In the following, you can find potential summer student projects of the PSI Center for Nuclear Engineering and Sciences.
BALDER Project (Licensing Support for a Molten Salt Reactor)
The PSI Hotlab is an independent organizational unit that operates a nuclear facility for processing and analyzing radioactive materials – a facility unique in Switzerland. The Hotlab department is looking for an intern to help plan and set up a complex experiment as part of an innovative and forward-looking large-scale project.
We are offering a summer internship opportunity for motivated students to join the BALDER project, which focuses on the licensing of an advanced molten salt reactor developed by Copenhagen Atomics. This work is carried out within a broader international collaboration aimed at demonstrating and evaluating next-generation nuclear technologies.
Interns will support the reactor licensing process by contributing to the preparation of technical and scientific documentation. Tasks will include drafting and editing written material, proofreading scientific texts, and organizing licensing-relevant information in a clear and concise manner. Additional activities may include synthesizing information from technical reports, scientific literature, and regulatory guidelines to support various aspects of the project’s documentation.
This internship is ideal for students with strong written communication skills, attention to detail, and an interest in nuclear science, engineering, or regulatory affairs. A background in science or engineering is preferred, and proficiency in English is essential. Excellent command of written English is particularly important.
Contact: Pavel Frajtag (pavel.frajtag@psi.ch)
Modeling and Analysis of a Heat-Pipe Nuclear Microreactor
The scope of the project is to investigate the particularities of high-temperature heat-pipe cooled microreactors by interchanging the heat-pipe working fluid. This project is entirely simulation-based and requires only computational work. Work will be done by using the Python-based OpenMC Monte Carlo code in a UNIX/Linux environment. The specific details of the project (e.g., reactor model, quantities of interest, and analysis focus) will be determined before or upon the student’s arrival, depending on the laboratory’s ongoing needs. If you have a nuclear background, you’ll have the chance to apply your knowledge to a practical, research-oriented project.
Area of study:
- Nuclear Engineering (mandatory background or related to the field of nuclear),
- Computer Science
Required technical skills:
- Reactor physics knowledge
- Python programing (average or higher proficiency)
- UNIX/Linux shell (basics is enough)
- OpenMC (optional - can be learned on the job)
Desired background/domain knowledge/experience/interests: Understanding of basic nuclear engineering concepts and how a nuclear reactor functions and behaves, interest in programing and data analysis, willingness to learn new computer codes, scientific curiosity, and initiative.
What you will learn:
- Working in a scientific environment
- Modeling and simulating a nuclear microreactor in OpenMC
- Data processing, visualization, and interpretation
Contact:
Alexandru Stafie
Alexandru.Stafie@psi.ch
Modelling, Design and Optimization of a Radiation Shield for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion with Ammonia Tank
The goal of this project is to investigate the modelling, design, and optimization of a radiation shield for nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) applications. The work will begin with a literature review covering: Acceptable radiation dose limits for spacecraft electronics and, where applicable, crew members; Candidate shielding materials and their relevant properties; Shield geometries, configurations, and overall design strategies used in past and proposed NTP systems. Based on this review, an initial design trade-off will be carried out to identify promising shielding concepts and guide subsequent design choices. The NTP engine considered in this project uses ammonia as propellant. As the propellant tank is partially or fully filled, the ammonia itself will provide varying degrees of radiation shielding. This self-shielding effect must be accurately characterized and incorporated into the overall shield design. The project is entirely simulation-based and will be conducted using python, and the Monte Carlo code OpenMC in a UNIX/Linux environment. The exact specifications and focus of the work will be finalized before or at the start of the project, depending on the ongoing needs of the laboratory. Students with a background in nuclear engineering or related fields will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge to a practical, research-oriented problem directly relevant to advanced space propulsion systems.
Area of study:
Nuclear Engineering (mandatory background or related to the field of nuclear),
Mechanical Engineering
Required technical skills:
Particle matter interaction knowledge
Python programing (average or higher proficiency)
UNIX/Linux shell (basics is enough)
OpenMC (optional - can be learned on the job)
Desired background/domain knowledge/experience/interests:
Understanding of basic nuclear engineering concepts, thermodynamics concepts, space enthusiast, and how radiation interacts with matter, willingness to learn new computer codes, scientific curiosity, and initiative.
What you will learn:
Working in a scientific environment
Modelling and simulating a radiation shield in OpenMC
Optimization in Python
General knowledge on radiation shielding
Data processing, visualization, and interpretation
Contact:
Alexandre Chappuis
Alexandre.Chappuis@psi.ch