"Associate Research Scientist - X-ray Imaging Crystal Spectrometer (XICS)"

Requisition #

2025-21382

Date Posted

3 weeks ago (11/24/2025 4:14 PM)

Department

PPPL Office of the Director

Category

Research and Laboratory

Job Type

Full-Time

Overview

The successful candidate will play a leading role in the development and maintenance of a core X-ray Imaging Crystal Spectrometer (XICS) on the JT-60SA tokamak, including its calibration, operation, tomographic integration, and data analysis. This advanced diagnostic capability will be applied to study particle, thermal, and momentum transport across Ohmic, NBI, and RF-heated plasma scenarios. The proposed work also aims to exploit new real-time diagnostic data capabilities in combination with theory, state-of-the-art computational modeling, and a rigorous verification and validation (V&V) framework developed by PPPL in collaboration with national and international partners.

JT-60SA, located in Naka, Japan, is the largest and most powerful tokamak currently in operation worldwide. As a superconducting device capable of long-pulse operation with advanced plasma shaping and control, it provides a unique platform for developing the physics and technologies essential for future fusion reactors. JT-60SA is a major international collaboration between Japan and Europe under the Broader Approach framework, supporting and complementing ITER by exploring high-performance, steady-state plasma scenarios.

Responsibilities

In addition to leading the implementation of the XICS on JT-60SA, the successful candidate will be responsible for its day-to-day calibration, operation, and data analysis using core Dopler “3D” x-ray tomography. The candidate will actively participate in the JT-60SA research program, including proposing, executing, and contributing to experiments led by European and Japanese team members. The role involves primary responsibility for the development of the data analysis codes required to interpret diagnostic results. The candidate may collaborate with Ph.D. students or other postdoctoral researchers to achieve these goals. It is expected that the candidate will publish the results of their work in refereed journals and present them at major international conferences.

Experience has shown that applying deep diagnostic and operational expertise provides strong synergistic benefits and accelerates scientific progress. Consequently, direct, in-person involvement of researchers is essential for successful diagnostic and hardware implementation. The successful candidate will collaborate at PPPL in Princeton, New Jersey and with the JT-60SA facility/QST Laboratory teams.

Qualifications

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. in plasma physics, fusion science, atomic physics or a closely related field. Preference will be given to candidates with experimental experience on fusion devices and demonstrated expertise in tokamak diagnostics, x-ray measurements and plasma and core fusion physics. Experience in data analysis and proficiency in modern x-ray tomographic programming techniques are highly desirable. Areas of interest for development using the XICS diagnostic suite include thermal, impurity, and momentum transport, MHD equilibrium, as well as beam and RF heating and current drive. While not required, proficiency in Japanese is desirable and may facilitate day-to-day interactions on site. The European and Japanese teams operate primarily in English, so fluency in Japanese is not essential.

Standard Weekly Hours

40.00

Salary Range

$91,500 to $146,100