Postdoc Corrosion Chemistry in Molten Salt Reactors

Postdoc Corrosion Chemistry in Molten Salt Reactors

Light water reactors (LWRs) are currently the reference in the nuclear industry, but the current fleet of reactors will reach in a few years the end of their operating licenses. Generation IV reactors, among which the Molten Salt Reactor (MSR), are currently being developed to provide more efficient, safer, and more sustainable reactor technologies. One of the bottlenecks for the commercialisation of the technology in the near future is a thorough understanding and modelling of the corrosion chemistry of the molten salt nuclear fuel in contact with structural materials in the reactor core. The molten salt is a very corrosive medium at the high temperatures during reactor operation, and the long term integrity of those structural materials is of utmost importance for safety. The performance of those materials needs to be assessed, and innovative corrosion mitigation strategies need to be developed to extend their lifetime. The goal of the Post Doc will be to improve our understanding of the corrosion chemistry in chloride based salts for a selection of cladding candidates. The project will involve static and dynamic corrosion testing, coupled with post examination of the salt and samples by means of techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, X-ray and neutron diffraction, calorimetry, INAA etc. Electrochemistry experiments will also be designed and performed. As part of the Post Doc project, the candidate will supervise bachelor and/or master students, and will contribute to some educational activities. This Post Doc position will contribute to activities in the PRONTO (RVO) project recently granted, and it will also involves a collaboration with Thorizon, a MSR startup company in the Netherlands.

We are looking for an outstanding candidate with a PhD degree in Nuclear materials Chemistry, Materials Science, Applied Science or a related field. Candidate should have an affinity for multidisciplinary fields of research and a hands-on attitude towards experimental work. Computer skills in simulation and modelling are also desirable. We expect creativity, flexibility and ability to co-operate within an interdisciplinary research group. Excellent communication skills, including good written and spoken English, as well as the ability to conduct independent scientific work are required. Delft University of Technology is a bilingual organisation; fluency in English is essential.

Duration of contract is 2 years. Temporary. A job of 36-40 hours per week. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. An excellent pension scheme via the ABP. The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year. Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages. Flexible working week. Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget. Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses. Partially paid parental leave Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program. Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service , offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.  .

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