PhD Studentship - Surrogate Modelling for Neutronics Calculations

Research theme: Fusion Energy

This 4 year PhD covers tuition fees and a tax free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£19,237 for 2024/25). Home students and students with settled status are eligible. The start date is 1^st October.

The need to meet increasing global energy demand and at the same time urgently address 2050 net zero carbon emissions targets is placing fusion energy in the spotlight. Two new research groups at The University of Manchester are working with UK and international partners, investigating the science and technology necessary to deliver a fusion power plant by 2040. In the Digital Engineering research group, we are developing a digital twin of a proof-of-concept power plant, so that design can be carried out iteratively, considering the plant as a whole system. A key requirement for initial conceptual design is the ability to carry out fast physics-informed simulations for many coupled systems. In a plant that uses a magnetically confined plasma, the fusion process generates neutrons which pass through the whole machine. The design process needs to consider how to protect some systems from the neutrons. In other parts of the machine, the neutrons can be used to generate new fuel for the power plant. We have an opening for a candidate with an interest in the application of machine learning to particle physics simulation and proven skills in software development. The student would contribute to this endeavour by investigating how to speed up neutronics calculations using machine learning whilst retaining a level of accuracy appropriate for whole system conceptual design.

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

Before you apply, please contact the main supervisor: Prof Lee Margetts lee.margetts@manchester.ac.uk

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