PhD Position on Reduced Order Modeling and its Applications in Nuclear Reactor Physics

PhD Position on Reduced Order Modeling and its Applications in Nuclear Reactor Physics

Job description

The development, licensing and deployment of new nuclear reactor systems requires demonstrated safety through extensive high-fidelity modeling augmented with comprehensive uncertainty quantification. Such high-fidelity models put severe demands on computational resources and limit their applicability to reference computations. Data driven reduced order modeling techniques have been constructed to reduce such computational complexity and have the added advantage of controllable accuracy. These models are especially useful in a many-query setting such as uncertainty quantification and optimization.

This PhD position focuses both on the development and application of reduced order models. Such models need to be compatible with a multi-physics framework and non-intrusive to avoid complex simulation code alterations. The development will build on earlier work using operator inference, dynamic mode decomposition and deep learning alternatives. Benchmarking will be based on high-fidelity descriptions of molten salt reactors and high-temperature reactor models.

Subsequently, theory will be developed to apply such models to the problem of uncertainty quantification using adjoint analysis and to advanced variations that not only provide estimates of the detector response perturbation but also include full state reconstruction. We will also consider the problem of optimal detector positioning for state reconstruction which is important for optimal reactor control and identifying possible malfunctions and for intruder detection.

As part of this position, the candidate will supervise bachelor and / or master students and will contribute to selected educational activities.

Job requirements

Your profile:

• You hold (or will soon hold) a Master’s degree in applied physics, mathematics, or a related field.
• You have a strong interest in computational physics and a desire to apply your insights to real-world challenges.
• You enjoy working collaboratively, communicate effectively, and are organized and proactive in your approach.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Applied Sciences

With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.
Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2901 per month in the first year to € 3707 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Dr. Danny Lathouwers, associate professor, via d.lathouwers@tudelft.nl.