SND Vacancies
Updated: CNTR Research Group is Hiring Research Assistants and Research Associates
PhD and postdoctoral positions in Darmstadt and Frankfurt
The Science for Nuclear Diplomacy Group is newly established at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF) and the Department of Physics at the Technical University of Darmstadt. We conduct research in physics, modelling, computational nuclear engineering and develop policy proposals to support nuclear non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament efforts. The group engages in several key research areas, among others:
- Development of verification concepts for the current and future nuclear landscape
- Simulations of the nuclear fuel cycle and advanced nuclear technologies for assessing proliferation pathways
- Radiation detection of nuclear materials for verification
We are looking for highly motivated researchers who are interested in contributions to global security, especially in the nuclear sector, and are excited to work in an interdisciplinary environment. A key aspect of our efforts is knowledge transfer and exchange with the public, policymakers and stakeholders alike, so international collaboration and travel is expected.
Prerequisites are, depending of the position in question, either a degree in physics, political science, or another related subject. Candidates can apply for several of the positions listed below at the same time. Further details on the positions can be found in the formal job advertisements for the positions:
Your tasks
The main research tasks of the centre are numerical simulations of nuclear reactors and particle detectors in order to determine how the emissions from nuclear reactors can be used to monitor fissile material. Of particular interest is the monitoring of compact reactors, such as ship reactors in submarines. Antineutrino and neutron emissions as well as interactions with cosmic muons are of particular interest here.
In addition, cooperation with other peace and conflict researchers in the project is planned in order to not only understand the technical suitability of these technologies, but also to investigate political acceptance and identify ways of successfully embedding new monitoring and verification technologies.
Application deadline: December 20, 2024
Interviews for this position are expected to be conducted on January 8 and 9, 2025. Interviews can be conducted in person in Darmstadt or online.
In association with the German Federal Foreign Office, we are looking for a new colleague to join our team as soon as possible:
One Researcher (Postdoc) (m/f/d) in full-time, in the Research Group Science for Nuclear Diplomacy, in Salary Group 13 TV-H*, until the 31.12.2027 (acc. to. WissZeitVG**).
Your responsibilities include:
Research within the Science for Nuclear Diplomacy group in the field of nuclear non-proliferation, arms control and/or disarmament (https://www.cntrarmscontrol.org/snd);
Knowledge transfer to the public and policymakers as well as to national and international organizations (e.g. through events and policy papers);
Participation in the Cluster for Natural and Technical Science Arms Control Research, in which the research group is located (https://www.cntrarmscontrol.org);
Participation in PRIF’s bodies of self-administration. Central committees communicate in English
Candidates with a background in the natural sciences or political science are eligible. Potential research topics are development of novel verification techniques, analysis of proliferation potentials of advanced nuclear technologies, or the role of delivery systems for nuclear weapons.
Application deadline: December 15, 2024
Interviews for this position are expected to be conducted on January 15, 2025. Interviews can be conducted in person in Frankfurt or online.
Your tasks
The Science for Nuclear Diplomacy Group will be engaged in two research areas (see below). The area for this position will be chosen based on the candidate’s interests. Beyond the technical research, engagement with scholars in peace research also from the social sciences is integral to our work. The post is part of the VeSPoTec project (vespotec.rwth-aachen.de). Limited teaching at TU Darmstadt will be expected.
Radiation detection (in Darmstadt office)
Radiation detection of nuclear materials plays an important role in verifying nonproliferation, arms control, and disarmament. We seek collaboration with the Institute for Nuclear Physics, particularly its School in Nuclear Photonics, which examines novel neutron- and photon-induced radiation measurement techniques, among others. In addition to simulations of nuclear material detection and characterization, there will be the option of experimental work in the group’s own laboratory with gamma and neutron sources and passive detection systems.
Fuel cycle simulations (in Frankfurt office)
Simulations of the nuclear fuel cycle and the physical processes in its facilities play several roles in the group. They are (a) essential for designing verification approaches. We seek to continue work on disarmament verification previously done in Aachen, developing methods to reconstruct past fissile material production and removals (nuclear archaeology). For this research, we exploit computational and data science methods (e.g. inverse problem solving, statistical methods). Beyond verification, (b) simulations are used to evaluate the technical potential of new civilian nuclear technologies to be mis-used for nuclear weapon programs (proliferation). In this area, we collaborate with the Nuclear Engineering and Facility Safety Division of the Institute for Applied Ecology.
Application deadline: December 20, 2024
Interviews for this position are expected to be conducted on January 8 and 9, 2025. Interviews can be conducted in person in Darmstadt or online.
Your tasks
The position will carry out investigations and developments in the field of detectors. This includes numerical simulations of detectors as well as the planning, construction and testing of prototypes and detector components in order to test their suitability as safeguards and/or verification technology. To this end, tests and data readout of the prototypes with various radioactive sources and filling media are planned. The collected data and simulations will be used iteratively to validate the results and improve the simulation parameters. Of particular interest are the detector signals of antineutrinos (from inverse beta decay), positrons, neutrons and muons.
These results will be analysed together with colleagues from the group and other interdisciplinary experts in order to evaluate the suitability and possible application scenarios of the investigated technologies for the safeguards monitoring of novel nuclear reactors.
Application deadline: December 26, 2024
