Summary
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a Computational Physicist to carry out modeling of plasma transport and plasma-material interactions (PMI) in the Materials Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX). The selected candidate will utilize state-of-the-art 3D plasma boundary simulation tools as part of the MPEX Whole-Device Model to help understand PMI physics and optimize device performance.
Designation
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Research Area
MPEX Boundary and PMI Modeling (Fusion Energy Division – Power Exhaust and Particle Control Group)
Location
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Eligibility/Qualification
- PhD in Plasma Physics, Electrical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a closely related field completed within the last 5 years, or expect to complete a PhD by June 30th, 2027.
- Preferred experience with boundary and divertor plasma physics (e.g., EMC3-EIRENE, SOLPS, UEDGE, SOLEDGE).
- Preferred experience with plasma-material interactions and programming languages such as Python, MATLAB, Fortran, or C++.
Job Description
- Perform interpretive three-dimensional boundary plasma simulations of MPEX to optimize radiofrequency (RF) power coupling and PMI target conditions.
- Integrate boundary plasma simulations with impurity transport models to assess in-vessel impurities.
- Conduct predictive modeling to inform the design of new MPEX target geometries.
- Validate simulation results against experimental data and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of scientists and engineers.
- Publish high-impact research results in peer-reviewed journals and present at scientific conferences.
How to Apply
Interested candidates can submit their applications directly through the official job portal. For application assistance, contact ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.
Last Date for Apply
Until position filled
Apply for the MPEX Boundary and PMI Modeling Position at ORNL
