and validation of shielding simulations.
• Developing of relevant data acquisition systems.
• Detector development for fusion plasma diagnostics.
• Development of neutron-activation measurement techniques by using NESSA together with our gamma spectrometry lab.
• Development of active interrogation techniques for detection of fissile material.
• Development of education and training activities for students and personnel from industry.
• Interaction and networking with internal and external users of NESSA.
• Possibility to get involved into some of the related experimental activities at the division.
• We also encourage you to develop your individual research direction, and to submit applications to help develop the activities of the division

Requirements
PhD degree in a relevant field, such as nuclear physics or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree. 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.

Additional qualifications
The qualifications listed below are meant to help the applicant to point out any relevant experience and expertise. We encourage the submission of an application even if your experience does not match all the listed qualifications.

• Expertise in experimental techniques using fast neutrons.
• Experience in the design and optimization of novel radiation detectors.
• Proficiency in radiation transport simulation with codes such as Geant4 and MCNP.
• Documented experience in experimental nuclear physics such as fission and fusion research, radionuclide monitoring or gamma spectrometry of environmental samples.
• Documented experience in active interrogation techniques for detection of fissile material.
• Working experience with neutron activation measurement techniques.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position of two years, but may be prolonged to at most three years according to central collective agreement. Full time position. Starting date 1 November or as agreed. Placement: Ångström laboratory, Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Stephan Pomp, +46-70-167 9003, stephan.pomp@physics.uu.se.

Please submit your application by 30 August 2024, UFV-PA 2024/2263.

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