Staff Research Scientist

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory•Princeton, NJ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) has an open position for a research staff scientist onsite. The successful candidate will join a dynamic team of scientists with diverse expertise, working to advance understanding and develop new approaches for wall conditioning in tokamak reactors. This role involves conducting research in plasma boundary physics, with a specific emphasis on real-time wall conditioning, impurity injection experiments, and the integration of impurity powder dropper and granule injector systems into scenario development and feedback control workflows. The scientist will also support the development and analysis of diagnostic-driven impurity injection experiments, including long-pulse wall conditioning studies on the KSTAR facility in S. Korea, integration with plasma control systems, and coordinated experiments on other devices such as DIII-D, NSTX-U, and WEST. PPPL, a U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory managed by Princeton University, focuses on tackling science and technology challenges using plasma, leading in fusion energy development, and advancing research in microelectronics, quantum sensors and devices, and sustainability sciences.

Requirements

Minimum 2-3 years’ experience post PhD.
Ph.D. in plasma physics, nuclear engineering, or a related field.
Strong analytical skills.
Strong English communication skills.
Experience with experimental fusion boundary physics.

Nice To Haves

Expertise in impurity injection techniques.
Expertise in real-time plasma diagnostics.
Expertise in actuator integration.
Expertise in interpretation of surface science diagnostics.

Responsibilities

Conducting research and disseminating results in the form of talks, posters, and refereed journal articles, principally related to boundary physics with a focus on the effects of impurity injection.
Periodic travel to domestic and international facilities will be required.