Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Position Number: 00112398

Essential Job Duties:
The FPAC LAB at North Carolina State University is seeking an early-career scientist to lead impurity powder injection for wall conditioning experiments and to develop a model-based controller for the impurity powder dropper (IPD) on the KSTAR tokamak. The position is part of the multi-institutional DOE Office of Science FES project that is led by Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

As fusion devices transition to tungsten walls, real-time injection of low-Z powders offers a route to continuous wall conditioning without extended downtimes. The NC State scope is to deploy the IPD to integrate wall conditioning into high-performance plasma scenarios at KSTAR while minimizing the amount of injected impurity material.

The successful candidate will complete the IPD feedback control loop and develop an AI-/model-based predictive controller for injection rates that can be transferred to future devices, and design control schemes for long-pulse real-time wall conditioning. The role involves close, sustained collaboration with the KSTAR team and with U.S. collaborators, including travel to Korea for experimental campaigns.

The position is under the supervision of Dr. Florian Laggner and will be based at the Department of Nuclear Engineering in Raleigh, NC.

Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Develop and deploy a real-time, model-based controller for impurity powder injection on the KSTAR tokamak.
• Design and test control schemes for real-time wall conditioning in long-pulse scenarios that minimize the injected material while maintaining compatibility with high performance plasma operation.
• Develop a predictive, AI-/machine-learning-based model of IPD injection rates and powder delivery, suitable for real-time control.
• Complete the IPD feedback control loop and integrate it with the KSTAR plasma control system.
• Plan, execute and analyze experiments at KSTAR.
• Prepare and run experiments during international campaigns.
• Coordinate technical work with collaborators at PPPL and the KSTAR team.
• Communicate research results.
• Create scientific peer-reviewed publications.
• Attend conferences with oral and poster presentations.
• Provide research progress reports.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students at NC State.
• Provide scientific direction, guidance and mentorship to students as a key member of the FPAC LAB.

Departmental Required Skills:
n/a

Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education:

• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines and move rapidly from one task area to another.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with a diverse, international project team at various career stages.
• Ability to adapt to ever-changing needs, adjust or extend working hours, and travel internationally as required.
• An ideal candidate will have one or more of the following qualifications.
• Familiarity with wall conditioning, impurity or powder injection, and plasma-material interactions.
• Experience with real-time control systems, feedback algorithms, or a tokamak plasma control system.
• Experience applying machine learning or data-driven surrogate modeling to physical or engineering systems.
• Prior experience working within an international, multi- institutional research collaboration.

Necessary Licenses or Certifications:
n/a

AA/EOE:
NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

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Department: 141101 - Nuclear Engineering

Location: Raleigh, NC