Postdoctoral Fellow

Microstructural (FIB, TEM) characterization of fuel cladding surface and interface layers

Your tasks

  • Investigate deposits on fuel cladding surfaces (so-called CRUD) in respect to structure and phase composition using a shielded Focused Ion Beam (FIB) instrument in PSI’s hot laboratory 
  • Characterize the atomic structure of the interface between a surface coating and fuel cladding by high-resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) 
  • Apply further experimental methods of interest, in cooperation with PSI hotlab – metallography, EPMA, FIB-based EBSD 
  • Cooperate with our industry partners and colleagues from the modelling area 
  • Supervise students 
  • Publish your results in renowned scientific journals and report at international conferences

Your profile

  • PhD degree in Materials Science, Physics or Chemistry 
  • Hands-on experience supported by solid physical understanding of a TEM as a tool and a prior experience on FIB-SEM for 2D/3D analyses are required 
  • Experience with handling radioactive materials is a big plus 
  • Good knowledge of English, knowledge of German is an advantage 
  • First experience in project management

We offer

Our institution is based on an interdisciplinary, innovative and dynamic collaboration. You will profit from a systematic training on the job, in addition to personal development possibilities and our pronounced vocational training culture. If you wish to optimally combine work and family life or other personal interests, we are able to support you with our modern employment conditions and the on-site infrastructure. 

Your employment contract will initially be limited to 2 years.

For further information, please contact Dr Goutam Kuri, phone +41 56 310 21 82, e-mail goutam.kuri@psi.ch or Dr Johannes Bertsch, phone +41 56 310 41 73, e-mail johannes.bertsch@psi.ch

Please submit your application online by 30 June 2024 (including list of publications and addresses of referees) for the position as a Postdoctoral Fellow (index no. 4602-00).

Paul Scherrer Institut, Human Resources Management, Serdal Varol 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland