TEM Specialist

Role Description
We are looking for a TEM Specialist who will play an active role developing innovative nuclear materials for newcleo’s Lead Fast Reactor (LFR) technology. Characterize and test materials to gain fundamental understanding of the relationships between processing parameters and operational performance. Leverage top-notch experimental or computational infrastructure. Apply the understanding and solve the main material challenges concerning fuel elements, reactor internals, pumps, vessels and steam generators.

Main Activities

• Perform research related to the development of innovative materials for Lead Fast Reactors -specifically, structural steels, innovative metallic alloys or ceramic materials for bulk or surface treatment applications.
• Perform measurements, analyze results, and produce characterization reports, with attention to data curation and visualization.
• Operate advanced characterization instruments:

o    prepare samples as needed (mechanical, chemical, metallographic, or focused-ion beam preparation…)
o    Perform analyses via optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and (HR)(scanning) transmission microscopy (OM, SEM, S-TEM), including online analyses tools such EDX, EBSD, EELS or others.

• Provide a detailed analysis of structural observations (grain size and orientation, morphology, phases, chemical composition, dislocation features, lattice distortions…), contributing to discussions around relationships between processing parameters, structural features and thermo-mechanical performance.
• Contribute to quality assurance actions.
• Maintain assigned instruments and test equipment, organize, and participate in trainings, and take the lead in the liaison with after-sales service for microscopy tools
• Apply and enforce safety rules when working in the laboratory.
• Coordinate assigned work with other technical personnel 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.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary scientific and engineering teams.
• Participate in and foster a work environment that is based upon openness, trust, communication, teamwork, empowerment, innovation, and satisfaction.

Desired Qualifications    

• A master degree in nuclear, mechanical, materials, physics or chemical engineering, or equivalent, is a must. 
• A Ph.D. in a field relevant to nuclear materials is strongly desired.
• Professional courses related to the use of microscopy instruments are a plus.Fluent French, Italian and/or English.
• Working knowledge of the English language is mandatory.
• Solid hands-on experience with scanning and transmission electron microscopy at 360°, including accessory tools and detectors (such as FIB, EDX, EBSD, EELS, etc).
• The ideal candidate should also have experience with other tools, for example XRD, nanoindentation, AFM, APT, mechanical testing machines (fracture mechanics, tensile tester, creep, creep-fatigue, fretting, small punch, etc), TGA, ICP, LECO or similar.
• Proven experience with materials for nuclear applications; knowledge of defects and radiation damage in materials is a strong desire. So is working knowledge of at least one of the following: accident tolerant fuels, stress corrosion cracking or corrosion in advanced coolants, or equivalent.
• Experience developing new materials through thermodynamic simulation tools, such as JMatPro or ThermoCalc is a plus
• Applied knowledge of molecular dynamics or similar computational methods is a plus.
• Knowledge of standards relevant to nuclear materials is a plus (i.e., ASME, RCC-MRx and/or EURO codes, nuclear pressurized equipment regulation).