Job offer

European Commission; France; Sur place; EUR 35 000 - 55 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

La Commission Européenne cherche un chercheur pour un poste de professeur junior en fusion, centré sur la physique des plasmas chauds et l'interaction laser. Le candidat devra proposer un projet innovant tout en contribuant à l'enseignement et à la recherche collaborative. Ce rôle est essentiel pour le développement de l'énergie de fusion et s'inscrit dans un cadre universitaire enrichissant aux côtés d'experts, avec de nombreuses perspectives d'impact scientifique.

Qualifications

• Proposer un projet de recherche novateur dans le domaine de la fusion nucléaire.
• Disposer d'une expertise en physique des plasmas et interaction laser.
• Compétences en enseignement et coordination avec l'université requises.

Responsabilités

• Développer et valider des codes hydrodynamiques et cinétiques.
• Enseigner dans le cadre de la chaire de professeur junior en fusion.
• Contribuer à des initiatives de science ouverte et de diffusion des résultats.

Connaissances

Physique de haute énergie

Plasma chaud

Intelligence artificielle

Formation

Doctorat ou équivalent

Description du poste

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Direction des ressources humaines Research Field Physics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Country France Application Deadline 14 Jul 2025 - 23:59 (UTC) Type of Contract Other Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 23 Jun 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Understanding the mechanisms of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) for energy production lies at the heart of Societal Challenge 2.3.6 "Energy Transition" and Thematic Priority 1.2.5 "Out-of-Equilibrium Phenomena and Extreme Conditions" of the CNRS Performance and Objectives Contract.
Over the period 2022 -2024, the teams at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California have reached a historic milestone by achieving a controlled nuclear fusion reaction producing an energy gain of more than 2. This result opens up new prospects for the production of clean nuclear energy. The major challenges are to reach a gain greater than 100 and improving both laser repetition rate and efficiency. In the past two years, numerous start-ups and national initiatives have emerged to advance ICF for energy applications.
In France, 2024 marked the official approval and funding of the Taranis-GenF project by Bpifrance. This project, aimed at developing an ICF-based reactor design, is led by industrial partners (Thales), public research bodies (CEA), and academic laboratories (UMR CELIA and LULI). In parallel, the HiPER+ initiative is being structured at the European level to pursue ICF for energy production. The success of these ambitious programs hinges on strengthening research activities, scientific expertise, and the training of a new generation of researchers in the field.
The Fusion Junior Professor Chair aims to attract a talented researcher to one of the two host laboratories (CELIA and LULI) and to strengthen his/her skills in the fields of high energy density physics, radiative magneto-hydrodynamics, nuclear combustion physics and the physics of hot and dense plasmas. This requires the development and validation of hydrodynamic and kinetic codes, experimental and theoretical studies of laser-plasma interactions, parametric laser instabilities, the generation of magnetic fields, and the dynamics of strong shocks.

CELIA serves as a bridge between the academic community and the Laser Mégajoule (CEA), by proposing alternative schemes for inertial confinement fusion (ICF). It has developed unique expertise in direct attack, shock ignition, and particle beam-driven ignition. Specializing in laser-plasma interaction and high-intensity sources, CELIA investigates the effects of external magnetic fields on fusion from multiple perspectives: theory, simulation, code development, experimentation, and data analysis.
For over 20 years, LULI has been exploring the microphysics relevant to ICF, including the equation of state, heat transport, laser-plasma interaction, and the opacity of hot and dense plasmas. LULI researchers have built unique expertise in both experimental and theoretical aspects of high-energy-density physics. The laboratory is also a center for training in inertial fusion, notably through the creation of a dedicated Chair in High Energy Density and Inertial Fusion, in partnership with CEA-DAM and École Polytechnique.

Applicants are expected to propose an innovative, internationally ambitious research project exploring new theoretical and experimental perspectives in the physics of hot, high-energy-density plasmas. The project should fall within the framework of inertial confinement fusion (ICF), with the objective of achieving fusion ignition and energy production. It should integrate theoretical, numerical, and experimental approaches, and aim to develop a scheme compatible with the commercialization of fusion energy.
The research project will focus on one or more key topics, such as laser-plasma interaction, implosion physics and hydrodynamic stability, the generation and effects of magnetic fields on laser energy deposition, implosion symmetry, ablation pressure, and strong shock dynamics. It should also address the mitigation of instabilities, the modeling of microscopic effects, and the application of artificial intelligence to optimize target designs.

Applicants must propose a teaching project (28 hours of lectures or 42 hours of practical work or tutorials) aligned with the theme of the Junior Professor Chair in Fusion. This teaching plan will be discussed and finalized in coordination with the academic authorities of the host laboratory's university. At the University of Bordeaux, candidates must propose a teaching project that fits within the plasma physics courses offered as part of the EUR Light S&T program. In particular, the project should contribute to the course offerings of the annual "Sciences de la fusion" master's gathering held in Bordeaux, which brings together students from the Gi-Plato and PPF master's programs in the Paris region, as well as participants from the Erasmus+ program "Innovative Education & Training in Laser Inertial Fusion Energy."
Additional contributions to introductory courses on artificial intelligence (AI), involving multiple master's programs on campus, will be considered a valuable asset.

The CNRS is developing a strong policy in favor of open science. Open science consists of making research results "as accessible as possible and closed as necessary". As such, the CNRS aims to make 100% of the texts of publications resulting from the work of its laboratories accessible , in particular through deposit in HAL. The data produced must also be made available and reusable, except for specific restrictions. In addition, the guiding principles of individual evaluation have been revised in accordance with the DORA declaration, to be more qualitative and to take into account all facets of the researcher's profession.

The dissemination of the results will be done through world-class scientific productions: publications, patents, software... In addition, the results will be communicated to various targets such as scientific communities, media, decision makers, general public, schools, etc., with an adapted calendar. Specific tools may be developed such as websites, newsletters, meetings, international symposia, summer schools and conferences.

The relationship between science and society is now recognized as a full dimension of scientific activity. The project will develop this dimension in synergy with all the partners. The resulting research work will contribute to informing public decision-making. Participatory science initiatives may be initiated with actors from the project's socio-economic and cultural eco-system.

holders of a doctorate or a PhD or equivalent degree or applicants who have gained scientific. There is no restriction on the age or nationality of applicants. All CNRS positions are accessible to people with disabilities, with special arrangements for tests made necessary by the nature of the disability.