Graduate Research Scientist - Graduate Scheme 2025

The salary for this role is £32,729.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions.

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to make a difference? Join our team and contribute to the future of fusion energy. As a Graduate Research Scientist, you will play a pivotal role within the Tritium Fuel Cycle Division where you will complete a core suite of tasks and work activities designed to develop professional skills. Elements of this programme are flexible and may also include placements within other parts of the UKAEA Organisation, these can be tailored to personal development needs and to those of a specific job role.

In addition to delivering high-impact research and development programmes, the Tritium Fuel Cycle division is also responsible for designing, delivering and operating cutting-edge tritium life cycle facilities. Furthermore, the division seeks to develop productive collaborations and grow a community of experts through the sharing and assimilating of knowledge.

UKAEA’s two-year graduate scheme is split by 80% of your time developing both your general work-related skills and professional qualifications and 20% of your working time dedicated to graduate training and development.  Within the graduate training and development, there is a core suite of activities designed to develop your professional and business skills. Elements of this programme are flexible and can be tailored to your personal development needs and to those of your specific job role. 

The Role

• Ensure your behaviour promotes the safety, health, and welfare of yourself and your colleagues. 
• Actively promote UKAEA’s values, championing a culture of equality, diversity, and inclusion 
• Baseline technology literature reviews.  
• Technology assessments and optioneering.  

Additional Responsibilities:

• Drafting of comprehensive desk-based technology reports.  
• Fuel cycle and unit operation modelling.  
• Conducting scientific experiments, comprising:   

1. Generation of experimental proofs of concept and conceptual design.  
2. Project planning and reporting o Experimental detailed design.  
3. Experimental purchasing, build and commissioning.  
4. Experimental operation and analysis of results.  

• Generation of scientific reports, scientific and engineering papers and presentation of findings at conferences.  
• Collaboration with university departments.  
• Definition of student and secondee projects.  
• Supervision of students.  
• Engage in active information sharing with staff and students, define and oversee Early Career projects. 
• Work in accordance with UKAEA policy and undertake any other reasonable tasks or duties requested by your manager. 

Essential Requirements:

• Successful completion of a relevant degree or equivalent level in Physics, Chemistry, Chemical/Process, Materials Science or relevant STEM Discipline; within the past 2 years.  
• A highly inquisitive personality that is able to question existing scientific models, but who is also able to express themselves clearly through high quality written deliverables, delivered in a timely manner.  
• Capable of learning how to define, structure and deliver small projects and able to manage delivery of their own work.  
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.  
• Have a responsible and structured approach to safety,

A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and women. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organization. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.