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We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

Are you eager to support a nuclear materials research programme of national significance? We have a very exciting opportunity in the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering for someone with a passion for nuclear materials to support the newly established Plutonium Ceramics Academic Hub, jointly hosted between the Universities of Manchester and Sheffield (PuMaS). The position will be held for five years at the University of Sheffield and is suited towards a candidate with strong skills in ceramic processing, wasteform development, disposability, and actinide materials, keen to seek a career in nuclear industry/academia.

The UK holds a significant inventory of separated plutonium that will be appropriately managed by a strategy of immobilisation and disposal. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority will seek to identify and optimise a preferred immobilisation technology to place this material beyond reach. Zirconolite ceramics, processed by hot isostatic pressing, and disposal mixed oxide materials are considered feasible routes to disposition and are at the forefront of current research activities.

This PDRA position will be based within the Immobilisation Science Laboratory at the University of Sheffield (School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering). The research group hosts the HADES Facility for High Activity Decommissioning Engineering and Science, established with investment of £1M by UKRI EPSRC and the University of Sheffield, with state-of-the-art materials processing and characterisation equipment, to enable higher throughput research and work with high radionuclide inventories. The Facility incorporates prior investment of c. £8M in laboratory refurbishment, space, and equipment within the MIDAS facility and allied Royce Institute, to provide a single point of user access. HADES is accommodated within 500m2 of high-quality radio-materials chemistry laboratories, with state-of-the-art equipment and instrumentation for materials formulation, processing, characterisation and performance assessment.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Conduct laboratory-based investigations on the development and performance testing of advanced ceramic materials.
• Establish and advance current knowledge on the application of ceramic materials to Pu disposition challenges.
• Provide ongoing technical support and day-to-day supervision for students in the PUMaS Hub and support technical operations in the wider academic group (ISL/HADES).
• Provide formal supervision to PhD and FYP (BSc/BEng/Meng/MSc) students, permitting the development of an academic track record, supporting career development and ultimately contributing towards the application to a permanent academic position.
• Fabricate Pu zirconolite specimens and demonstrate innovation to establish and optimise characterisation procedures (i.e. translate routine characterisation (XRD, SEM) for Pu active materials).
• Be responsible for day-to-day operation and maintenance of HIP unit, including radiological plug-in components, including liaising with outside technical support/contractors.
• Strengthen research collaborations nationally within the UK nuclear materials community and develop new international collaborations by networking and engaging in knowledge sharing exercises (placements and academic conferences).
• The candidate is expected to collaborate with PI and RPS to develop UoS Pu active facilities. This involves (but is not limited to): leading method development, materials handling protocol, establishing safe analytical practices and radiological decontamination protocols. The PDRA will act as the UoS SQEP for all Pu active processes.
• The PDRA is ultimately expected to work towards an independent research career either through appointment as a lecturer at host institution or attaining a research fellowship (RAEng, Royal Society, Leverhulme, EPSRC) supported by the host institution.
• Contribute to a positive and inclusive research environment with regards to safety and EDI.
• Develop protocols for Pu-active leach experiments within glovebox environment.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Further Information

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in early October. This will consist of a presentation and panel interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on within a week after the close date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact cmbe-postaward@sheffield.ac.uk.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.