Senior Chemist

Role description

Play an active role in newcleo Lead Fast Reactor (LFR) technology development by applying foundational inorganic chemistry knowledge and researching chemical phenomena and processes in heavy liquid metal (HLM) media. Model, test and characterize HLM systems, particularly liquid lead, and describe the relationships between physicochemical properties and reactor operational safety and performance. Leverage top-notch experimental infrastructure and apply your chemical thermodynamics competence to solve the main challenges concerning liquid lead coolant interactions with reactor materials, fission and activation products, and chemical unit processes for chemistry control, in both normal operations, transients and accidental scenarios.

Main activities

• Apply competences in the realm of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics to understand mobility and speciation in liquid lead of oxygen, corrosion products and other dissolved impurities:
  -  Develop and/or use thermodynamic and kinetic models to understand chemical speciation and mobility of relevant elements.
  - Investigate experimentally - through characterization and testing - lead chemistry phenomena at high temperature to support the engineering of reliable and scalable chemistry control and monitoring strategies.
  - Perform foundational studies related to the chemistry of complex compounds to derive phase diagrams needed to underpin assumptions on behavior of materials that impact engineering systems (e.g. oxygen control in the core, fuel handling, release of chemicals in the gas handling system).
• Contribute in extended characterization programs, from the laboratory to full-scale level of the reactor chemical systems in normal, transient and accident conditions.
• Rationalize observed chemical trends in benchtop and pre-pilot scale test benches using thermodynamics, reactivity models and transport properties notions.
• Follow-up and execute R&D actions underpinning reactor development, and participate to design review activities and engineering studies as required.
• Coordinate assigned work with other technical staff as needed, including interns and thesis students, doctoral candidates, internal and external researchers, engineers and technicians.
•  Draft, join and execute European projects as participant, WP leader, PRJ leader or advisor.
•  Support submissions to national tenders for public funding.
• Disseminate scientific work through participation at national and international conferences, workshops and exhibitions, publications in scientific journals and patent applications.
•  Prepare specifications of lead coolant for operating conditions and chemistry control systems.
• Make technical evaluations of manufacturer bids for the supply of equipment.
• Perform quality control & inspections related to chemical technology aspects.
• Contribute to the development and update of newcleo’s general specifications, functional and safety requirements related to reactor chemistry aspects
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary scientific and engineering teams.
•  Foster a work environment based upon openness, trust, communication, teamwork, empowerment, innovation, and satisfaction.
  
  

Desired qualifications

Education

• A master’s degree in Chemistry, Applied Chemistry or Chemical Engineering, or equivalent is a must.
• A Ph.D. in a field relevant to newcleo’s technology is a strong plus.
  
  

Experience

• Proven experience working in an established chemistry R&D laboratory on inorganic chemistry and/or electrochemistry topics is a must.
• Experience with at least some chemistry lab routine experimental characterization and testing tools, such as mass spectrometry (e.g. GC-MS, ICP-MS), elemental analysis (e.g. ICP-MS/OES, TGA), electrochemical methods (e.g. potentiometric, coulometric, EIS) is considered necessary.
• Proven experience in an R&D context in at least one of the following fields is a strong plus: liquid metal chemistry, chemical process technology, thermochemistry, physical chemistry.
• Experience developing an understanding of thermodynamic equilibria and expected stable chemical speciation through thermodynamic databases such as HSC and ThermoCalc is a strong plus.
• Hands-on experience or applied knowledge in the field of liquid lead chemistry, such as electrochemical quantification of lead impurities or coupling of CFD with chemical thermodynamics and kinetic models is a plus.
• Proven experience with high temperature, non-aqueous chemical systems is a strong plus.
• A background in the nuclear industry is desired but not required.
  
  

Language Proficiency

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English (CEFR C1+)
• Fluent in Italian (CEFR C1+), French is a plus

What we offer

• Permanent contract
• Salary range: RAL 41.000- 52.000€
• The final salary will be determined on the basis of the selected candidate's qualifications and professional experience