Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Postdoctoral Research Scholar

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In addition to your application please submit a cover letter, resume, and the contact information for at least three professional references.

Posting Details

Position Information

Posting Number	PG191789PD
Position Number	00112398
Position Type	Post Doc
FLSA	Exempt

Departmental Information

Department ID	141101 - Nuclear Engineering
Department	141101 - Nuclear Engineering
Job City & State	Raleigh, NC

Position Information

Position Overview

Essential Job Duties	The FPAC LAB at North Carolina State University is seeking an early-career scientist to lead impurity powder injection for wall conditioning experiments and to develop a model-based controller for the impurity powder dropper (IPD) on the KSTAR tokamak. The position is part of the multi-institutional DOE Office of Science FES project that is led by Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. As fusion devices transition to tungsten walls, real-time injection of low-Z powders offers a route to continuous wall conditioning without extended downtimes. The NC State scope is to deploy the IPD to integrate wall conditioning into high-performance plasma scenarios at KSTAR while minimizing the amount of injected impurity material. The successful candidate will complete the IPD feedback control loop and develop an AI-/model-based predictive controller for injection rates that can be transferred to future devices, and design control schemes for long-pulse real-time wall conditioning. The role involves close, sustained collaboration with the KSTAR team and with U.S. collaborators, including travel to Korea for experimental campaigns. The position is under the supervision of Dr. Florian Laggner and will be based at the Department of Nuclear Engineering in Raleigh, NC. Duties and Responsibilities include: Develop and deploy a real-time, model-based controller for impurity powder injection on the KSTAR tokamak. Design and test control schemes for real-time wall conditioning in long-pulse scenarios that minimize the injected material while maintaining compatibility with high performance plasma operation. Develop a predictive, AI-/machine-learning-based model of IPD injection rates and powder delivery, suitable for real-time control. Complete the IPD feedback control loop and integrate it with the KSTAR plasma control system. Plan, execute and analyze experiments at KSTAR. Prepare and run experiments during international campaigns. Coordinate technical work with collaborators at PPPL and the KSTAR team. Communicate research results. Create scientific peer-reviewed publications. Attend conferences with oral and poster presentations. Provide research progress reports. Mentor undergraduate and graduate students at NC State. Provide scientific direction, guidance and mentorship to students as a key member of the FPAC LAB.
Other Work/Responsibilities
Wolfpack Perks and Benefits	As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perksdesigned to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Propositionand learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone. What we offer: Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement and Leave Faculty and Staff Assistance Program Enhance your career with LEAD courses Attend non-revenue generating sporting events for free. Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community. Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Requirements and Preferences

Work Schedule	Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm, and off-hours as needed, including off-hours to support experiments in the KSTAR time zone. Flexible work arrangements are possible; domestic and international travel as needed for collaborative research, experimental campaigns
Department Required Skills	n/a
Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education	Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines and move rapidly from one task area to another. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with a diverse, international project team at various career stages. Ability to adapt to ever-changing needs, adjust or extend working hours, and travel internationally as required. An ideal candidate will have one or more of the following qualifications. Familiarity with wall conditioning, impurity or powder injection, and plasma-material interactions. Experience with real-time control systems, feedback algorithms, or a tokamak plasma control system. Experience applying machine learning or data-driven surrogate modeling to physical or engineering systems. Prior experience working within an international, multi- institutional research collaboration.
Required License or Certification	n/a
Valid NC Driver's License required?	No
Commercial Driver's License Required?	No

Recruitment

Recruitment Details

Anticipated Hiring Range	$85,000 - $90,000 per year depending on experience
If you anticipate multiple hires from this search, please indicate how many

Recruitment Dates

Job Open Date	10/13/2026

Applicant Information

Quick Link

https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/236163

EEO

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity. If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or [email protected]. Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit. NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * How did you learn about this position?

   (Open Ended Question)

2. If you learned about this vacancy from "other source" or "other website", please provide the source.

   (Open Ended Question)

3. * According to our university's regulations, a postdoctoral scholar needs to have successfully completed their terminal degree no more than 5 years from the start date of their appointment. Given this, please provide the date (MM/DD/YYYY) your terminal degree has been or will be confirmed.

   (Open Ended Question)

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Cover Letter
2. Contact Information for References
3. Resume/CV

Optional Documents