Cosmic Ray Effects on Electronics Industrial Placement

Cosmic Ray Effects on Electronics Industrial Placement

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.

Neutrons of high energies (> 10 MeV) are the source of disruption and reliability problems in modern electronic devices, particularly in highly advanced technologies. Two instruments of ISIS, ChipIr and NILE, have been built for the research on the physics and the mitigation techniques of these phenomena.

ChipIR is a state-of-the-art 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 of ISIS consists of two compact accelerators producing neutrons: one 14 MeV from Deuterium-Tritium (DT) and one 2.45 MeV from Deuterium-Deuterium (DD). NILE is the latest addition to the ISIS instruments for the testing of SEEs. 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.

The selected candidate will join the group running the ChipIr and NILE instruments, and will work on electronics’ research and calibration studies in both.

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. With an STFC Industrial Placement you will become a critical member of the team in which you will be exposed to exciting projects and challenges from the start.

We’ll provide challenges that match your skills, and each placement is a unique opportunity to pursue your career interests. 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.

About the role and a summary of key duties & responsibilities

An industrial placement student vacancy exists to join the group running the ChipIr and NILE instruments. The successful candidate will join us in evaluating the best detection technique for each instrument, and will further develop the currently used fast neutron detectors. Additionally, the successful candidate will identify the effects of neutron irradiation on electronic technologies that are being increasingly used in safety-critical applications, such as automating vehicles and in 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.

The successful candidate may use Monte Carlo simulations to confirm the experimental data.

You will:

• 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 worldwide neutron facilities.
• Work within a team delivering neutron irradiation facilities to a world-wide electronics industry
• Compare results of 14 MeV neutrons and atmospheric, determine the significance of 2.5 MeV neutrons.

The position represents an excellent opportunity to work on a state-of-the-art 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 teamwork.

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 2026 (S)
• Good interpersonal and communication 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)

Desirable:

• Some knowledge of one or more of the standard computing languages used at ISIS
• Knowledge of/ Interest in physics

Employee Benefits:

• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• Flexible working hours.
• An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
• Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Cycle to work scheme.

As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK.

Application Guidance

Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.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.

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.

What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible!

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.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all applicants with a disability who opt into the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum criteria for the role. 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.

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.

About the Team

The Science and Technology Facilities Council is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity-driven, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people – and more broadly to the world.

One of Europe’s largest research organisations, we’re trusted to support, enable and undertake cutting-edge projects in an amazing diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we’re driving ground-breaking advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates impact on a very tangible, human scale.

How to apply

To apply for this role and to find out more, please click on the apply button. Please note that applications may close before the application deadline, so apply early to avoid disappointment.