Senior Research Associate in Nuclear Engineering

Overview of the project

Lancaster University’s School of Engineering is seeking to appoint a Research Associate for the Tritium Breeder (TriBreed) project.  This is a full-time post with funding until 31/03/2026. We would ideally like someone to start in February 2025.  

The TriBreed project is part of UK Atomic Energy Authority’s £200m Lithium Breeding Tritium Innovation (LIBRTI) programme that aims to develop fusion powerplant-scale tritium breeding. TriBreed, led by Lancaster University in collaboration with Oxford University and Kyoto Fusioneering, focuses on developing a prototype tritium breeder blanket device utilizing advanced octalithium ceramic breeder materials. The TriBreed prototype will be irradiated using a new neutron facility at University of Birmingham, where the high neutron flux will allow more precise measurement of tritium production enabling validation of neutron transport codes. TriBreed will also demonstrate fabrication of increased quantities of octalithium ceramics and identify tritium retention supporting microstructural optimisation.

Role responsibilities

As part of a friendly, multidisciplinary team of 14 people, you will be responsible for:

• design and fabrication of the TriBreed prototype and its integrated diagnostic system
• post-irradiation analysis using gamma ray spectrometry and ultra-low level liquid scintillation
• analysis of tritium retention in samples using Lancaster’s Accelerator Mass Spectrometer
• developing decommissioning strategy for the TriBreed experiment

About you

We are keen to hear from candidates who have

• a PhD (or close to completion) in Physics or Nuclear Engineering
• experience of neutronics (OpenMC or MCNP) and radiometrics (e.g. gamma ray spectrometry/ultra-low level liquid scintillation counting)
• a background in the handling radioactive materials
• great problem-solving and organisational skills

Why work with us

This study is located within the School of Engineering where 95% of our research has been rated world leading or internationally excellent. Lancaster plays host to one of the UK’s leading Nuclear Science and Engineering research groups, with over 8 academic staff and three nationally important facilities, including Lancaster’s Accelerator Mass Spectrometer. Find out more about the School here https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/engineering/.

Lancaster University provides an environment that strongly supports the needs of each employee, promoting a healthy work-life balance. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including: 

• competitive salary with annual reviews 
• generous employer pension scheme
• a family-friendly approach to those with parental or caring responsibilities
• additional flexible benefits to suit your needs and interests

And as one of our research team you will benefit from :

• our varied organisational development programme to expand your research skills
• 10 researcher development day entitlement under the Researcher Development Concordat

Find out about more of our employee benefits and life at Lancaster on our website - https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/jobs 

For an informal chat about the role, please contact Dr. Samuel Murphy, Senior Lecturer in Nuclear Engineering – samuel.murphy@lancaster.ac.uk.

Please note: unless specified otherwise in the advert, all advertised roles are UK based.

Find out what it's like to work at Lancaster University, including information on our wide range of employee benefits, support networks and our policies and facilities for a family-friendly workplace.

The University recognises and celebrates good employment practice undertaken to address all inequality in higher education whilst promoting the importance and wellbeing for all our colleagues. 

We warmly welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their age, religion, gender identity or expression, race, disability or sexual orientation, and are committed to promoting diversity, and equality of opportunity.