Postdoctoral Research Officer In Fusion Power Plant Regulation

Applications are invited for a fixed-term, Postdoctoral Research Officer in FusionPower Plant Regulation. The position will be based in the Nuclear Futures Institute, in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at Bangor University.
Candidates should be educated to PhD standard (or near completion) in nuclear science and engineering subjects.

Duties will include gathering and analysing information relating to safety, security and non-proliferation safeguards, licensing and regulation of Fusion Power Plants (FPPs) and providing support to the CATF Global Fusion Programme. Duties will also include delivering research outcomes and establishing research collaborations.

The successful candidate will be expected to commence as soon as possible, and the post is initially fixed term until 25th March 2025.

This role will be located on campus at Bangor. Through our Dynamic Working framework, 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.

For more information about the post, please contact Professor Laurence G Williams OBE FREng FLSW, l.williamsobe@bangor.ac.uk

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: 24 January 2024
Committed To Equal Opportunities

Overview

The city of Bangor is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty close to the mountains of Snowdonia 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 airports are within 90 minutes away by car.

Bangor University was established in 1884 and currently has over 11,000 students. It comprises 14 Academic Schools grouped in to 3 colleges. The College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at Bangor University is one of the leading centres in the UK for teaching and research in biology, environmental sciences, geography, ocean sciences, chemistry, computer science and electronic engineering. The University was awarded a Gold rating in the recent UK Teaching Excellence Framework.

The Nuclear Futures Institute sits in the school on computer science and electronic engineering aims to establish “a world leading capability in nuclear engineering, which establishes North Wales as a global centre, delivering international partnerships and opportunity from a rich mix of existing and new talent. Leading the UK new nuclear agenda and rejuvenating the UK and Welsh nuclear sector.”

The Project

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) based in Boston MA USA is launching a project on the use of fusion energy to combat climate change and the challenges to the global deployment of FPPS. Work package 2 of this programme is focussed on the issues development of an effective and efficient regulatory framework for safety, security, non-proliferation, export control, radwaste, and environmental protection. In developing a regulatory framework, a full understanding of the potential hazards associated with the technology is vitally important. Therefore, the research undertaken by the Nuclear Futures Institute at Bangor University to support the CATF Global Fusion Programme will be focused on the development of a clear understanding of the hazard potential of FPPs and the requirements of a regulatory framework that will provide confidence to policymakers and the public that the hazard potential of FPP is being properly understood and managed. An effective and efficient regulatory framework should ensure that the risks to both workers and the public from the operations of an FPP (including accident conditions) are acceptably low.

Purpose of the Job

This role will support the CATF Global Fusion Programme and will be focused on the development of a clear understanding of the hazard potential of FPPs and the requirements of a regulatory framework that will provide confidence to policymakers politicians and the public that the hazard potential of FPP is being properly understood and managed.

The position will work closely with the Nuclear Futures group and the wider community at Bangor University in order to publish results in high quality scientific journals.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Undertaking research to support the CATF Global Fusion Programme including the development of a clear understanding of the hazard potential of FPPs and the requirements of a regulatory framework that will provide confidence to policymakers and the public that the hazard potential of FPP is being properly understood and managed.
Contributing to the development of FPP regulatory principles.
Contributing to the development of a harmonized approach to FPP regulation.
Delivering research outcomes via the production of publications in high quality journals and presentations in professional conferences and project meetings.
Establishing and reinforcing collaborative research links between the University and the CATF.
Administration of the research project including participate in project meetings; liaising with stakeholders (external and internal) and ensuring appropriate time management controls are implemented.
Assisting in the organising of and contributing to seminars, conferences and other events organised by the Nuclear Futures Institute.

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 Specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

PhD (or be near completion) in nuclear science and engineering.

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

Proven expertise in a related research field.
Demonstrated understanding of nuclear science and engineering.
Contribution to publication in quality journals or track record of conference presentations.

Desirable

Demonstrated understanding of nuclear fusion technologies.
Understanding of nuclear safety and regulation.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to analyse numerical data and present results appropriately.
Demonstrate the ability to prioritise workload and work to deadlines.

Desirable

Good project management skills.
Good level of computer literacy.
Demonstrable ability to work as part of a team.
Active links with industry and academic networks.
Good interpersonal skills.

Other

Essential

Demonstrate an understanding of the bilingual nature of the institution and area, and the ensuing responsibilities.

General

The 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 Bronze 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) https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas. 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 - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme

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.