Research Officer in Multiphysics Modelling

Job title:

Research Officer in Multiphysics Modelling

Company

Bangor University

Job description

Applications are invited for a fixed-term, full-time Postdoctoral Research Officer in Multiphysics Modelling and Control Engineering working in the School of Computer Science and Engineering on a UKAEA project focusing on tritium mobility in lithium-based ceramics.Duties will include leading a modelling-focused work package aimed at developing a software package capable of multiscale simulation of the generation, mobility, and retention of tritium in microscopic mechanisms governing the mobility of tritium in the solid state and liaising with other group members involved in experimental work and systems-level simulation of tritium breeder blankets to maximise the utility of the atomistic simulations.Candidates should possess or be close to completing a PhD in Physics or Engineering (or have equivalent research experience) and have previous experience in finite-element simulation packages (or similar), high performance research computing experience, and scientific software development.The successful candidate will be expected to commence on 1 April 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter, and the post is available until 31 March 2026.This role will be located on campus at Bangor. Through , there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.Applications will also be considered to carry out this role on a part-time or job share basis.Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk. However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 383865.Closing date for applications: 12 March 2025Informal enquiries can be made by contacting: Dr Cillian Cockrell, Lecturer in the School of Computer Science and Engineering, c.cockrell@bangor.ac.uk.Committed To Equal OpportunitiesOverviewBangor University, through the Nuclear Futures Institute (NFI), has established a world leading capability in Nuclear Engineering, which is placing North Wales as a global centre, delivering international partnerships and opportunity from a rich mix of existing and new talent.The city of Bangor is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty close to the mountains of Eryri and the beach resorts of the North Wales coast and offers a quality of life that surpasses that in most regions of the UK. Lying on the Euroroute to Ireland, Bangor is served by fast train services to most major cities and excellent road connections via the A55 expressway to the motorway network. Manchester and Liverpool’s airports are within 90 minutes away by car.The ProjectTRIMAX is a joint project between Bangor University and the University of Birmingham whose objectives are to construct the necessary infrastructure as part of UKAEA’s LIBRTI programme in support future fusion reactor breeder blanket modules.The LIBRTI programme aims to provide the experimental testbed facility and digital platforms required to assist the design and testing of fusion reactor breeder blanket modules and to grow skills within UK industry and academia within the fusion fuel cycle.The TRIMAX project constitutes a foundational step in LIBRTI’s deliverables. The project objectives are the generation of systems level multiphysics code, equipped with uncertainty quantification, to predict the performance of lithium ceramic based breeder blankets, and validating and ameliorating this code with a combination of experiments (in collaboration with the University of Birmingham) and atomistic simulations. The research will lay the groundwork in the creation of a bespoke LIBRTI code for data analysis and predictions, as well as providing new insight into the structural characteristics of light element retention in ceramics, and the mechanisms governing the mobility of the latter within the former.Purpose of the JobThe post is part of a new team working in the area of tritium breeder blankets for fusion reactors. The post holder will develop the bespoke LIBRTI multiphysics code constituting the core of the project and will be responsible for planning its development, testing, and validation, which will include liaising with other work packages and the integration of data from experiments and simulations in order to improve the accuracy of the model.Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Software development. Identifying the physical mechanisms required for incorporation in order to make predictions of the performance of tritium breeding modules, making reference to the capabilities and deficiencies of existing tritium transport codes. Integration of data from experiments and simulations to improve the model’s predictions and align it to the laboratory experiments performed by collaborators.
• Delivering research outcomes. Contribute to the dissemination of the research with project partners, UKAEA, and the broader community – this will include the composition of regular update reports for UKAEA and experimental colleagues in Birmingham, the presentation of the project and its findings at national and international conferences and meetings, preparation of manuscripts detailing the research undertaken on the project, and a composition of a final report on the TRIMAX project for submission to UKAEA.
• Administration of the research project. This includes participation on regular project meetings with the other work packages at Bangor and with experimental colleagues in Birmingham, and close collaboration with the Bangor work package aimed at introducing uncertainty quantification into the software package.
• Other duties and responsibilities specific to the role include advising and collaborating with masters and PhD students within the research programme, contribute to the undergraduate programme, organise and participate in college activities (seminars, workshops etc.), and applying for external funding.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.

Person SpecificationQualifications/TrainingEssential

• PhD (physics, engineering, or similar), or be close to the completion of, or possess equivalent research experience relevant to the role.

Experience/KnowledgeEssential

• Multiphysics and finite element simulations: heat transfer, mass flow, material degradation.
• High performance research computing experience.
• Proven track record of publications in quality journals.
• Proven track record of conference presentations.

Desirable

• Nuclear physics, particularly neutronics.
• Bayesian statistics and uncertainty quantification.
• An understanding of modelling multiscale phenomena.

Skills/AbilitiesEssential

• Demonstrate good verbal and written skills, especially in the production of manuscripts and project reports.
• Demonstrate excellent coding skills, ability to generate stable and accessible scientific code.
• Demonstrate good analytical skills, ability to analyse numerical data and present results appropriately.
• Demonstrate the ability to prioritise work load and work to deadlines.
• Demonstrate the good presentation skills.
• No specific Welsh language requirement. Candidates will be expected to work positively in a bilingual environment.

Desirable

• Demonstrate proven project management skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

GeneralThe University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally.We are a member of Advance HE’s Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University’s policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us. When you apply for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful. If you do not have the right to work freely in any position in the UK already, any offer of employment we will make to you will be subject to you obtaining a right to work visa. The following link provides information on the various visa routes into employment and the eligibility requirements (including switching visa status where permissible) . If you are successful in your application we will discuss visa options with you at the time of making the offer of employment.Candidates should also note that they may be required to apply for an ATAS certificate (Academic Approval Technology Scheme) from the Counter-Proliferation and Arms Control Centre of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office before being able to apply for a visa – .Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University’s Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.

Expected salary

Location

Bangor, Co Down

Job date

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 04:48:40 GMT

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