Scientist – Corrosion Chemist

UK Atomic Energy Authority; Culham; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) at Culham is seeking a Scientist – Corrosion Chemist to drive corrosion science and materials research supporting fusion technologies. You will plan and direct technical work packages, interpret experimental data, and report findings to customers and partners.

You will also contribute to publications, manage small teams, and represent UKAEA at conferences, helping to deliver a major research program with tight timescales and budgets.

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant subject or equivalent experience.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills.
• Fluent written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate projects including procurement and resources for sample preparation, testing and modelling.
• Deliver high-quality research and engineering in nuclear materials.
• Analyse and communicate results through technical reports and publications.
• Lead small teams of scientists and PhD students with direction during experiments and modelling.
• Collaborate with external partners across fusion and related sectors.

Skills

Fluent English

Teamwork & communication

Timely delivery

Budget management

Education

Degree in a relevant subject

Tools

XRF

TEM

STEM

Job description

The salary for this role is £43,702 (inclusive of a Specialist Allowance) . Onsite working is expected for 3days a 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

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to make a difference? Join our team and contribute to the future of fusion energy. As a Scientist – Corrosion Chemist, you will play a key role in delivering LIBRTI’s corrosion science and chemistry programme, supporting the development of fusion breeding technologies. You will plan and direct technical work packages, interpret and report experimental data, work closely with customers and external research partners, and communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences. You will also contribute to research publications and represent LIBRTI at conferences and technical meetings, helping to deliver a major £1m+ research campaign for a customer or partner in the global fusion sector.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Plan and coordinate projects (consumables <£100k), including procurement, scope, funding and resources for sample preparation, testing and modelling.
• Deliver high-quality research and engineering in nuclear materials, applying technical knowledge and creative approaches to solve problems.
• Analyse and communicate results through technical reports, internal meetings and peer-reviewed publications.
• Lead and support small teams of materials scientists and PhD students, allocating work and providing direction during experiments and modelling activities to ensure robust, timely results.
• Work with external collaborators and customers, including universities, research organisations and industry partners across the fusion and fission sectors.
• Contribute to UKAEA’s technical knowledge and capability, including the development of design rules, practices and approaches in materials and nuclear physics research.
• Develop and secure funding for new projects (consumables <£100k), aligned with UKAEA priorities and programmes such as STEP, EUROfusion and EPSRC.
• Represent UKAEA at UK and international conferences, technical meetings and other relevant events.
• Degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent HNC, apprenticeship and relevant work experience.
• Previous research or laboratory experience, ideally within materials research or an experimental campaign.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical information to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Ability to deliver high-quality work to tight timescales and within budget.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Good digital skills, including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint).
• Experience in materials or corrosion testing, development, analysis or qualification.
• Good understanding of nuclear environments and a range of corrosion mechanisms, ideally including liquid metal environments.
• Experience with high-resolution analytical techniques, such as XRF, TEM or STEM
• Strong publication record in a relevant technical or scientific field.
• Experience preparing funding and grant applications.

UKAEA’s mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce. We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, while ensuring all appointments are made on merit.

UK Atomic Energy Authority is committed to being accessible. Please email [e-mail] 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.

As an employee of UKAEA you will benefit from:

• Outstandingdefined benefit pension scheme,details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporatebonus schemeup to7%and aRelocationallowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working optionsincluding family friendly policies.
• Employee Assistance Programmeand trained Mental Health First Aiders,
• Generous annual leaveallowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
• A vibrantculturecommitted to equality and being fullyinclusive

Browse some of our current job vacancies below.

What can I expect from the application process at UKAEA?

Once you have submitted a formal application via our website, all CVs will be reviewed shortly after the closing date of the advert.

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 realising fusion energy, partnering with industry and research for groundbreaking 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: Innovation, Commitment, Trust, and Collaboration.