Job Description

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in contributing and helping to shape the future of the world’s energy? If so, read on.

Fusion, the process that powers the Sun and Stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs.

UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research for ground breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid, supported by tomorrow's power stations. In pursuit of our mission, UKAEA embraces core values: Innovative, Committed, Trusted, and Collaborative.

As an employee of UKAEA you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment.
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders,
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
• Wide range of career development opportunities
• A vibrant culture committed to equality and being fully inclusive

What to expect in our recruitment process:

For a step-by-step overview of how we hire from application to offer please see our Recruitment Process page: careers.ukaea.uk/join-us/recruitment-process

The salary for this role is £48,290 (inclusive of a Specialist Allowance). Onsite working is expected for a minimum of 3 days a week, however, we actively support requests for flexible working.

This role will be based at Culham, Oxfordshire

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) , including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions and possibly a search of open source data.

The Role

We are seeking a research scientist to develop advanced High-Performance Computing (HPC) models to support the design and operation of future fusion energy systems, focusing on predicting deformation and irradiation effects in advanced metallic and ceramic materials.

You will apply microscopic and finite element simulation methods to study material behaviour under extreme conditions such as irradiation, high temperature, and mechanical stress, using large-scale atomistic and finite element simulations on national and international supercomputing facilities to develop predictive models of damage, deformation, and gas transport in fusion reactor components.

If you are keen to contribute to cutting-edge fusion research, this role offers the opportunity to work within the EPSRC/EUROfusion research programme and collaborate with colleagues across UKAEA to advance the application of computational materials science in support of the safe and reliable operation of future tokamak reactors.

We welcome applications from candidates with expertise in computational materials science, irradiation effects in materials, solid mechanics, or related disciplines, who are interested in applying advanced modelling techniques to address complex fusion energy challenges.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Advance UKAEA’s research in complex materials modelling using finite element simulations to predict engineering-relevant properties and assess material behaviour in fusion environments.
• Apply computational methods including density functional theory and atomistic force fields to study material evolution under fusion-relevant conditions.
• Extend research activity to non-fusion applications to broaden impact and application of modelling approaches.
• Contribute to and support international collaborations involving multiple partner countries.
• Develop new cross-disciplinary collaborations in materials and engineering simulation to strengthen UKAEA’s international position.
• Produce high-quality scientific outputs, including conference presentations and first-author journal publications.
• Contribute primarily to the EPSRC/EUROfusion research programme while collaborating with wider UKAEA programmes.

Qualifications

Essential Requirements:

• Degree educated in physics, materials science, engineering, computing, or related discipline.
• Proven/developing expert in simulations involving High Performance Computing, preferably in condensed matter theory or computational materials science.
• Track record of first author journal publications in career.
• Guiding and mentoring other staff within area of expertise.

Desirable

• PhD degree in condensed matter theory, computational materials science, or related discipline
• Long-term vision for fusion research needs in engineering materials science
• Fellowship or membership status, e.g. of IoP
• Lecturing experience
• Ability to communicate and influence other stakeholders effectively, especially post-holder’s equivalents in universities, international laboratories, etc.
• Interest and ability to supervise members of staff involved in related projects

As part of the application process, please submit your CV and cover letter. As part of the recruitment process, please be aware that we will need to obtain two professional references prior to issuing an offer.

Additional Information

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

UKAEA’s mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce. We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, while ensuring all appointments are made on merit.

UK Atomic Energy Authority is committed to being accessible. Please email talent@ukaea.uk if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, for example, changes to the way we interview or share information.

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