Post-doctoral position at University of Granada: Apply for an Athenea3i-2018 Research Fellowship at the Department of Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics

Professor A. Javier Praena Rodríguez, from the Department of Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics at the University of Granada, welcomes postdoctoral candidates interested in applying for an Athenea3i Research Fellowship in 2018 at this University. The information about the Fellowship conditions, how to apply, Eligibility Criteria, Selection Process, Evaluation Process, etc. is available in https://athenea3i.ugr.es/. Please note that applicants must comply with the Eligibility Criteria (https://athenea3i.ugr.es/?page_id=23).  

Brief description of the institution:

The University of Granada (UGR), founded in 1531, is one of the largest and most important universities in Spain. It serves more than 60000 students per year, including many foreign students, as UGR is the leader host institution in the Erasmus program. UGR, featuring 3650 professors and more than 2000 auxiliary personnel, offers a total of 75 degrees through its 112 departments and 28 centers.

UGR is also a leading institution in research, located in the top 5/10 of Spanish universities by a variety of ranking criteria, such as national R&D projects, fellowships awarded, publications, or international funding. UGR is one of the few Spanish Universities listed in the Shanghai Top 500 ranking (http://www.arwu.org/), and it is also well recognized for its web presence (http://www.4icu.org/top200/).

Internationally, we bet decidedly by our participation in the calls of H2020, both at partner and coordination. For the duration of the Seventh Framework Programme, the UGR has obtained a total of 66 projects, with total funding of 17.97 million euros, and for H2020, until 2015, more than 25 projects with total funding of more than 6 million euros. Our more than 3,000 researchers are grouped into 365 research groups covering all scientific fields and disciplines.

Brief description of the Centre/Research Group

The research of my group is focused on nuclear physics with particular attention to experimental neutron physics. Three are the main lines of research: first, the measurement of neutron-induced cross-sections, which are relevant in medical physics and astrophysics. These experiments are carried out at CERN since we belong to the n_TOF collaboration, the neutron facility at CERN. Second, we are studying the effect of neutrons on tissue because we are researching in a therapy of cancer known as NCT (neutron capture therapy). These experiments are carried out at ILL (Grenoble), where the most powerful nuclear reactor for research is located. At ILL we are also setting up a dedicated lab for studying the effect of neutrons in different cell cultures. Third, Granada could be the host of the International Fusion Material Irradiation Facility. In such unique and powerful accelerated-based neutron source, it could be possible to take advantage of the neutrons for other applications. For this purpose, our group will make a feasibility study for other applications, among others, soft errors in electronic devices, radioisotope production and a neutron scattering line. It is also included in the feasibility study the realization of experiments for determining neutron-induced cross-sections of interest in fusion.

Our group address the issues of an experiment: design, realization, analysis, study of the possible applications usually by means of Monte Carlo simulations. We have expertise in the codes as MCNP, SAMMY, PENELOPE, FLUKA and McStas. Three senior physics researchers, two senior biochemistry researchers and four PhD students form the group.

Project description

The research line will be related to IFMIF-DONES and nuclear data for DEMO and all the issues detailed in the following. DONES will be a dedicated facility for testing the behavior under neutron irradiation of the materials for the construction DEMO (first nuclear reactor based on fusion that will provide electricity for human consumption). Hence, we will study all the possible applications of DONES: soft errors in electronics devices, radioisotope production, neutron scattering line and a nuclear physics line.

In addition, there is a High Priority List (NEA and IAEA) of neutron-induced cross-sections that must be carefully determined for their use in the characterization of DEMO. Our group aims to measure cross-sections with high accuracy allowing their use for the adequate simulation of nuclear fusion reactors. For this, complementary measurements will be carried out at n_TOF (CERN) and at Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA, Spain). Both facilities provide neutrons with different spectra and flux. Therefore, complementary measurements will provide unique and high quality nuclear data. We belong since 2007 to the n_TOF collaboration at CERN and we have already lead experiments focused on the determination of neutron-induced cross-section. At CNA, we have developed the first accelerator-based neutron source in Spain. At present at CNA, it is possible to carry out integral measurements of neutron-induced cross-sections with continuous beam. Such integral measurement are extremely important for validate the differential cross-section that must be performed in TOF (time-of-fight) facilities. However, currently, we are upgrading the accelerator for installing a buncher/chopper system in order to have a dedicated time-of-flight line. Experiments at this TOF line at CNA will be complementary to those performed at CERN.

Research Area

• Physics and Mathematics (PHY-MAT)

For a correct evaluation of your candidature, please send the documents below to Professor A. Javier Praena Rodríguez (jpraena@ugr.es):

• CV
• Letter of recommendation (optional)