Coupled Extreme Environment Testing – Research Assistant/Associate/Full Professor, Spring 2025

Description

The University of Tennessee has an opening for a Research Assistant/Associate Professor in the area of Materials Testing for Coupled Extreme Fusion Environments. The successful candidate will be working with a new University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) project developing materials for extreme applications with a focus on fusion environments.

This work will be focused on developing new capabilities for testing materials response to coupled extreme environment where high temperature, irradiation, plasma erosion, magnetic field, or combinations thereof are present. The research focus shall encompass the testing of materials in highly controlled, coupled environments at the Tennessee Ion Beam Materials Laboratory (TIBML).

This position will be focused on accelerating testing of new materials systems of interest to fusion energy systems utilizing ion irradiation, gas implantation, laser heating, small scale mechanical testing, and pump-probe laser-based analysis. The testing of these materials will be part of a larger set of experiment-theory feedback loops evaluating magnetic properties, mechanical properties, radiation resistance, and high temperature performance. The work will also be closely coupled with modeling efforts providing insight and assistance with the experimental conditions and the materials that will be investigated.

The research faculty will work collaboratively with a team of faculty, postdoctoral associates, and students in Nuclear Engineering (NE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), and Physics, as well as scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Qualifications

Required: 

• PhD in Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, Chemistry, or other discipline related to development of Materials for Extremes.
• Significant research experience following the doctoral degree is desired, with a documented publication record.
• Extensive research experience in particle physics and the application of ion accelerator for materials related research. 
• Additional research experience in areas that support the extreme materials mission of the UTORII project focused on fusion applications including, but not limited to: 

- Advanced characterization of material atomic structures and microstructures utilizing X-ray and electron microscopy-based techniques. 

- Expertise in various ion beam analysis techniques of materials. 

- Thermo-mechanical property measurements supporting Processing-Structure-Property-Performance feedback loops. 

- Interrogation of materials under extreme temperature, magnetic fields, and/or radiation exposures. 

- Expertise in laser-based analysis of materials.  

• This position requires the ability to be granted a site-access badge for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 

Preferred: 

• Candidates with experience in more than one discipline, or interest in collaboration across these disciplines, are preferred. However, candidates who can define a unique area are also encouraged.
• Experience with obtaining funding and student mentoring is beneficial. 

Additional Information About Position 

• This is a 12-month, non-tenure track position.  
• The appointment will be with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  
• The position will be implemented as an initial three-year contract with full salary support for the first year, followed by a gradual decrease in salary coverage such that the successful applicant will receive 50% salary support in year 5 (if renewed after the third year) and is expected to receive extramura