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, 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 host exciting new PhD and MSc research opportunities with UK universities, addressing plasma physics, materials science and fusion engineering.
Our postgraduate programmes usually start each October and we run a broad range of opportunities with different university departments.
Develop your knowledge and skills by continuing your postgraduate studies with us and our professional scientists and engineers.
Visit us on one of our open days to take a look around.
Masters
Several universities run 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 least 100 students doing PhDs with us at around 20 different universities. Many are in Centres for Doctoral Training, in particular the following, which have PhDs at consortia of universities including:
Applications are being sought for specific PhDs, fully funded by UKAEA and partner universities :
- Irradiation Behaviour of Advanced Nano-Structured Alloys for Fusion Energy at the University of Birmingham (School of Metallurgy and Materials)
- Understanding Novel Tungsten High Entropy Alloys, Ductile-Brittle and Irradiation Behaviour for Fusion at the University of Birmingham (School of Metallurgy and Materials)
- Permeation of Hydrogen Isotopes into Fusion Reactor Materials at the University of Birmingham (School of Chemistry)
- Crystal Plasticity Modelling for Fusion Energy at the University of Oxford (Dept. for Engineering Science)
- Mission Planning for Long-Term Multi Objective Remote Inspection at the University of Oxford (Dept of Engineering Science)
- Control of Large Scale Robotics Systems for Fusion Remote Maintenance at the University of Manchester (Dept of Electronic and Electrical Engineering)
- Design for Robot Accessibility at the University of Manchester (Dept of Electronic and Electrical Engineering)
- Tritium removal from molten salt media in nuclear fusion and fission processes at the University of Manchester (Dept of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering)
- The effect of hydrogen isotopes and helium on tritium diffusion and extraction from candidate fusion breeder blanket ceramics at the University of Sheffield (through the Fusion CDT)
- AI and Inverse Analysis : inducing multiple choices in Fusion Energy designs using AI and Inverse Analysis at Swansea University (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
- Fusion fuel cycle modelling for tritium inventory quantification at the University of Surrey
- Deployable tritium detector using diamond voltaic structures for use in fusion fuel handling facilities at the University of Bristol
- Characterisation of advanced fusion materials to understand fusion fuel retention properties at the University of Manchester – through the GREEN CDT
Applications are being sought for specific post docs in fusion related areas :
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 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 often recruited for towards November / December every year with successful candidates expected to take up their appointments by the Summer.
Applications for our Fusion Research Fellowships are typically open towards the end of the year – please keep an eye out on our vacancies pages if you are interested in applying.
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.