Lead Tokamak Edge & Impurity Transport Scientist

General Atomics; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics seeks a scientist to advance impurity transport and pedestal physics in tokamak plasmas. You will lead experimental interpretation and modeling efforts focused on tungsten transport, plasma response to impurity injection, and edge-core coupling.

The role involves coordinating diagnostics, applying 3D transport tools, and contributing to papers and presentations. Strong collaboration with multiple teams is essential for improved confinement and reactor relevance.

Qualifications

• Strong grasp of tokamak edge physics, impurity transport, pedestal physics, or integrated modeling.
• Experience applying concepts to interpretation of experiments or computational modeling.
• Experience with transport or plasma modeling tools relevant to impurity transport or gyrokinetics.

Responsibilities

• Lead analysis and interpretation of experiments for tungsten core accumulation and impurity transport.
• Apply 3D impurity transport tools to predict erosion, re-deposition, and core influx in plasmas with RMPs.
• Design studies of plasma response and stability during dust or particulate injection.
• Investigate effects of mid-Z impurity injection on divertor heat flux and core contamination.
• Coordinate with diagnostic teams to integrate measurements into transport analyses.
• Use integrated core-edge models to optimize no-ELM regimes for confinement and impurity control.
• Prepare technical reports and publish results; present at scientific meetings.

Skills

Tokamak edge physics

Impurity transport

Plasma modeling

Gyrokinetics

Experimental interpretation

Education

Ph.D. in physics or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

JINTRAC

ASTRA

STEP

GENE

CGYRO

Job description

General Atomics seeks a scientist to advance impurity transport and pedestal physics in tokamak plasmas. You will lead experimental interpretation and modeling efforts focused on tungsten transport, plasma response to impurity injection, and edge-core coupling.

The role involves coordinating diagnostics, applying 3D transport tools, and contributing to papers and presentations. Strong collaboration with multiple teams is essential for improved confinement and reactor relevance.