PhD st. Investigation and manufacturing of accident tolerant nuclear fuels

The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering promotes research and education for sustainable development, for improved health and quality of life. Our research ranges from natural science and bioscience, applied chemistry and biotechnology to chemical engineering. Our educational programs are characterized by technological solutions for improving people’s everyday life, and are continuously developed for meeting and promoting societal and industrial development. 

We have approximately 400 employees, divided into five research divisions and one administrative unit. We are situated at campus Johanneberg.

Our department is characterized by stimulation of world leading research, in an environment where people develop and create new knowledge.

Information about the division
The Nuclear Chemistry / Industrial Materials recycling research group comprises 7 senior scientists and 22 PhD students and postdocs. We have a very wide area of expertise from very basic nuclear and solution chemistry to highly applied processes for both the nuclear and recycling industry. Even though we have more than 50 year experience in solution based separation techniques we have now also activities in e.g. nuclear fuel manufacturing and investigations. Our speciality is the handling of radioactive material and we have a fully equipped alpha and gammalaboratory.

Major responsibilities
The PhD student will work in a project dealing with the so called accident tolerant fuels for new nuclear reactor designs. This comprise a considerable amount of materials investigation but that is handled elsewhere in the project. This particular position will be producing and in detail investigating accident tolerant nitride fuels for light water reactors. The nitrides today dissolve in contact with steam or hot water. This is not suitable in a LWR environment why different approaches to minimise this solubility will be investigated. The final aim of the project is to produce these insoluble uranium nitride fuel pellets. 

A PhD student in our group has 4 years of project funding. In addition, up to 1 more year of funding can be obtained through work as for example assistant teacher in undergraduate courses and other departemental duties. The PhD student position is a 100% position, however the actual working hours will vary based on project demands.

The PhD student has to take 60 ECT credit points for the PhD degree. Normally, our PhD students take a licentiate degree after 2-2.5 years.  

Position summary
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.

Qualifications
To qualify as a PhD student, you must have a master's level degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits in chemistry or chemical engineering.

The position requires sound verbal and written communication skills in English. 

Good knowledge in nuclear chemistry, inorganic chemistry, aqueous chemistry and analytical chemistry is meriting.

Personal qualities we would like to see in the applicant is:

• curious and inquisitive
• good sense of order and structure
• imaginative problem solver
• good social skills and a very good knowledge of English
• good ability to work independently.

In order to work at the division of Nuclear Chemistry (within the division Energy and materials at the department of Chemical and Biological Engineering) there is need to pass a security clearance according to Swedish law.

Chalmers continuously strives to be an attractive employer. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20140242 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically via Chalmers webpage.

Application deadline: September 15, 2014

For questions, please contact:
Professor Christian Ekberg, che@chalmers.se, 031-7722801
Professor Britt-Marie Steenari, bms@chalmers.se, 031-772 2890


*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. *** 
   


Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our eight Areas of Advance; Built Environment, Energy, Information & Communication Technology, Life Science, Materials Science, Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!