Postdoctoral Research Associate​/Senior Research Associate in Fusion Reactor Engineering Design

Overview

This Job is based in Australia. The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate (Level

A) or Senior Research Associate (Level

B) to pursue the design development and simulations of engineering solutions for fusion energy reactor design. The successful candidate will carry out both independent and team research within a collaborative partnership between UNSW and the fusion energy company HB-11 Energy. This position supports a broader project aimed at accelerating the development of inertial fusion energy reactor concepts using advanced fuels.

In this role you will focus on coupling the optimisation of fuel target development, conducted by the industrial partner, with the design of the reactor chamber and auxiliary systems such as cooling, shielding, and laser optics. Work will include life assessments of components under intense x-ray, neutron, and charged-particle flux; material selection for structural and functional reactor components; exploration of advanced and conventional cooling systems;

energy extraction and conversion pathways; target delivery mechanisms; and radiation shielding options. Your research will contribute to the project outcomes that will provide insight into the feasibility and potential of advanced, quasi-aneutronic fusion energy reactor concepts. For HB-11 Energy, the results will directly inform the company’s technology roadmap and contribute to balance-of-plant modelling to assess economic viability. The successful candidate will join Patrick Burr’s diverse and multicultural research group and collaborate with the HB-11 Energy research team, also located in Sydney.

For more information on the research group of A/Prof Patrick Burr, please visit

At UNSW, you will join a vibrant materials research community within the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and the UNSW Nuclear Innovation Centre. This appointment is one of up to six new postdoctoral positions in this research area for 2025.

This position is best suited for candidates who have experience working across fields of nuclear physics, engineering design and/or materials science.

The role reports to Associate Professor Patrick Burr and has no direct reports.

• Level A – AUD $113,911 to $121,838 per annum + 17% superannuation
• Level B – AUD $127,947 to $150,830 per annum + 17% superannuation
• Full time
• Fixed-term contract – 3 years
• Location:
  
  Kensington – Sydney, Australia

About Us:

UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. We are a large organisation with a diverse community and a culture focused on thoughtful, practical and purposeful work. The School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering is internationally recognised for excellence in research and teaching, with strong programs in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, Robotics and Mechatronic Engineering. The UNSW Nuclear Innovation Centre is a hub for cross-disciplinary collaborations focused on medicine, irradiated materials, waste management, space exploration, and mining.

• A PhD in a related discipline, and/or relevant work experience.
• Experience in at least two of the following areas: engineering design, thermodynamics calculations, heat transfer, fluid flow, radiation shielding, radiation damage, particle transport.
• Computational skills allowing to compose or modify comprehensive simulation open-source codes.
• Experience in data analysis and simulations of complex and coupled nuclear engineering problems, using techniques such as (but not limited to) molecular dynamics, computational fluid dynamics, activation decay codes, kinetic Monte Carlo codes, particle transport codes, finite element or finite different methods, peridynamics, phase field models, multi-objective optimisation methods, CAD.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to fast-changing project direction and learn new skills or techniques to meet project objectives.
• Proven commitment to proactively keeping up to date with discipline knowledge and developments.
• Demonstrated…