By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in contributing and helping to shape the future of the world’s energy? If so, read on.

Fusion, the process that powers the Sun and Stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs.

UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research for ground breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid, supported by tomorrow's power stations. In pursuit of our mission, UKAEA embraces core values: Innovative, Committed, Trusted, and Collaborative.

As an employee of UKAEA you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment. 
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders, 
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days (Pro rata for Part time role), plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
• Wide range of career development opportunities
• A vibrant culture committed to equality and being fully inclusive

What to expect in our recruitment process:
For a step-by-step overview of how we hire from application to offer please see our Recruitment Process page: careers.ukaea.uk/join-us/recruitment-process

The salary for this role is £42,858 per annum (including the specialist allowance), pro-rated for 15 hours per week. On-site working is expected for two days each week.

This role can be based at any of the following sites; Culham, Oxfordshire  

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) , including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions and possibly a search of open source data. 

The Role

As Plasma Exhaust Physicist, you will play a pivotal role in performing experiments and analyse and model the results to improve understanding of plasma exhaust detachment, primarily for the MAST-U device; be responsible for the analysis and modelling of experimental data from the MAST-U divertor spectroscopy for this research and for the wider UKAEA physics programme.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Perform experimental data analysis, including supporting modelling, on the topic of plasma exhaust detachment including the analysis of divertor spectroscopy.

• Produce analysed data as requested for MAST-U divertor spectroscopy.

• Propose and lead/contribute to research on MAST-U and other international devices.

• Propose and lead/contribute to research carried out through EUROfusion work packages.

• Report results at science and other regular progress meetings.

• Disseminate results through conference and peer reviewed journal papers. 

Essential Requirements:

• PhD level of knowledge of experimental physics or equivalent experience.

• Proven ability to carry out detailed analysis of experimental data, use of suitable tools, error analysis, etc.

• Proficiency with programming languages, e.g. C, FORTRAN, IDL, Python.

• Proven ability to conduct independent research.

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience of plasma exhaust experiment, theory, or modelling is highly desirable.

• Experience with spectroscopy, IR, or other imaging systems.

• Experience of developing sophisticated data analysis codes in high level languages, e.g. IDL or Python, using     fitting and error propagation to extract data from a diagnostic system or similar applications.

• Strong record of publications in a closely related field.

A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/

UKAEA's mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds who want to help us achieve our mission.  We are under-represented from some groups and so want to encourage applications in particular from women in STEM, people from Black British Caribbean and African backgrounds and from Pakistani and Bangladeshi British backgrounds. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) and Wellbeing and our EDI Networks actively promote Inclusion and takes steps to increase diversity within our organization. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

UK Atomic Energy Authority is committed to being accessible. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, for example, changes to the way we interview or share information.  

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.