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Opportunities

Call for expression of interest for tenure-track position in Nuclear Sciences and Engineering (PORTUGAL)

The Department of Nuclear Sciences and Engineering at the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) of the University of Lisbon is conducting an open search for candidates who are interested in applying for upcoming openings of tenure track positions in the areas of ​​Nuclear Technologies and Radiological Protection and Chemical and Radiopharmaceutical Sciences.

 

Preference will be given to applicants at the Assistant Researcher level.

 

Requirements and desired skills:

Prospective candidates must, by the date of the upcoming opening, have earned a doctoral degree in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology or related areas. Candidates must have an excellent record of publications, capacity to raise project funding and a clear potential to promote and lead research activities in the area of Nuclear Sciences and Technologies. Strong communication skills and proficiency of the English language are required.

 

The candidates will be expected to:

1) Develop a strong and independent research career with national and international recognition;

2) Develop a research program, which is capable of attracting competitive funding at the national and international level;

3) Supervise undergraduate, MSc and PhD students;

4) Contribute to undergraduate and graduate (MSc and PhD) teaching programs;

5) Carry out other service activities as a faculty member, by interacting collegially and maintaining the highest standard of integrity and ethics.

 

How to apply:

Prospective candidates should submit the following documents (in a single pdf file) addressed to Dr. Katharina Lorenz, President of DECN, to the following e-mail: sec.decn@ctn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt (message subject should be: “Tenure-track Position DECN”).

 

  1. A motivation letter (max 2 pages),
  2. A curriculum vitae including the list of publications and ORCID ID
  3. A selection of up to 10 (ten) relevant publications or scientific contributions in the last 5 (five) years, detailing the candidate’s contribution (max 2 pages),
  4. The names and contacts of three references, who may be asked for letters of recommendation,
  5. A brief proposal of a research program in Nuclear Sciences and Technologies (max 2 pages).

 

 

Deadline:

Full consideration will be given to the expressions of interest received by October 30, 2023.

 

NB: Please note that this announcement is not a guarantee of an opening of a permanent position. The expressions of interest received will contribute to the decision of DECN/IST whether or not to open official calls.

 

About IST (ULisboa)

IST is the top Engineering, Science and Technology school in Portugal and one of the top ranked in Europe. IST provides an inspiring world-class learning environment, while performing leading research with global impact. The outstanding achievements of IST, its unique institution profile, and its privileged location in Lisbon, coupled with the high quality of its students, alumni, faculty and staff, make it truly a school for the world.

 

Tenure track at IST-ULisboa:

This open search is for prospective candidates interested in applying for upcoming openings of tenure-track researcher positions with an initial 3-year appointment. After this period of 3 years, and upon a successful evaluation, the temporary employment will be converted into a permanent position. During the probationary 3-year period the junior faculty member will undergo a Mentoring Program that promotes the integration and adaptation to the IST culture. The objective of the program is to accelerate the development of an academic career with international impact, exhibiting scientific and academic leadership. The Program also supports junior faculty members through a start-up package, an incentive to partial sabbatical leaves abroad during the tenure track period, as well as access to an internal ERC Acceleration Program.

 

Salary and benefits:

IST-ULisboa is a public institution that offers competitive salaries and benefits in accordance with national laws and regulations. These include the possibility to subscribe to the healthcare plan for civil servants, benefiting from a wide choice of private and public national health services at reduced prices, the use of maternity license and paternity leave in case of child birth, and other social benefits.

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Opportunities

Intensive introductory course on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the European Union Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC) invite students of engineering disciplines to apply for an intensive introductory course on the proliferation of nuclear weapons, mechanisms to control their further spread, the security of nuclear materials and installations, and pathways to disarmament.

The course will take place 28–30 November 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden.

The course has two main objectives:

  • to enable students of engineering disciplines to use their knowledge and expertise to build their future careers in the fields of non-proliferation and disarmament, including by addressing the risks of nuclear proliferation through technological developments; and
  • to raise awareness among the students of proliferation risks associated with engineering disciplines. 

The course will cover the fundamentals of nuclear weapons, as well as of missiles and other means of delivery of nuclear weapons; threats associated with the military and potential terrorist use of radioactive and nuclear material; arms control treaties; non-proliferation treaties and their means of verification; export controls; financial expenditure associated with developing and maintaining nuclear weapons, and mechanisms aimed at achieving disarmament.

The course will also examine gender perspectives on armament and disarmament and cover potential career paths in these disciplines. 

The language of instruction is English. There is no tuition fee, and SIPRI will cover accommodation and economy class roundtrip costs for students travelling from Europe upon request. The deadline for applications is 23 October 2023.

You can browse the main website, at the following link: HERE

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Opportunities

NPI job offer – Senior Scientist position in Laboratory of Tandetron

Senior Scientist Position in Laboratory of Tandetron

CAS – Czech Academy of Sciences – Nuclear Physics Institute, Department of Neutron Physics

Prague, Czech Republic

 

Job requirements

  • A PhD degree in a relevant topic with high quality research output in the leading scientific journals and conferences;
  • A track record working with state-of-the-art technologies in ion beam technology, nuclear physics and/or solid state physics, material science and the clear ambition to develop oneself in a direction of synergy between material science and energetic ion beam physics;
  • A clear and ambitious research vision;
  • Applications from candidates with a track-record and vision for ion beam physics and applications will be particularly welcome;
  • Effective communication and organization skills;
  • Strong cooperation skills and the ability to work in teams;
  • An ambition and ability to lead students and or assist in their theses preparation is highly welcome;
  • Experience in acquiring external research funding from (inter-)national funding bodies or industry is an asset;
  • Excellent proficiency (written and verbal) in English.

Conditions of employment

  • A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious research institute, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network;
  • Reduced working hours (36 hours/week – at 100% full-time);
  • Five weeks of vacation + one week of additional vacation;
  • Allowance for catering – meal vouchers + canteen directly in the area of institute;
  • Contribution from the cultural and social needs fund (recreation, camps, theatre, glasses, etc.);
  • Education, language courses;
  • Friendly and pleasant team;
  • Possibility to park in a closed and guarded area;
  • Possibility to apply for an apartment of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic;
  • Experienced colleagues who will help with learning in the beginning.

Information and application

Candidates are encouraged to contact us before they apply to get more information about the position.

Please contact prof. Anna Mackova (mackova@ujf.cas.cz).

 

More extensive information can be found in the flyer HERE

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Opportunities

PhD position at Politecnico di Milano

A call for 1 PhD scholarship funded with investments provided by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) is open in collaboration with A2A and Politecnico di Milano on the topic “INNOVATIVE NUCLEAR REACTORS: ENERGY SCENARIOS AND BUSINESS MODELS”.

Research director is Marco Ricotti (marco.ricotti@polimi.it).

The deadline for the application is September 29th, 2023.

Click on the link for more information on the topic and on the call.

Additional information on the website of the Doctoral studies of Politecnico di Milano (https://www.dottorato.polimi.it/en/prospective-phd-candidates/calls-and-regulations/39-cycle/3rd-additional-call-2023-24).

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Education and Training courses

Course “Deterministic modelling of nuclear reactor multi-physics”

Date/time
Synchronous interactive sessions: December 11-15, 2023 (the course starts at 09:00 on December 11th and ends at 16:00 on December 15th).
The course also contains a self-paced online learning phase that the course participants need to complete before being accepted to the synchronous sessions. The web-based platform used for the entire course opens on November 10th, 2023, at the latest, which is also the date when the participants can start the self-paced online learning phase.

Location
Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden. The course can also be followed entirely on-line.

Registration
Register by October 1st, 2023 at https://forms.office.com/e/zVd0xXB9zi

 

Fee

The course is free of charge. Participants have nevertheless to cover their own expenses (travel, food, and accommodation) in case of onsite participation to the synchronous interactive sessions.
In case of onsite attendance, participants can also apply for financial support through the ENEN2plus mobility funds specifically allocated to this course.

ENEN2plus applications should be separately filed on the ENEN2plus mobility portal at https://mobility.enen.eu/prog/lst/ in the category “Individuals applying to group events” (then select the event “Course on Deterministic modelling of nuclear system multi-physics 2023” when asked to select an event in the eligibility form).

Contact
Prof. Christophe Demazière Chalmers University of Technology Department of Physics Division of Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics demaz@chalmers.se

 

Course theme
The modelling of nuclear reactor systems is one of the most challenging tasks in complex system modelling, due to the many different scales and intertwined physical phenomena involved. The nuclear industry as well as the research institutes and universities heavily rely on the use of complex numerical codes, either commercially available or developed in-house. All the commercial codes are based on using different numerical tools for resolving the various physical fields, and to some extent the different scales, whereas the latest research platforms attempt to adopt a more integrated approach in resolving multiple scales and fields of physics.
Even though the sophistication of the codes allows for modelling intricate reactor phenomena, the complexity of the tools makes their use difficult. In addition, without proper guidance, users might apply the codes in some erroneous fashion, when for instance the underlying assumptions and conditions in a given numerical method are not fulfilled.
This course aims at presenting the main algorithms used in such codes. The course is not about explaining how to use such software, but rather to understand the underlying methods, together with their assumptions and limitations. After completing the course, the attendees will be able to use such codes with confidence.
The unique character of the course resides in tackling neutron transport, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer within the same course. The main techniques are presented in the course in a generic manner (i.e., not specific to any code system) and for practical reactor calculations performed by, e.g., utilities for core follow and safety analyses. Concerning neutron transport, the course thus focuses exclusively on deterministic modelling.

Learning objective
After completion of the course, the course attendees should be able to:
• Know the governing equations describing neutron transport, flow transport, and heat transfer in nuclear reactors.
• Know the modelling strategies used for neutron transport, flow transport, heat transfer in nuclear reactors, and for their coupling.
• Understand the limitations of the different modelling strategies.
• Implement some of the modelling strategies in modelling environments.

Target audience
• MSc students, PhD students and Post-Doc students having some background knowledge in nuclear engineering.
• Nuclear engineers.
• Reactor physicists.
• Nuclear safety analysts.
• Research scientists in the above fields.

 

Prerequisites
Although previous knowledge in reactor physics, thermal-hydraulics or nuclear engineering is definitely advantageous, all equations are derived from first principles and should allow the students not familiar with reactor modelling to comprehend all concepts thoroughly.
Some basic knowledge in programming is of definite advantage for solving different programming tasks. A web-based platform based on Matlab (called Matlab Grader) will be made accessible to the course participants. Basic programming skills in interpreted languages like Matlab or similar are beneficial. Participants not familiar with Matlab will be provided with extra resources.

 

Teaching approach
The course can be followed on-site in Chalmers or off-site (i.e., remotely).
The course follows a “flipped classroom” set-up in a hybrid (i.e., on-site/off-site) environment. Students learn asynchronously from a book, short video lectures and online quizzes prior to attending synchronous sessions (either in the classroom for the on-site students or remotely for the off-site students). Such sessions are held in an interactive teaching room in Chalmers. The room allows mixing on-site students with remote attendees while preserving full interaction possibilities between both audiences. Because the students learn at their own pace during the asynchronous sessions, they attend the synchronous sessions better prepared. As a result, these sessions can focus on more active forms of learning that effectively engage students, promote higher-order thinking, clarify difficult concepts, and provide more personalized support.

 

Course format

The course consists of:
• An asynchronous self-paced online learning phase, comprising the following resources:
o The book titled “Modelling of nuclear reactor multi-physics − From local balance equations to macroscopic models in neutronics and thermal-hydraulics”, by C. Demazière, ISBN-978-0-12-815069-6, Academic Press/Elsevier (2020) https://www.elsevier.com/books/isbn/9780128150696 The course participants will get their private copy of the book.
o Pre-recorded lectures or webcasts are available to students for on-demand viewing.
o Online quizzes that focus on conceptual understanding.
• Synchronous hybrid interactive sessions (online or onsite), comprising the following resources:
o Wrap-up sessions designed to summarize the key concepts presented in the book/webcasts and to address student needs.
o Discussions based on interactive quizzes.
o Programming sessions, during which the attendees will have to solve, under the teacher’s supervision and guidance, some programming assignments in Matlab Grader.
For the off-site attendees, the interactive sessions are live broadcasted on the web. They will also be recorded and made available on the web. For the remote attendees, it is nevertheless strongly recommended to attend the interactive sessions when they take place to fully benefit from the teacher’s support.

The preparatory (i.e., asynchronous) work represents ca. 100 hours of self-studies. The synchronous interactive sessions represent ca. 60 hours.
Course certificate and course credits
A course certificate will be issued to the students who obtain at least 50 points (out of 100 max points). The total number of points is estimated as follows:
• The points on the asynchronous quizzes will account for 25% of the total number of points.
• The active participation to the synchronous sessions will account for 75% of the total number of points.
The certificate will briefly describe the course contents, the number of hours the different course elements represent and the number of equivalent ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System). The course is worth 6 ECTS.

 

Technical course contents
The curriculum for the course follows the chapters in the book “Modelling of Nuclear Reactor Multi-physics – From Local Balance Equations to Macroscopic Models in Neutronics and Thermal-Hydraulics” (ISBN 978-0-12-815069-6) and is thus organized in seven chapters.
Chapter 1 – Introduction
In the introductory chapter, the main topics addressed in the book are first discussed, together with the objectives the course attempts to tackle. Areas not covered in the course are also described. The structure of the course is thereafter presented. Both the technical contents as well as the followed pedagogical approach are dealt with. The notations and conventions used throughout the course are then highlighted. Finally, some mathematical concepts and theorems of importance for the following chapters are presented.
Chapter 2 – Transport phenomena in nuclear reactors
In this chapter, the governing equations for neutron transport, fluid transport, and heat transfer are derived, so that students not familiar with any of these fields can comprehend the course without difficulty. The peculiarities of nuclear reactor systems, i.e., their multi-physic and multi-scale aspects, are dealt with. An overview of the modelling strategies is thereafter given, with particular emphasis on deterministic methods, which represents the focus area of the course.
Chapter 3 – Neutron transport calculations at the cell and assembly levels
In this chapter, the computational methods for neutron transport at both the pin cell and fuel assembly levels are presented. The chapter is aimed at following the solution procedure in fuel pin/lattice codes as much as possible. This includes resonance calculations of the cross-sections, the determination of the micro-region micro-fluxes, and of the macro-region macro-fluxes, and finally spectrum correction. The chapter ends with the preparation of the macroscopic cross-sections for sub-sequent core calculations, where the effect of burnup is also detailed.

Chapter 4 – Neutron transport calculations at the core level
In this chapter, the computational methods in use for core calculations are presented. In the first part of this chapter, the treatment of the angular dependence of the neutron flux is described. In the second part, the treatment of the spatial dependence of the neutron flux is outlined. Thereafter, the solution procedure for estimating the core-wise position- (and possibly direction-) dependent multigroup neutron flux is described. Finally, the methodology used for determining the core-wise space- and time-dependent neutron flux in case of transient calculations is derived.
Chapter 5 – One-/two-phase flow transport and heat transfer
This chapter focuses on the computational methods used for one-/two-phase flow transport and heat transfer. From the local governing equations of fluid flow and heat transfer, macroscopic governing equations are derived, and the underlying assumptions clearly emphasized. The different flow models commonly used in nuclear engineering are introduced, models having various levels of sophistication: the two-fluid model, the mixture models with thermal equilibrium and specified drift, and the Homogeneous Equilibrium Model. The temporal and spatial discretization of the flow and heat transfer models are given special attention, with emphasis on their stability, consistence, and convergence.

Chapter 6 – Neutronic/thermal-hydraulic coupling
This chapter tackles solving the coupling between neutronics and thermal-hydraulics at the core level. Various aspects of multi-physics coupling are highlighted: segregated versus monolithic approaches, coupling terms and non-linearities, information transfer, preparation of the macroscopic material data (cross-sections, diffusion coefficients, and discontinuity factors) as functions of the thermal-hydraulic variables, spatial coupling. The numerical techniques that can be used to solve multi-physics temporal coupling either in a segregated or in a monolithic manner are also discussed in detail.
Chapter 7 – Conclusions
The last chapter summarizes in, a nutshell, the macroscopic modelling techniques and presents a quick overview of the current efforts in high-fidelity reactor modelling.

 

 

 

HERE is the leaflet, available for download

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Opportunities

OPPORTUNITIES at Forschungzentrum Juelich

There are two 6-months long opportunities at FZJ, in Germany

Coupled containmentFOAM-Modelica modeling of the passive safety systems of small modular reactors

Schedule (6 months):
2 weeks: Literature review on coupling strategies or modeling of pressure decay systems.
6 weeks: Familiarization OpenModelica and containmentFOAM
8 weeks: Implementation of new developments for the Modelica models (coupling scheme and/or heat and mass transfer phenomenology)
6 weeks: Execution of coupled simulations, test of the robustness of the coupling and implementation of improvements if necessary. Application-oriented validation.
4 weeks: Preparation of the final documentation.

Modelling the passive cooling of small modular reactor containments submerged in a water pool using containment FOAM

Schedule (6 months):
2 weeks: literature review on external cooling of submerged containments.
4 weeks: familiarization OpenFOAM / containmentFOAM
2 weeks: evaluation of optimal modeling approach to simulate the external cooling with containmentFOAM
6 weeks: development of model input and simulation of available experiments (boundary condition as a heat source for the external pool)
8 weeks: set-up coupled case with the current version of containmentFoam to represent the heat source to the external pool
4 weeks: Preparation of the final documentation

 

For both positions, the contact person is

Carlos Vázquez-Rodríguez,

Institute for Energy and Climate Research, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, c.vazquez-rodriguez@fz-juelich.de, 02461/618057

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Education and Training courses

Launching of e-learning course on INPRO Methods and Tools for Modelling and Analysis of Nuclear Energy Systems

The International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO) announces the launch of an e-learning course on INPRO Methods and Tools for Modelling and Analysis of Nuclear Energy Systems.

INPRO supports Member States in their long-term planning for sustainable nuclear energy. INPRO provides support related to nuclear energy system scenario modelling, analysis, and sustainability assessment.

The e-learning course will provide Member States with training on INPRO methods and tools for modelling and analysis of nuclear energy systems. This course will support strengthening national capacity in strategic planning for sustainable nuclear energy. The course materials are suitable for familiarisation with INPRO methods and tools and for conducting studies within INPRO collaborative projects.

The course is self-paced, and participants can access the course materials at any time. The course is for professionals involved in nuclear energy planning, policy-making, and analysis, and for students pursuing a career in the field of nuclear energy.

We invite you to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your knowledge of INPRO methods and tools for modelling and analysis of nuclear energy systems.

Course enrolment and information is in the IAEA Learning Management System: https://elearning.iaea.org/m2/course/view.php?id=1341

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Education and Training courses, Opportunities

Transnational access to analytical research infrastructures via ReMade@ARI – call info

NPI of the CAS (member of ENEN) joined the European research infrastructure project ReMade@ARI (REcyclable MAterials DEvelopment at Analytical Research Infrastructures)

Within ReMade@ARI (coordinated by HZDR, launched on September 1, 2022), the potential of more than 50 analytical research infrastructures of the European ARIE network

is made available to design new competitive, fully functional and at the same time highly recyclable materials.

Researchers can benefit from Transnational access (TNA) to about 50 facilities including ion and electron beams, neutron beams, synchrotrons etc. Informational project leaflet is attached.

As part of the project, NPI offers access to ion analytical methods and preparation of recyclable materials by energetic ion beams in the Laboratory of Tandetron and provides a training program for researchers and industrial developers from this field.

NPI has a long-term experience with radiation hardness tests, nuclear material testing and development and associated topics based on broad portfolio of ion, electron accelerators, neutron generators and beams within its CANAM (Centre of Accelerators and Nuclear Analytical Methodscontact.

The proposal call for autumn campaign in the frame of TNA via ARIA ends on September 22, 2023.

You can apply for the transnational beam time via ARIA portal.

Leaflet available for download: HERE