"Research Associate in Nuclear Physics"

University of York - School of Physics, Engineering and Technology

Placed On: 19th December 2025
Closes: 15th January 2026
Job Ref: 14649

Department

The School of Physics, Engineering and Technology brings physicists and engineers together to push the frontiers of knowledge, foster innovation and meet the grand challenges facing society. Our aim is to deliver world-leading research in both fundamental and applied areas whilst developing new technologies that work for the public good, in an environment where everyone can thrive.

As a School, equality, diversity, and inclusion are central to our culture and we strive to provide a working environment which allows all staff and students to contribute fully, to flourish, and to excel. We aim to ensure that there is a supportive and egalitarian culture at all levels and across all staff groups and offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums, campus facilities and services to support staff from different backgrounds. We are proud to hold Juno Champion and Athena Swan silver awards, which recognise our commitment to creating an equitable and fully inclusive environment in which staff and students can thrive. We aim to inspire young people to engage with science and engineering through our outreach work.

The nuclear physics group (NPG) at York is one of the largest and most active such groups in the UK. Their research spans a range of topics in fundamental science from nuclear structure theory to nuclear structure experiment, nuclear astrophysics and hadron physics. The NPG pursues this research at accelerator-based facilities all over the world including CERN, RIKEN, FRIB and J-Lab. In recent years, the group has also developed a significant strand of applications-related research in areas such as medical imaging, medical isotope production, nuclear decommissioning and nuclear security.

Role

The York NPG is heavily involved in the Jefferson Lab (J-Lab) facility in the US where they are developing a compact photon source (CPS). The CPS has such intensity that if used as a spallation source it can produce neutron-rich isotopes below 208Pb that approach the region relevant to the astrophysical r-process. The York NPG is uniquely placed to exploit the capability of such a facility with their overlapping interests in nuclear structure, fission, nuclear astrophysics and hadron physics. The NPG wishes to leverage its expertise in these different areas to make the case for exploitation of the CPS for studies of exotic nuclei. The research associate will carry out work to explore the capabilities of the CPS in producing isotopes through modelling and creating a basic conceptual design as to how to extract, study and exploit such exotic nuclei. Attention will also be given to alternate routes to production of medical isotopes.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications needed

• A PhD in nuclear physics or equivalent experience
• Ability to carry out modelling of isotope production using nuclear reaction codes such as TALYS and GIBUU
• Ability to carry out Monte Carlo based simulations of radiation transport using e.g. GEANT4 or MCNP

Interview date: To be confirmed

For informal enquiries: please contact Professor David Jenkins (david.jenkins@york.ac.uk) or PET Admin Team (pet-admin@york.ac.uk).