Postgraduate opportunities
Are you an outstanding scientist or engineer who has recently completed, or expects to complete, their degree in a few months? Do you want to join our mission and help to shape the future of fusion energy with a world leading company? If so, our postgraduate opportunities at UKAEA may be for you.
UKAEA works with many UK universities, which have fusion-related postgraduate opportunities in physics, materials science, technology, engineering, tritium science, computing and robotics. Applications should be made to the universities directly, not UKAEA but if you have any general questions on UKAEA and its research priorities, please contact studentenquiries@ukaea.uk
Every year, we support exciting new PhD and MSc research opportunities with up to 30 UK universities.
Develop your knowledge and skills by continuing your postgraduate studies with partner universities and UKAEA – working closely with our professional scientists and engineers.
UKAEA and the Fusion Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) are holding their annual PhD and MSc Open Day at Culham Campus in Oxfordshire on Wednesday 27 November 2024. To find out more and register to attend, please see https://culhamphd.uk/
To view the talks at this event, please see https://culhamphd.uk/ .
Next year’s event will be (provisionally) Wednesday 27 November 2024 @ Culham Campus – to learn about 2025 PhD opportunities. More details and registration links will be posted here in the Autumn.
Masters
Several universities run fusion relevant masters courses that have options for projects supervised by UKAEA staff, generally towards the end of the course, in particular:
PhD opportunities
At any one time, there are at 100-150 students doing UKAEA supported PhDs with us, at around 30 different universities. Many are in Centres for Doctoral Training, in particular the following, which have PhDs at a consortia of universities. These include :
UKAEA supported PhDs now have applications open, including the following:
- Developing a Miniaturised End-effector for Repair in Confined Spaces at the University of Nottingham
- Using Novel Nuclear-Astrophysics Techniques for Measuring Difficult-to-Reach Nuclei in Fusion at the University of Birmingham
- Developing a Miniaturised End-effector for Repair in Confined Spaces at the University of Nottingham
- Design and fabrication of multi-metal components for nuclear fusion applications at the University of Nottingham
- Physics-based and data-driven approach to understanding and predicting thermomechanical properties of ceramic matrix composites at the University of Bath
Fusion Research Fellowships at UKAEA
Each year the UK Atomic Energy Authority aims to appoint one or two outstanding scientists or engineers who have recently completed a doctorate to a two-year post doc research fellowship in any field of fusion research conducted at UKAEA.
Candidates need to be highly motivated and show initiative. UKAEA’s Fusion Research Fellows have a high degree of autonomy and are expected to define their own research programme, which should be aligned with the interests of UKAEA. The quality of the research project proposal, together with the skills and experience of the candidate, are key factors in the selection process. Since academic excellence is one of the selection criteria, it is recommended candidates mention significant prizes or other recognition in their application.
Managed and/or self-directed personal training and career development in UKAEA and elsewhere will be available. There will also be opportunities for conference attendance and involvement in scientific outreach activities. Periods of overseas placements with our collaborators will be encouraged. The appointments will be two-year fixed term staff positions and are typically recruited in November / December every year with successful candidates expected to take up their appointments by the next summer.
Applications for 2024 fellowships have now closed. Applications for 2025 fellowships will open in Autumn 2024.
Faiz Rahman joins UKAEA’s graduate scheme after completing his student placement
Graduate Mechatronics Engineer
Before Faiz was a graduate, he took part in a student placement with us at UKAEA in the very department that he works in now. After graduating he chose to return to our team, already safe in the knowledge that UKAEA was where he wanted to be.
current opportunities
Browse some of our current job vacancies below.