Scientist - UCLA Fusion Simulation Center

University of California, Los Angeles: Physics & Astronomy; Los Angeles (CA); Sur place; USD 79 000 - 209 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

University of California, Los Angeles – Physics & Astronomy is seeking a full-time Project Scientist in Fusion Simulation. The role centers on assembling and running integrated fusion device simulations, developing optimized configurations for steady-state fusion power plants, and collaborating across departments to integrate plasma physics constraints.

The candidate will lead simulation efforts, contribute to software development, engage with national labs, and mentor postdocs and students

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Physics or a related field.
• At least two years of post-PhD experience in plasma or fusion technology with a strong simulation focus.
• Experience with fusion simulation activities on the science or engineering side.
• Ability to work autonomously and mentor others.

Responsabilités

• Assemble and run integrated fusion device simulation suites for collaborators.
• Develop optimized overall configurations for fusion power plants and testbeds.
• Coordinate with expert groups across UCLA to integrate subsystem constraints.
• Conduct simulation-based investigations to improve understanding and designs.
• Write simulation code to improve models and enable workflows.
• Engage with national laboratories and large-scale computing facilities.
• Collaborate on validation exercises such as tokamak experiments when possible.
• Generate scientific deliverables: journal papers and conference talks.
• Oversee postdocs and students, providing mentorship and goal tracking.

Connaissances

Autonomy

Collaboration

People skills

Formation

Ph.D. in Physics or related field

Description du poste

Fusion Energy represents one of the grand challenges for humankind, offering the prospect of limitless baseload electricity, an inherently safe configuration, with no significant greenhouse gases or nuclear waste. As a thriving fusion industry develops multiple promising concepts for fusion, it isvital to look ahead to solutions for continuous energy production. Thus, UCLA seeks to pioneer the steady state tokamak as a concept in its own right, and as a tensioner to drive the development of the many constituent science and engineering components of the challenge, that will drive broaderbenefits to the fusion field.

To this end, UCLA is establishing a Fusion Simulation Center to develop concepts for a compact fusion power plant that integrates foundationaldiscovery plasma science, fusion science and engineering. The explicit goal is the development of robust and cost-effective configurations for fusion insteady state, as well as innovative approaches and advanced solutions in each of the technical fields and systems comprising a power plant. This work will thus serve as an integrating focus of a very broad range of activities across Engineering and Science at UCLA from energy extraction, blanketdesign, tritium breeding, and materials development to fundamental plasma science and efficient energy confining plasma configurations.

Thus, the Department of Physics & Astronomy at UCLA seeks outstanding candidates for a full-time (100%) position as an Assistant, Associate or Full Project Scientist (dependent on experience) in the area of Fusion Simulation.

Key responsibilities and tasks will include:

• Assembling and running integrated fusion device simulation suites, and providing these to collaborative partners in the university and beyond. Such suites will range from simplified, rapid-to-run codes to those that use state of art frontier computing tools.
• Using such suites to develop optimized overall configurations for fusion power plants and other testbed fusion devices, deploying scientific and technical understanding to pioneer these solutions.
• Working with expert groups from across the university to understand and integrate the constraints of many subsystems and aspects of plasma physics.
• Simulation-based investigations to look in depth at key aspects of the system individually (such as subsystems, underlying fundamental discovery plasma science questions, techniques and behavior in fusion plasmas, blanket behavior – dependent on skillset and background of the applicant) with a view to concept improvement and understanding.
• Writing simulation code to improve models of behavior in the simulation suite, or facilitate execution of workflows.
• Establish collaborative engagement with other efforts across the United States, and particularly with access to national laboratories and heroic computational facilities.
• Potentially to engage in, or collaborate with validation exercises such as experimental tests on tokamaks or other testbed devices.
• Generate scientific deliverables including journal papers and conference talks.
• Significant aspects of these goals are expected to be achieved through support to and oversight of other personnel, such as postdocs and students, and thus a key responsibility is to oversee such delegation, work specification, oversight, tracking and mentorship to deliver research goals, and empower colleagues to personal success.

The successful candidate is expected to be able to operate with a high degree of autonomy and grapple with highly complex technical issues, distilling them down to essential understanding for a working knowledge. Specific understanding of relevant plasma science or fusion technology is essential.Excellent collaboration and people skills are required to work with and integrate a large team of experts. Some travel may be required to engage withcollaborators.

Qualified candidates will have a Ph.D. in Physics or a related field, and at least two years experience since PhD in plasma or fusion technology researchinvolving a strong simulation dimension and a demonstrated background directly applicable to the tasks, including experience with fusion simulationactivities on the science or engineering side.

Candidates should provide a curriculum vitae; a publication list; a Statement of Research Interests and Future Research Goals, complete a reference check authorization release form, and arrange for 2-3 letters of reference to be uploaded to UCLA Academic Recruit.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Salary range:The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See Table 37B for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $79,400 to 209,000. “Off-scale salaries”, i.e. a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

APPLICATION WINDOW

Open date:October 23, 2026

Next review date:Monday, Nov 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Final date:Monday, Nov 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

• Publication list - Your complete bibliography

• Statement of Research Interests and Future Research Goals - Statement of Research Interests and Future Goals

• Reference check authorization release form - Complete and upload the reference check authorization release form

Reference requirements

• 2-3 letters of reference required

Applicants will be asked to name references, and the applicant must request letters to complete their application.

ABOUT UCLA

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affiant?