Materials Scientist

at  University of Missouri

HIRING DEPARTMENT

MU Research Reactor
A life-saving operation in the middle of America — the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) — needs you to help guide its future. MURR is expanding its critical cancer-fighting and medical isotope production.
MURR’s reactor is the highest-power university research reactor in the United States, operating at 10 megawatts, 6.5 days a week and 52 weeks a year. The MURR facility enables research across many disciplines – From investigating ancient cultures and how plants respond to their environment, to analyzing industrial materials and developing radiopharmaceuticals that have lifesaving clinical applications. The MURR facility is a reliable resource for researchers, scientists, engineers and students across the country.
Be a part of the future of fighting cancer and saving lives.
Be a part of MURR

JOB DESCRIPTION

The University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) is seeking a Materials Scientist. This position will report to the Associate Director of Research and Education and will be responsible for the nuclear materials research program.
Global electricity demand over the 2023-2025 period is expected to grow at a fast 3% pace. It is expected that renewables and nuclear energy will provide 90% of the additional demand. Public and private investment in new nuclear technology is expected to dramatically increase over the next decade to meet the demand for low carbon electricity.
One new approach in meeting this demand is through the development of small modular nuclear reactors (SMR). New materials are critical to the success of building SMRs. There are very few universities with the ability to perform post irradiation examination (PIE) on advanced materials. This position will support the MURR nuclear materials group to develop experimental facilities to test materials being developed for the new generation of nuclear reactors.

Key Duties Performed by This Position Will Include

• Conduct and support scanning electron microscope (SEM) experiments at the MU Research Reactor
• Conduct material characterization experiments on radioactive materials in a hot cell or glove box
• Write procedures and policies for handling radioactive samples
• Conduct material irradiation experiments using thermal neutrons at the MU Research Reactor

Aid in drafting grants and publication manuscripts for the material science group at the MU Research Reactor
Successful candidates will be persuasive communicators with exceptional organizational and time management skills. They must demonstrate the following durable skills: leadership, character, collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, metacognition, mindfulness, growth mindset, and fortitude. Additionally, customer service, confidentiality, integrity, and a commitment university values in their activities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in related/relevant area and at least 4 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working in a radiation laboratory
• Experience conducting thermal neutron irradiations
• Experience conducting mechanical stress/strain measurements
• Experience with Electron Microscopy and Raman Microscopy techniques
• PhD in an engineering or stem field.

• Conduct and support scanning electron microscope (SEM) experiments at the MU Research Reactor
• Conduct material characterization experiments on radioactive materials in a hot cell or glove box
• Write procedures and policies for handling radioactive samples
• Conduct material irradiation experiments using thermal neutrons at the MU Research Reacto