Senior Materials Scientist (3 year FTA)

Job Description

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions.

The Role

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to make a difference? Join our team and contribute to the future of fusion energy. As Senior Materials Scientist, you will play a pivotal role in focus on the development of novel fusion-relevant steel alloys within the MSE team. The role is for a fixed term appointment of 3 years, with a performance-based option for 6 month extension.

The role will be primarily based at the University of Manchester, with occasional time spent at the Culham site.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Participate in UKAEA’s research programs on materials for fusion. Organise, support and coordinate short- and long-term projects, arranging specimen/data procurement, scope of work, funding and resources for sample preparation, testing, modelling.
• Deliver high quality, novel research or engineering in the field of nuclear materials through own endeavour and creative input.
• Compile and present results within technical reports, at scientific conferences and through publication of high-quality research articles.
• Work with external collaborators (including universities, public sector research establishments and industry in fusion and related fields) in order to complement UKAEA's internal capability.
• Contribute to the development and positive reinforcement of UKAEA’s knowledge base, design rules and practices in the area of materials & nuclear physics research and development.
• Contribute to bids for and delivery of novel projects aligned with internal strategy (e.g. STEP, EUROfusion, EPSRC, PhD, Masters placements, graduates).
• Propose, secure funding and contribute to delivery of novel projects aligned with internal strategy (e.g. STEP, EUROfusion PPPT Enabling Research, EPSRC, PhD, Masters placements, graduates).

Qualifications

Essential Requirements:

• Degree in material science or equivalent. 
• Excellent skills in microstructural characterisation, particularly via transmission electron microscopy
• Post graduate research in materials science demonstrated either through work experience in the materials field in industry, or a MSc / PhD degree.
• Research experience in nuclear materials science and/or in steel alloy development.  Research experience with materials damaged by radiation.

Desirable

• Research experience in nuclear materials science and/or in steel alloy development.
• Research experience with materials damaged by radiation.
• Experience in a range of mechanical testing and microstructural assessment techniques.
• Understanding of key fusion-relevant materials and manufacturing and assembly challenges.
• Experience of materials selection/justification in previous projects.
• Experience of writing research proposals and/ or project planning.
• Data management experience.

Additional Information

A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and women. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, actively promotes EDI 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.

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.