H-mode pedestal JOREK modeller – 2 year FTA
Overview of Responsibilities
Who are we looking for?
Are you an experienced scientist with a background in finding innovative solutions to complex problems? Do you have an interest in contributing to the development of abundant, safe, and carbon-free electricity for a cleaner planet?
If so, UKAEA has an exciting opportunity for a H-mode pedestal JOREK modeller to apply their knowledge and experience to creating solutions for systems exposed to some of the harshest environments possible. Part of the role will require your focus on modelling tokamak pedestal plasmas using the non-linear MHD code JOREK. The modelling will focus on the transport in the edge region and on the pedestal stability, ELM crash dynamics and will help us to understand the processes governing the pedestal limits and evolution. You will use the models for predicting and optimising pedestals in future fusion devices, such as ST based power plant designs to be developed in the STEP programme, as well as developing methods to mitigate and suppress the ELMs.
What will you be responsible for?
- Leading projects and analysing results from the non-linear MHD code JOREK for simulated equilibria in future devices such as STEP to predict small/no ELM regimes and construct ELM mitigation methods
- Sharing your experience and expertise to provide state-of-the-art knowledge to UKAEA design scientist and recommending experimental solutions as needed.
- Developing models describing the physical processes in the H-mode pedestal
- Reporting results at science and other regular progress meetings
- Disseminating results through conferences and peer reviewed journal papers
- Driving the pedestal transport optimisation work for STEP and innovatively contribute to the design and scenario optimisation.
Please note this position has been evaluated at both level 4 and 5. The successful candidate's grade will be determined at interview. The level 4 role offers a salary of £36,397 to £38,620 inclusive of MPP and the level 5 role offers a salary of £49,396 to £52,293 inclusive of MPP.
Qualifications
Essential skills, experience and competence required
- PhD / post-doctoral level of knowledge of numerical modelling of physical experiments
- Proven ability to carry out detailed analysis of experimental and modelled data, use of suitable tools, error analysis, etc.
- Proficiency with programming languages, e.g. C, FORTRAN, IDL, Python and with running codes in high performance computing environment
- Proven ability to conduct independent physics research
- Good oral and written communications skills
- Excellent team-player with an outward facing work-ethos as you will work closely with scientists from around the world
Desirable skills, experience and competence
- Experience in gyrokinetic modelling of plasma turbulence and/or non-linear MHD stability codes is highly desirable
- Experience of H-mode, pedestal and ELM physics is highly desirable
Additional Information
What we offer
- A competitive salary
- A culture committed to being fully inclusive, supported by a Being Inclusive Strategy and Inclusion Ambassadors
- An Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders, with a full calendar of health and wellbeing initiatives
- Flexible working options including family friendly policies
- Emergency leave (paid)
- 30.5 days annual leave increased with length of service (including privilege days and 3 days between Christmas and New Year) plus bank holidays
- Wide range of career development opportunities (e.g professional registration, internal promotions, coaching and mentoring programme)
- Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
- Annual corporate bonus scheme
- Relocation allowance (if eligible)
We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly from individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, including nationality and citizenship, people with disabilities, (visible and hidden) and women. The Executive team with support from our EDI ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ (EDI) partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, is actively promoting EDI and taking steps to increase the diversity of our people through reinforcing best practice in recruitment and selection, and revaluating approaches where it is clear we can remove barriers to success. We are easily accessible by car and are a 10-minute walk from Culham Railway Station in Oxfordshire.
Please be advised that this vacancy is due to close on 16th Of March. We may close earlier than this date if large or sufficient numbers of applications are received.
Please note all employees working at the UK Atomic Energy Authority will be required to complete an online Disclosure Certificate application as part of their clearance – The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks will show the details of all current criminal convictions (convictions considered unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974) or will confirm that there are no such convictions.
Note for applicants who are applying for employment with UKAEA either from outside the United Kingdom or who have spent time outside the United Kingdom in the last five years. Please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants . If the country you are resident in or have resided in is not listed on this website or that the UK Government is not aware of how to obtain a criminal records check from that state then we are unable to process your application.