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Opportunities

ETRAP Conference and EUTERP Workshop

The EUTERP Workshop will take place 26-27 June, 2023;

The ETRAP2023 Conference will be held in the same week from 27 to 30 June, 2023.

The Venue will be the Academy building of the University of Groningen in The Netherlands.

The deadline for abstract submission for ETRAP2023 is extended to 15 February, 2023.

Further information at the conference website: https://www.etrap.net/ (this includes the workshop!)

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Opportunities

ELINDER “Summer School on Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Management”

ELINDER “Summer School on Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Management”

a learning path for post-graduate students on 10-14 July 2023, in JRC Ispra, Italy

 

The European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) is hosting a 5-days Decommissioning Summer School (DSS) on 10-14 July, in Ispra, Italy. This unique practice-oriented training also includes visits of the nuclear installations in Ispra and illustrative case studies.

The 2023 Edition of the DSS is organised in the frame of the European Learning Initiatives for Nuclear Decommissioning and Environmental Remediation (ELINDER).

The course targets students who have completed their first cycle of studies in the fields of engineering, science and technology, and who would like to enrich their curriculum during the holidays’ time. Preference will be given to students who are already enrolled in a Master’s or PhD programme and have no remunerated professional activity.

Participation is free of charge for admitted students. The JRC supports the courses and accommodation. Travel costs might be subject to partial reimbursement through the EU ENEN2plus project

The DSS is limited to 40 participants and applications are open until 16 April 2023, 23:59 CEST.

To express their interest, students are encouraged to complete the application form and send it together with a copy of their student card to: JRC-DSS@ec.europa.eu

Flyer available for download, HERE

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Opportunities

Job Opportunities at JRC Geel

2 Vacancies as Contract Agent are open at JRC Geel

 

Nuclear Science, Safeguards and Security

Auxiliary Contract Staff positions

Code: 2023-GEE-GII5-FGIV-022508 – GEEL
CONTRACT AGENT FGIV – Project Officer – Scientific

Deadline: 20/03/2023 23:59 Brussels time    APPLY

Auxiliary Contract Staff positions

Code: 2023-GEE-GII5-FGIV-022509 – GEEL
CONTRACT AGENT FGIV – Project Officer – Scientific

Deadline: 20/03/2023 23:59 Brussels time    APPLY

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Opportunities

ANIMMA Conference and Summer School

The eighth of a series of conferences devoted to endorsing and promoting scientific and technical activities based on nuclear instrumentation and measurements.

ANIMMA conference brings together scientific, academic and industrial communities interested or actively involved in the R&D related to nuclear instrumentation and measurement methods.

The program is focused on instrumentation but emphasizes the latest developments in all measurement stages: signal detection, modelling, electronics treatment, signal acquisition and analysis, modelling interpretation and associated training/education activities.
ANIMMA offers an outstanding opportunity for scientists and engineers to meet and discuss new ways to address complex problems and find advanced solutions in nuclear instrumentation and measurement sciences and technologies.

A very new proposition would be to have a Laboratory in nuclear measurement instrumentation application to explain a series of security systems to better address nuclear security applications by guarding against threats, theft, sabotage, unauthorized access, illegal transfer or other malicious acts involving high-level radioactive wastes and nuclear facilities.

further information at the Conference website: https://animma.com/

ANIMMA International Summer School

A new three full days international school for a maximum of 32 students with an advanced program of courses will be proposed and will be held at the University of Pisa on June 10-12, 2023.

Starting from the physical principles, the courses will present a selection of applications of radiation detectors as well as nuclear measurements in various fields, including a hands-on demonstration session with state-of-the-art nuclear instrumentation equipment.

Further information on the dedicated website: https://animma.com/scope/international-summer-school/

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Opportunities, Proposed PhD Topics

PhD Opportunity in Molten Salt Reactor

Detailed title of the PhD thesis:
Contributions to the design and performance evaluation of an actinide converter type molten
salt reactor

Description of the subject
Molten salt nuclear reactors (MSRs) have great potential in terms of safety and flexibility. These are reactors in which the fuel is dissolved in a mixture of molten salts (liquid), acting also as the coolant. The salt circulates in the fuel circuit through an area called the “core” where it is made critical by geometry, producing heat, which is extracted by passing through a heat exchanger, thus allowing the energy produced to be used, either in the form of heat (heat-generating role) or electricity (power-generating role). This type of reactor is characterized by its intrinsically core stable behavior, and its versatility (choice of the cycle, choice of neutron spectrum, choice of salt composition, etc.) and therefore the versatility of its applications (power reactor on a range from very small to very large power, burner of high activity and long-life waste by transmutation, etc.). As these qualities are sought after in the current nuclear context, it is attracting renewed interest in France, in Europe and in the world.

For about twenty years, the CNRS, through the MSFR (Molten Salt Fast Reactor) team of LPSC (Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie), has been studying this type of reactor in various forms, and in particular the so-called reference MSFR, a high-power breeder reactor operating in the Thorium cycle and with a fluoride salt. The SEN (Structure and Nuclear Energy) team of SUBATECH (Laboratoire de Physique SUBAtomique et TECHnologies Associées) joined this theme a few years ago with a particular interest in the aspects of neutronics and associated calculations of residual power.

Taking into account the renewed interest for this promising technology, new collaborations have been set up, and new studies are in progress, in particular, those around the MSR concepts of chloride salt actinide converter: among which the ARAMIS (Advanced Reactor for Actinides Management in Salt) reactor carried by the CEA and studied in the framework of the national ISAC (Innovative System for Actinides Conversion) project which began in the first half of 2022 and whose partners are: CEA, CNRS, EDF, FRAMATOME and ORANO. The ISAC project aims to study the capacity of a breakthrough technology, in this case the MSR, to reduce the inventory of actinides from the existing reactor fleet via the transmutation of minor actinides, by carrying out a sketch study (evaluation of design options, performances of the concept, operational and safety analysis) and by associating with it the first small-scale experiments on the main barriers of this technology: the chemistry of the salts, treatment/recycling, and the prevention of corrosion applied to the materials making up the primary circuit. Scenario studies will be associated in order to evaluate the final impact on the inventory and the type of waste to be stored according to different hypotheses.

The subject of the PhD thesis proposed here will contribute to the definition of the outline in collaboration with the different partners of the consortium, via the neutronic studies of the ARAMIS reactor. The thesis will focus on the calculation of the core and cycle performances, on the sensitivities to nuclear data, as well as on the study of the residual power. Other studies may be undertaken by the PhD student, depending on the progress of the thesis and of the ISAC project, particularly in connection with safety studies: core behavior in accident situations, participation in risk analysis in collaboration with EDF and Framatome. The thesis, which will be supported by the two laboratories LPSC and SUBATECH, will be carried out 50% in Nantes at SUBATECH and 50% in Grenoble at LPSC.

The neutronic studies will be performed with the SERPENT evolution code for core characterization taking into account the on-line fuel processing scheme for the defined concept. Developments of the SERPENT code, specific to the MSR technology (constraints on the reactivity and/or the fuelcomposition during evolution) are currently underway at the SUBATECH laboratory. The results of these studies will also be compared to those obtained with the REM code developed in Grenoble since more than 20 years and which is currently the reference evolution code for the MSR concepts. Sensitivity studies to nuclear data will be performed with the Coconust and Cocodrilo codes developed at SUBATECH and LPSC. A work on the needs for improvement of nuclear data related to residual power will be carried out in the framework of the thesis. The PhD student may also use the coupled multiphysics codes developed at LPSC for the calculation of normal and accidental transients of MSR, in particular the coupled 3D code TFM-OpenFOAM and the system code LiCore. Also, part of the studies could focus on the optimization of the fuel circuit of the ARAMIS concept, with the LPSC multicriteria
optimization code Songe.

In addition, the LPSC and SUBATECH laboratories are collaborating in the European projects SAMOSAFER (Simulation Models and Safety Assessment for Fluid-fuel Energy Reactors) and MIMOSA (MultI-recycling strategies of LWR SNF focusing on MOlten SAlt technology), and the PhD student will have the opportunity to present his/her work in these European frameworks and also to contribute to the working groups of these projects in relation to the PhD thesis subject.

 

Context of the work
The PhD student under CNRS contract will be based during the first half of the thesis at the SUBATECH laboratory in Nantes and during the second half at the LPSC laboratory in Grenoble.

The research work will be multidisciplinary, ranging from reactor physics, nuclear data and safety analysis.

The candidate must have a Master’s degree in nuclear or reactor physics or equivalent. He or she must:
– Have a good knowledge of reactor physics (neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, safety…)
– Have a good knowledge of the use of an evolving neutronic code, dealing with the coupling of Boltzmann (neutron transport) and Bateman (material evolution) equations
– Be able to work in a team in the context of a wide range of collaborations
– Be used to developing computer code, especially in Python and Java
– Ability to produce large amounts of data
– Fluency in scientific English, both spoken and written
– Basics in French and will to learn!
– Be rigorous: know how to report, and respect deadlines.

The position is foreseen to be fulfilled between March 2023 and October 2023.

Both students who are already graduated or are looking for a PhD for the new fall semester are invited to apply.

The application (CV, cover letter, reference letters, transcript of Master’s results) is to be sent first via email to

Axel Laureau (axel.laureau@cnrs.fr)

Elsa Merle (elsa.merle@lpsc.in2p3.fr)

Lydie Giot (giot@subatech.in2p3.fr).

A detailed description can be downloaded HERE (French first and English follows)

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Opportunities, Proposed PhD Topics

PhD Topics available at SCK CEN

SCK CEN is welcoming PhD Applications until MARCH 23, 2023

Fields are diverse: radiochemistry, reactor engineering, nuclear technology, materials, radiation protection, waste & disposal, decommissioning, etc…

The list of available topics:

  • A whole-body physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for personalized 161Tb-PRRT

    Research in Dosimetric Applications

    More details

  • Application of Lemna-based technologies to remediate radioactively polluted water and investigation of valorisation potential of residual phases

    Biosphere Impact Studies

    More details

  • Changing of the Guard: Managing safety and security interactions in a context of nuclear technological innovation

    Nuclear Science and Technology Studies

    More details

  • Developing flexible matrices for transmutation targets

    Fuel Materials

    More details

  • Development of a molten salt electrorefining process suited for the recycling of HALEU fuel production scraps

    Radiochemistry

    More details

  • Development of a novel laser spectroscopy apparatus for high-precision studies of radioactive isotopes at ISOL@MYRRHA

    Physics and Target Research

    More details

  • Development of organ-on-chip sensors to monitor cardiac tissue

    Radiobiology

    More details

  • Evaluation of the corrosion rate and mechanism of metallic uranium (BR1 fuel) in highly alkaline and anaerobic conditions

    R&D Waste Packages

    More details

  • First generation targets for the ISOL facility of MYRRHA – A Si/Ti target for Al and Mg isotopes

    Physics and Target Research

    More details

  • In vivo and in silico assessment of circular RNAs as novel long-term biomarkers of radiation exposure for biodosimetry

    Radiobiology

    More details

  • Innovative detector set-ups for the robust quantification of radiological data acquired with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

    Crisis Management and Decision Support

    More details

  • Neutronic experiments at VENUS-F in support of lead-cooled small modular reactor deployment

    Nuclear Systems Measurements

    More details

  • Novel assays of ‘difficult-to-measure’ radionuclides in the context of a sustainable waste management

    Low-level Radioactivity Measurements

    More details

  • Oxidation and corrosion mechanisms in actinide oxide systems

    Fuel Materials

    More details

  • Personal online dosimetry of astronauts using computational methods

    Research in Dosimetric Applications

    More details

  • Screening of airborne radioxenon measurements for Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty verification

    Crisis Management and Decision Support

    More details

  • Separation and purification of medical radioisotopes by solvent extraction in milliflow reactors

    Radiochemistry

    More details

  • Shape controlled thorium dioxide precipitation routes

    Fuel Materials

    More details

  • Super-resolved analysis of lamin-mediated DNA damage repair after high LET irradiation and its applicability to predictive modelling of individual radiation sensitivity in cancer patients

    Radiobiology

    More details

  • Towards insights of formation, growth and degradation of thin oxide films on steels in liquid lead as applied for Lead-cooled Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

    Reactor Research & Engineering

    More details

  • Understanding the RNA regulatory interactome landscape of radiation response in glioblastoma.

    Radiobiology

    More details

 

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Opportunities

Job Opportunity at IAEA, Vienna – Division of Nuclear Security

IAEA is looking for:

Unit Head (Transport Security) (P5)

Organization: NSNS-Transport Security UnitPrimary Location: Austria-Vienna-Vienna-IAEA Headquarters
Job Posting: 2022-11-12
Closing Date: 2022-12-11, 11:59:00 PM
Duration in Months: 36
Contract Type: Fixed Term – Regular
Probation Period: 1 Year

 

Job Description and more details available HERE

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Opportunities

EFOMP School for Medical Physics Experts Upcoming Editions

ESMPE editions in 2023

Computed Tomography

Prague, Czech Republic

26th-28th January 2023

On-line registration is open!

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy

Prague, Czech Republic

13th-15th July 2023

On-line registration will open in February 2023!

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Artificial Intelligence in Medical Physics

Online part, December 2022 

In person part, October 2023 

Prague, Czech Republic

The dates for the onsite school will be announced later.

Registration for the online part will open in December 2022!

 

FURTHER INFO AT THIS LINK: EFOMP ESMPE 2023

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Opportunities

PhD Opportunity at CHALMERS

Opportunities for PhD student position in Neutron noise-based core monitoring in Small Modular Reactors

Major responsibilities
As a PhD student, you will develop, implement and test a neutron noise-based methodology for core monitoring and diagnostics applicable to small modular reactors. Your responsibilities also include taking courses for your doctoral education.

The position generally also includes teaching on Chalmers’ undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding to 20 per cent of working hours.

*****

A PhD position in reactor physics is offered in the group ‘reactor physics, modeling and safety’ and relates to projects within the Swedish competence centre ANItA (Academic-industrial Nuclear technology Initiative to Achieve a sustainable energy future) integrating Swedish technical and nontechnical expertise of Uppsala University, Chalmers, KTH, Vattenfall, Uniper, Fortum, Westinghouse Electric Sweden, Studsvik Nuclear and the Swedish Energy Agency in nuclear technology and engineering.

Collaborative research, development and education of the centre aim to create a Swedish knowledge and competence base needed for the introduction of novel nuclear power technologies such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and providing relevant information, in particular, to policymakers for timely decisions on the future Swedish energy generation mix.

Within ANItA, the leading universities in Sweden collaborate with leading Nordic companies in the nuclear energy sector offering together a unique research environment and industrial application potential for doctoral students and postdocs with good opportunities for international partnership.

The PhD project is planned to investigate a technique for core monitoring and diagnostics applicable in future SMRs.

The technique will rely on the analysis of reactor neutron noise, i.e., the small, stationary fluctuations of the neutron flux in the reactor core. These fluctuations are always present and are related to different types of physical phenomena.

Following the evolution of neutron noise in time allows to identify and correct promptly possible perturbations that might negatively impact the operation and safety of the plant.

The technique will make use of neutron noise computational tools to study the system response to perturbations and a machine learning algorithm for the inverse problem that determines the perturbations given the system response.

The outcome of this project will ultimately support the design of SMRs, before their construction and exploitation. The project will also result in the establishment of state-of-art competences in core monitoring on the long term.

FURTHER INFO: https://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/Working-at-Chalmers/Vacancies/Pages/default.aspx?rmpage=job&rmjob=10918

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Opportunities

POST-DOC and PhD opportunities at EPFL

Opportunity for Postdoctoral position on nuclear fuel behavior

The Laboratory for Reactor Physics and System Behavior (LRS) at EPFL is looking for a motivated Post-Doc in the field of multi-dimensional modelling of nuclear fuel.
The position is expected to begin in Q1/Q2 2023 and will be based 100% in the EPFL campus in Lausanne.

The successful candidate will actively participate to the OperaHPC European project (starting in November 2022) and will effectively lead part of the subtasks assigned to EPFL.

One of the main objectives is to advance the capabilities of modern 3D fuel performance codes by enhancing the thermo-mechanical simulation of the fuel rod with high-performance computing (HPC), uncertainty quantification and a more accurate description of the fuel microstructure.
Central to the project is the 3D open-source fuel performance code OFFBEAT, which is based on the OpenFOAM C++ platform and is in development at EPFL and PSI since 2017.

Several developments will be carried out with the help of the successful candidate in the framework of the OperaHPC project. These will focus, for instance, on improving the formulation of mechanical contact to perform multi-pellet and multi-fragment simulations; on a multi-material treatment to analyze the effect of liners on the cladding behavior; on the application of layer addition/removal techniques to model the growth of oxide films; or on the creation/testing of coupling interfaces between OFFBEAT and mesoscale tools developed by the other partners’ institutions.

FURTHER INFO: https://recruiting.epfl.ch/Vacancies/2663/Description/2

 

Opportunities for PhD in the field of high-fidelity, multi-physics modeling of nuclear reactors.

The PhD student will investigate the multi-physics effects of thermomechanical phenomena such as core radial expansion, core flowering and assembly bowing, which are highly relevant for advanced reactor concepts.

The aim is to focus both on structural integrity issues (stresses and deformations) and on the impact on neutronics and thermal hydraulics.

The student will have the opportunity to acquire a wide range of numerical and modeling skills, and to learn a wide set of tools. These will include the two open-source codes developed at LRS and based on OpenFOAM, i.e. OFFBEAT for fuel mechanics and GeN-Foam for the multi-physics analysis of nuclear reactors, as well as the Monte Carlo neutron transport code Serpent, the fuel behavior code TRANSURANUS and Ansys Mechanical.

The PhD is partly embedded in the ESFR-SIMPLE project, led by the CEA (France) and is participated by several European institutions, research centers and universities. The PhD student will be partly responsible for the tasks assigned to EPFL in the framework of this project.

FURTHER INFO:https://www.epfl.ch/about/working/sb-lrs-phd-student-in-multiphysics-analysis-of-advanced-nuclear-reactors-and-fuel-behavior/