Post Doctorate Scheme 2025 – Materials Science

Job title:

Post Doctorate Scheme 2025 – Materials Science

Company

National Nuclear Laboratory

Job description

Job DescriptionUKNNL is where your understanding of reactors fuels the nation. As part of our Fuel Reactor & Reprocessing capability, you’ll play a vital role in developing the UK fuel cycle in line with advances in new technology and new processes. As old reactors reach the end of their lifespan, we need experts like you, with the technical skills to virtually model scenarios that not only enable us to explore new ways of managing the inputs and outputs of reactors, but also pave the way for the implementation of smaller, cleaner revolutionary new reactors. This is a place where you can use your knowledge and expertise to do long term meaningful work for years to come.As the national laboratory for nuclear fission in the UK, we are harnessing nuclear science to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges.UKNNL is looking for a Materials Scientist to join the Defence Technical team, based on the Sellafield site in Cumbria. The team sits within the Irradiated Materials Capability, which is part of the Fuels, Reactors and Reprocessing (FR&R) business area within UKNNL.You will plan, coordinate, control and supervise packages of work at the Windscale Active Handling Facility, with periods of time at our Workington Laboratory.You will play a key role in enabling the Defence Technical and Defence PIE (Post Irradiated Examination) teams to deliver nationally important work for Rolls-Royce and UKNNL’s Science & Technology projects.To join the UKNNL Post Doctorate programme you will have a PhD in Materials Science, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Physical Chemistry or another relevant engineering or science discipline.You will be a British Citizen. British citizen as defined in the British Nationality Act 1981 (British Nationality Act 1981 (Legislation.gov.uk). Please note if you hold a dual nationality, of which one nationality is British, you may still be considered but this is dependent on your dual nationality.You will be able to achieve SC level security clearance (this includes but is not limited to identity, employment, financial and criminal record checks plus 5 years’ worth of UK residency).Main ResponsibilitiesWe are developing the next generation of technical experts. Not only will you receive the opportunity to work on challenging and exciting projects, but you’ll continually learn from skilled and knowledgeable industry experts who are leaders in their field. We will help you become everything you can be, by challenging, stretching, and pushing you to your limits while supporting you every step of the way.In this role you can expect to:

• Work flexibly as part of a specialist team to solve materials related challenges to deliver a nationally important programme of work
• Work closely with other staff, such as project managers, technical leads and operators, to lead and drive delivery of designated work packages to time, in budget, and to required environmental, health, safety, security and quality (EHSS&Q) standards, policies and procedures
• Conduct work on rigs and techniques (e.g. Eddy Current, Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy and Residual Stress) in support of customer work, making use of facilities both within, and external to, UKNNL
• Author technical documents (calculations, technical memos, technical reports and journal articles) to high quality standards
• Present work performed to customers, project meetings and at international conferences.Develop and maintain strong customer delivery links
• Continually develop your technical knowledge and skills by attending in-house training and external courses
• Carry out ad-hoc problem solving to resolve day to day technical challenges that emerge
• Engage with technical experts across UKNNL, looking to support their work and vice-versa

UKNNL recognises that academia and industry are very different environments, our Postdoctoral Development Scheme will smooth the transition whilst supporting you as you take your first steps towards becoming a Subject Matter Expert.Your two-year scheme will provide the opportunity to develop your technical knowledge and skills whilst providing you with an insight into UKNNL’s strategy and direction. You will receive an overview of how the company operates and delivers its projects.You will undertake personal development through training aligned to your personal development plan and understand your strengths, weaknesses, and behaviours. You will receive a personal budget to support your development within your field of expertise.From day one you’ll have a role in a technical team involved in delivering real customer projects. You will have direct sight of the value that your skills and knowledge have to our industry and by extension our society. The Postdoctoral Development Scheme runs alongside your role, providing you the space and skills to develop in a commercial environment whilst helping you decide how to advance your technical expertise.Our two-year programme is designed to give you:

• An introduction to UKNNL so you understand where we sit in the wider context of the nuclear industry and how we work
• An introduction to the technical expertise at the core of our business so you understand how your expertise interrelates with our wider technical portfolio
• A clear pathway of technical development
• Commercial awareness of the Business Operations of UKNNL
• Opportunity to network with mid-career professionals and experts
• Mentoring to achieve chartered status with your chosen professional body
• A choice of development activities tailored to you and your career aspirations
• Membership of a cohort of early career professionals to provide support in developing within the company
• The support of a dedicated early careers team and our strong, thriving early careers community

You will be based at our Windscale Laboratory. On the doorstep of the Lake District National Park ( ) our Windscale laboratory allows you the opportunity to work with incredible people on extraordinary projects whilst enjoying some of the most unique and beautiful landscapes the UK has to offer, providing an excellent quality of life. This role allows for hybrid working with the flexibility to work from home on some of your working days.As part of the selection process for the Post Doctorate programme you will complete a Technical Interview against the skills and competencies required for this role.Why join us?UKNNL isn’t just a place where you can do career-defining work that makes a real-world impact. It’s also a place where you’ll feel appreciated and valued. We’re creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is free to be themselves and feel like they belong. We put your wellbeing first, we push you to reach your potential, and we do everything possible to help you feel safe, supported and inspired.We also offer a range of employee benefits:

• Annual Leave: Benefit from 25.5 days of leave, plus 4 extra days to be taken during Christmas shutdown, plus Bank Holidays.
• Company Bonus: Be rewarded for your contributions.
• UKNNL offers attractive pension plans.If you contribute 5%, UKNNL contributes 15%. Alternatively, if you choose not to contribute (0%), UKNNL will still contribute 10%.
• Reduced gym membership with discounts of up to 25% from 3,700 gym and leisure providers across the UK
• Cycle to Work: Stay active and eco-friendly.
• Access to ‘Mydiscounts’ which has a range of special offers and discounts from more than 200 suppliers, including medical insurance and dental insurance.
• Enhanced Sick Pay Benefits: Receive support during illness or injury.
• Health Care: Health savings plan which allows you to claim money back on visits to the dentist, optician and/or physiotherapist (limits apply).
• Employee Assistance: Access support for personal and professional challenges.
• Learning Opportunities: Enhance your skills through excellent development programmes.
• Life Assurance: Ensure peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
• Sector leading Family-Focused Policies: celebrate life events, including enhanced maternity and paternity leave and a week off for your marriage.

About The CompanyUKNNL is an incredible place to work. A place where people do things that have never been done before. A place where people push boundaries to further themselves, the business and society as a whole.This is a place where personal and professional opportunities are limitless. If you want to change the world, if you want to tackle climate change, if you want to help advance medical science, if you want to help put things in space, if you want to answer the big questions, if you want to work with extraordinary materials, if you want to meet great people, learn new skills, challenge yourself, work flexibly, and build a long successful career with the power to make a real impact… you can do it all here.Equality, Diversity and InclusionUKNNL has a vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (ED&I) where UKNNL aims to be an inclusive workplace that attracts diverse talent through transparent and equal policies and procedures, providing reasonable adjustments as appropriate. We want you and the diverse mix of people that we employ, customers that we service and stakeholders that we influence to feel valued. We encourage a workplace culture where everyone can thrive with a sense of belonging and the ability to access to workplace in a way which works for you.Recruitment Agency NoticeWe operate a strict Preferred Supplier List (PSL) for the provision of recruitment services. Only agencies on our PSL may provide CVs and only when the role is released to them by our recruitment team. We will not accept unsolicited CVs from suppliers not currently on our PSL. We explicitly reserve the right to add candidate details from unsolicited CVs from non-PSL agencies into our own candidate database and to pursue/hire such candidate(s) without any obligation, financial or otherwise, to the agency concerned.United Kingdom National Nuclear LaboratorySalary Salary starting at £43,902
Job Reference NNL/TP/30567/2360
Contract Type Permanent – Full Time
Closing Date 16 March, 2025
Job Category Fuel, Reactor and Reprocessing
Work Place Type Hybrid
Location Sellafield, Cumbria , United Kingdom
Posted on 12 February, 2025Your name (required)Your email address (required)Your friend’s name (required)Your friend’s email address (required)This form is protected by Google reCAPTCHA. By using this form you agree to the

Expected salary

£43902 per year

Location

Sellafield, Cumbria

Job date

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 02:00:25 GMT

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