Accepting Applications: NSSC Postdoctoral Scholar

The Nuclear Science and Security Consortium has an immediate need for a postdoctoral scholar. The initial appointment is for one year, with the possibility of extension for up to three years. Starting salaries are commensurate with qualifications and experience. Positions will remain open until filled.

Please refer reviewers to the UC Berkeley Statement of Confidentiality. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply. The University of California is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

COMPUTATIONAL NEUTRONICS METHODS AND SOFTWARE

The Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley has an opening for a postdoctoral scholar. Our group, in collaboration with scientists at DOE laboratories, develops computational methods for neutral particle transport and conducts analysis of nuclear security applications with those methods. The successful candidate will design, plan, implement, analyze, and report on innovative computational methods and analysis applications. Areas of particular interest are deterministic methods in the context of high performance computing, advanced variance reduction methods for Monte Carlo, and multigroup cross section processing strategies. Application areas of particular interest are neutronics analysis for nuclear material control and accountability and nuclear material detection systems.

The postdoctoral scholar will be responsible for projects related to the development and application of computational methods. A specific project of interest is improved simulation of interrogation of special nuclear material with neutron time-correlations. This work will be applied to a shipping truck monitoring system. Responsibilities will include developing and implementing methods appropriate to the project; organizing and performing simulations; analyzing results; communicating with a team of collaborators; and writing publications and reporting results at professional conferences. Additional responsibilities will include supervising students and participating in weekly seminars.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in computer science, nuclear engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing software in C++, Fortran, or Python.
• Experience with at least one of deterministic methods for neutral particle transport,   variance reduction for Monte Carlo, and/or multigroup cross section processing methods.
• Strong oral and written communication skills. 

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with neutronics analysis of nuclear security applications.
• Expertise with testing frameworks, issue/ticketing systems, version control, and build   systems for scientific software.
• Specific familiarity with tools such as git, Doxygen, CMake, and LaTeX.