UK Research and Innovation
Cosmic Ray Effects on Electronics Industrial Placement
Job Location
Didcot, United Kingdom
Job Description
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary : £23,328 per annum
Hours : Full time
Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 months)
Location : Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire
Closing date: 20th October 2024
Interview date: December 2024/January 2025 (travel and accommodation will be reimbursed)
Start date: September 2025
Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.
ISIS is a world-leading centre for research in the physical and life sciences at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford in the United Kingdom. Our suite of neutron and muon instruments gives unique insights into the properties of materials on the atomic scale. We support a national and international community of more than 3000 scientists for research into subjects ranging from clean energy and the environment, pharmaceuticals and health care, through to nanotechnology and materials engineering, catalysis and polymers, and on to fundamental studies of materials.
ChipIR is an innovative instrument in ISIS, and one of the world's best accelerated-testing facilities for the effects of radiation on electronics, known as Single Event Effects (SEEs). SEEs occur when radiation causes destructive and non-destructive errors in electronic equipment, and are of increasing importance with the growing incorporation of electronics in critical-end uses. ChipIr provides a radiation environment that mimics fast "atmospheric" neutrons, for the testing of chips used in different avionics, space and ground applications. In a very short time, the ChipIR instrument has already developed a strong commercial and industrial user base across the electronics and avionics sector alongside a vibrant academic user community.
The novel NILE instrument consists of two compact accelerators producing neutrons: one 14 MeV from Deuterium-Tritium (DT) and one 2.45 MeV from Deuterium-Deuterium (DD). In both machines, deuterons are accelerated on a target (containing Tritium or Deuterium respectively) and neutrons are produced by the fusion reactions (D + T → n + α, D + D → n + 3He) . NILE is the latest addition to the ISIS instruments for the testing of single-event effects on electronics. The two generators will also contribute to the study of novel solid-state detectors, electronics such as SRAMs and AI systems, and to the research of detectors aiming to observe dark matter.
Brief overview of the scheme
STFC's incredibly diverse range of placements allow you to work alongside world leading engineers, scientists, and technicians in highly collaborative environments. Whichever you choose, you will become a critical member of the team in which you will be exposed to exciting projects and challenges from the start. You will be supported every step of the way by our dedicated Early Careers Development Team who will also ensure you benefit from a range of personal development opportunities.
STFC offers a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days' annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, Christmas closure and flexible working hours. For more information on our full list of benefits, please visit here .
About the role and a summary of key duties & responsibilities
A sandwich student vacancy exists to join the group running the ChipIR and NILE instruments. The successful candidate will join us in evaluating the characteristics of the NILE instrument sources, using different detection techniques, and in determining the best detection technique for each instrument.
Neutrons of high energies (> 10 MeV) are the source of disruption and reliability problems in modern electronic devices, particularly in highly advanced technologies. The successful candidate will identify the effects of neutron irradiation on electronic technologies that are being increasingly used in safety critical applications, such as for automating vehicles and for the aerospace market. These technologies include SRAM memories, and potentially machine learning and AI systems. Neural networks are of particular interest: thanks to the intrinsic approximate nature of neural-network computation, some output errors are sufficiently close to the expected value that the application treats them as correct.
Through irradiation campaigns, the student will compare ChipIR and the DT neutron generator, and will examine the disruptions caused by the intermediate energy neutrons produced by the DD neutron source.
You will:
The position represents an excellent opportunity to work on an innovative instrument in a highly industrially relevant and rapidly developing area and to develop your skills and knowledge in physics, scientific and technical computing, problem solving, communication and team working.
To apply for this placement, we are looking for the following:
Key - Shortlisting (S), at Interview (I) or both (S&I)
Essential:
Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.
Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.
About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
As one of Europe's largest research organisations, we ask the biggest questions in the universe to find answers that change the world around us. We seek understanding. We're proud of the impact we make. And we're committed to helping build a globally competitive, knowledge-based UK economy. Being part of all this means contributing to work that pushes boundaries and creates possibilities. You'll work with, and learn from, true experts. Whatever your role, you'll be free to question, and encouraged to share ideas. And, in a positive and supportive culture, you'll discover just what a difference you can make when you're equipped and inspired to excel.
We're a place where curious minds thrive. Not bound by profit, we explore ideas that others don't, ask questions that others won't, and discover answers that others are not equipped to find. And, alongside Mars landings and black holes, we also explore diverse, international projects in everything from science and engineering to computing and technology. Whether it's at the cutting edge or behind the scenes, our work is intellectually challenging. It's very often ground-breaking. And it's endlessly, irresistibly fascinating.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org .
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI .
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce' .
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
Additional Information
Location: Didcot, GB
Posted Date: 9/19/2024
Salary : £23,328 per annum
Hours : Full time
Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 months)
Location : Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire
Closing date: 20th October 2024
Interview date: December 2024/January 2025 (travel and accommodation will be reimbursed)
Start date: September 2025
Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.
ISIS is a world-leading centre for research in the physical and life sciences at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford in the United Kingdom. Our suite of neutron and muon instruments gives unique insights into the properties of materials on the atomic scale. We support a national and international community of more than 3000 scientists for research into subjects ranging from clean energy and the environment, pharmaceuticals and health care, through to nanotechnology and materials engineering, catalysis and polymers, and on to fundamental studies of materials.
ChipIR is an innovative instrument in ISIS, and one of the world's best accelerated-testing facilities for the effects of radiation on electronics, known as Single Event Effects (SEEs). SEEs occur when radiation causes destructive and non-destructive errors in electronic equipment, and are of increasing importance with the growing incorporation of electronics in critical-end uses. ChipIr provides a radiation environment that mimics fast "atmospheric" neutrons, for the testing of chips used in different avionics, space and ground applications. In a very short time, the ChipIR instrument has already developed a strong commercial and industrial user base across the electronics and avionics sector alongside a vibrant academic user community.
The novel NILE instrument consists of two compact accelerators producing neutrons: one 14 MeV from Deuterium-Tritium (DT) and one 2.45 MeV from Deuterium-Deuterium (DD). In both machines, deuterons are accelerated on a target (containing Tritium or Deuterium respectively) and neutrons are produced by the fusion reactions (D + T → n + α, D + D → n + 3He) . NILE is the latest addition to the ISIS instruments for the testing of single-event effects on electronics. The two generators will also contribute to the study of novel solid-state detectors, electronics such as SRAMs and AI systems, and to the research of detectors aiming to observe dark matter.
Brief overview of the scheme
STFC's incredibly diverse range of placements allow you to work alongside world leading engineers, scientists, and technicians in highly collaborative environments. Whichever you choose, you will become a critical member of the team in which you will be exposed to exciting projects and challenges from the start. You will be supported every step of the way by our dedicated Early Careers Development Team who will also ensure you benefit from a range of personal development opportunities.
STFC offers a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days' annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, Christmas closure and flexible working hours. For more information on our full list of benefits, please visit here .
About the role and a summary of key duties & responsibilities
A sandwich student vacancy exists to join the group running the ChipIR and NILE instruments. The successful candidate will join us in evaluating the characteristics of the NILE instrument sources, using different detection techniques, and in determining the best detection technique for each instrument.
Neutrons of high energies (> 10 MeV) are the source of disruption and reliability problems in modern electronic devices, particularly in highly advanced technologies. The successful candidate will identify the effects of neutron irradiation on electronic technologies that are being increasingly used in safety critical applications, such as for automating vehicles and for the aerospace market. These technologies include SRAM memories, and potentially machine learning and AI systems. Neural networks are of particular interest: thanks to the intrinsic approximate nature of neural-network computation, some output errors are sufficiently close to the expected value that the application treats them as correct.
Through irradiation campaigns, the student will compare ChipIR and the DT neutron generator, and will examine the disruptions caused by the intermediate energy neutrons produced by the DD neutron source.
You will:
- work within a team delivering neutron irradiation facilities to a world-wide electronics industry
- gain experience in methods for the calibration of the ChipIR instrument and the NILE neutron generators.
- develop intermediate and fast-neutron irradiation experiments on solid-state detectors (such as Si, SiC, diamond detectors) and scintillators
- develop fast-neutron irradiation experiments on electronics devices (such as SRAMs, FPGAs), collaborating with international users.
- Perform fast neutron measurement for diagnostics on the ISIS source and potentially cross calibration with other world wide neutron facilities.
- Develop some software for the analysis of the data or the interface with the detectors
- compare results with neutrons of different energies (thermal, 2.5 MeV, 14 MeV and atmospheric)
The position represents an excellent opportunity to work on an innovative instrument in a highly industrially relevant and rapidly developing area and to develop your skills and knowledge in physics, scientific and technical computing, problem solving, communication and team working.
To apply for this placement, we are looking for the following:
Key - Shortlisting (S), at Interview (I) or both (S&I)
Essential:
- Currently enrolled on an undergraduate degree course and returning to university/studies to complete your undergraduate degree following the placement (S)
- Are required or have requested to take an industrial placement year (S)
- Have the right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the placement (S)
- Able to commence employment in summer 2025 (S)
- Good interpersonal and communications skills (S&I)
- Demonstrated ability and initiative in solving technical and scientific problems (S&I)
- Enthusiasm, motivation and initiative (S&I)
- Ability to work independently and in a team (S&I)
- High degree of responsibility, commitment and reliability (S&I)
- Awareness of some aspects of scientific data analysis techniques, software and programming (S&I)
- Some knowledge of one or more of the standard computing languages used at ISIS (e.g. Python, Fortran, C, C++, Java, Visual Basic, Labview etc) (S&I)
Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.
Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.
About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
As one of Europe's largest research organisations, we ask the biggest questions in the universe to find answers that change the world around us. We seek understanding. We're proud of the impact we make. And we're committed to helping build a globally competitive, knowledge-based UK economy. Being part of all this means contributing to work that pushes boundaries and creates possibilities. You'll work with, and learn from, true experts. Whatever your role, you'll be free to question, and encouraged to share ideas. And, in a positive and supportive culture, you'll discover just what a difference you can make when you're equipped and inspired to excel.
We're a place where curious minds thrive. Not bound by profit, we explore ideas that others don't, ask questions that others won't, and discover answers that others are not equipped to find. And, alongside Mars landings and black holes, we also explore diverse, international projects in everything from science and engineering to computing and technology. Whether it's at the cutting edge or behind the scenes, our work is intellectually challenging. It's very often ground-breaking. And it's endlessly, irresistibly fascinating.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org .
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI .
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce' .
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
Additional Information
- Organisation: Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
- Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
- External Closing Date: Oct 20, 2024
- Minimum Salary: Pound Sterling (GBP) 23,328
- Hours: Full-time
Location: Didcot, GB
Posted Date: 9/19/2024
Contact Information
| Contact | Human Resources UK Research and Innovation |
|---|