PhD student in Nuclear Data Uncertainty and Reactor Analysis

Are you interested in working with nuclear data, 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 PhD student position at Uppsala University.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is located in the Ångström Laboratory and employs nearly 400 people, around 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 uu.se/physics.

Uppsala University is seeking a highly motivated student to join our innovative research team focused on nuclear data evaluation. This project is dedicated to advancing the development of Generation IV reactors, particularly small modular reactors with molten salt or lead-cooled designs.

As a PhD student in this project, you will study and master the skills of refining uncertainty propagation methods used in safety margin calculations. Your research will involve development and programming of a nuclear data evaluation pipeline, as well as assessing uncertainties within nuclear data libraries.

We are looking for a candidate with a strong background in nuclear engineering, physics, or a related field, as well as programming. This position offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with leading international researchers, as part of the role may involve being stationed at a partner institution abroad.

Join us at Uppsala University and contribute to the future of nuclear energy while expanding your global research network.

Duties

• Conduct research on uncertainty and covariance calculations in nuclear data libraries.
• Development of a nuclear data evaluation pipeline.
• Apply and refine uncertainty propagation techniques to improve reactor safety margins.
• Collaborate with international research partners and contribute to joint research initiatives.
• Lead and contribute to academic publications, conferences, and knowledge dissemination.

Requirements
To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in nuclear engineering, physics, or a closely related field, or
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.

You must also:

• have demonstrated skills in programming.
• have strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Additional qualifications
It is advantageous if you have:

• an interest in uncertainty analysis and nuclear data.
• good understanding in mathematics and statistics.
• good communication skills and a strong collaborative spirit.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 1 September 2025 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Erik Andersson Sundén, erik.andersson-sunden@physics.uu.se, +46 70 363 92 05.

Please submit your application by 6 June 2025, UFV-PA 2025/1494.

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