(SATURN CDT)Manufacture of high density fuel concepts for use in water reactors

About the Project

The University of Manchester invites applications for a fully funded PhD position focused on developing novel nuclear fuel materials for use in existing and future reactors, which includes a £26k p.a. tax-free stipend.

This project will work on exciting new fuel materials invented at Manchester and with industrial partners to look to further understand their behaviour for use in commercial systems. The successful candidate will be based in the state-of-the-art fuel labs located in the Henry Royce Institute building.

The research will focus on the characterisation and understanding of boron-doped uranium nitride. UN is an attractive material for use in reactors as it has economic (uranium density) and physical (thermal conductivity) benefits compared to UO2 which is used currently.

Research at Manchester has identified that the addition of boron compounds to UN significantly increases the temperature at which the steam reaction occurs. This project will seek to understand variations in physical properties of boron-doped UN compared to un-doped variants.

The successful candidate will join a thriving interdisciplinary research group.

The ideal candidate should possess: A strong problem-solving based approach. An interest in nuclear fuel materials and materials science. A background in a STEM subject at undergraduate level to a high standard, ideally with some research experience. Due to nature of the research, only British Nationals can be considered for this position.