Research Fellow (Medium-energy Proton Irradiations of Fusion-grade Steels)

Background

The University of Birmingham is seeking to appoint a Research Fellow to contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking design, commissioning and use of advanced, dedicated sample environments to ion irradiate nuclear fusion-related materials using accelerator sources, under the supervision of Prof. Enrique Jimenez-Melero, UKAEA Joint Chair in Materials for Fusion (https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/metallurgy/jimenez-melero-enrique). Our fusion materials research group focusses on developing new mechanistic understanding of radiation effects in structural materials for fusion power plants, and to link those effects to the material’s mechanical performance and environmental degradation processes under fusion plant service conditions. This new experimental knowledge is used as key input in model validation, and also fed back to material selection campaigns and manufacture. Our work involves: (i) designing dedicated sample environments for use in accelerator-based radiation sources, (ii) characterization of the damaged structures by a palette of complementary techniques, that includes analytical electron microscopy, positron spectroscopy, neutron and synchrotron X-ray scattering, (iii) thermo-mechanical and corrosion testing, esp. while monitoring in situ the microstructure evolution, (iv) manufacture and, where needed, weld metallic materials and structures for fusion technologies. 

Main Duties

• Design, construction and commissioning of advanced, dedicated sample environments to irradiate fusion-grade steels using intense ion beams of medium energies produced by linear accelerator and cyclotron sources
• Develop protocols and safe systems of work to irradiate fusion steels at variable ion energies in the medium-to-high range
• Simulate and measure by gamma spectroscopy, the isotope generation by nuclear reactions between the ion beam and the constituents of the steel, and predict potential sample activations
• Design of (small scale) specimen test geometries to ion irradiate materials for further post-irradiation analysis or testing
• Characterization by analytical electron microscopy and post-irradiation testing of irradiated materials, included those that may have become radio-active as a consequence of ion irradiation
• Liaise with other facilities and groups at national and international level involved in irradiation campaigns of nuclear (metallic) materials
• Disseminate the results at progress meeting of the NEURONE consortium and at relevant scientific events, and also in the form of scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals of high impact in the field
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods

Person Specification

• First degree in area of specialism and normally, a higher degree relevant to the research area or equivalent qualifications, to hold a degree or be close to completion
• Awareness of the basics of fusion energy generation, emerging technologies and related challenges in structural materials for fusion environments
• Expertise in designing and commissioning scientific equipment
• Use of advanced characterization tools to assess radiation damage in metallic materials
• Experience in mechanical testing of materials, and knowledge of mechanical behaviour of metallic materials
• Familiarization with the principles of radiation protection, and the handling and use of radiation sources for research purposes incl. activated materials

Informal enquiries to Prof. Enrique Jimenez-Melero (e.jimenez-melero@bham.ac.uk)

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the above 'Apply' button.

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