PhD in the Production & Analysis of Nuclear Threat Reduction Relevant Radionuclides

The UK’s Nuclear Threat Reduction (NTR) programme requires regular access to samples of relevant radionuclides in order to demonstrate its capability in nuclear forensics (NF) investigations. This capability is essential for the protection of the UK and its international allies. Demonstration of competence in NF acts as a deterrent to malicious actors and ensures the UK’s commitment to upholding international treaties such as the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

The PhD project will use the University of Birmingham accelerator facilities (cyclotron and neutron irradiation facility) to research appropriate nuclear reaction pathways to access the desired radionuclides and fabricate appropriate targets to facilitate isotope production. It will involve post-irradiation dissolution methods, subsequent radiochemical purification, and appropriate measurements to harvest desired nuclear data linked to the development of new nuclear forensics techniques.

The successful applicant for this project will join the first cohort of the AWE funded NTR-net CDT and will involve a research programme associated with:

· Target design and processing for irradiations. · Production of specific radionuclides using particle accelerators.

· Nuclear data acquisition (cross section measurements, emission probabilities, etc).

· Post-irradiation processing i.e., target dissolution, radiochemical purification, and analysis.

· Nuclear forensics processes and analytical techniques (e.g., High Resolution Gamma Spectrometry, alpha spectrometry, etc).

The successful applicant will undertake this project at Birmingham University but will have the opportunity to work with other UK and US irradiation facilities during the course of the project. Due to the nature of this project UK citizenship is preferred but not essential.

The School of Physics and Astronomy is an Institute of Physics Juno Champion since 2014 and holder of the Athena SWAN Silver Award. Both initiatives recognise the School’s commitment to promote diversity and equality, and to encourage better practice for all members of the community, whilst also working towards developing an equitable working culture in which all students and staff can achieve their full potential.

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants, and encourage applications from traditionally under-represented groups in physics and astronomy including, but not limited to, women and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic.