Doctoral student in Nuclear Power Safety

Third-cycle subject: Physics, specialization in Nuclear Engineering

The group of Nuclear Power Safety in Division of Nuclear Science and Engineering (NSE) conducts research on accident phenomena of risk importance to existing and future nuclear reactors, and performs safety analysis for nuclear power plants, including design basis accident analysis and severe accident analysis. The research projects involve extensive international cooperation.

Reference number: PA-2026-2770.

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Physics, specialization in Nuclear Engineering

The group of Nuclear Power Safety in Division of Nuclear Science and Engineering (NSE) conducts research on accident phenomena of risk importance to existing and future nuclear reactors, and performs safety analysis for nuclear power plants, including design basis accident analysis and severe accident analysis. The research projects involve extensive international cooperation.

We are looking for a doctoral student to carry out frontier research on accident management (AM) during severe accidents of light water reactors. The doctoral student project is supported by the funds from Strålsäkerhetsmyndigheten (SSM).

The successful candidate is expected to (i) digitalize the paper-based, lookup-table-like procedures in the severe accident management guidelines (SAMG) to be chosen, facilitating the realization of the SAMG in case of severe accidents; (ii) develop an AI-aided tool for diagnosis of plant damage state using measured and estimated data (e.g. the simulation results of U.S. NRC codes); and (iii) combine the digitalized SAMG with the AI-aided tool for effective accident management.

Supervision: Professor Weimin Ma is proposed to supervise the doctoral student. Decisions are made on admission

Admission requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master's degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge
• The applicant must have been awarded a Master’s degree in nuclear engineering or mechanical engineering.

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach and
• analyze and work with complex issues.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. In the case of studies that are to be completed with a licentiate degree, the total period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for two years.

As a doctoral student, you are entitled to a workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement. Read more about Doctoral studies (PhD) | KTH | Sweden.

To apply for the position

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must include the following elements

• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages.Copies of originals must be certified.
• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Other information

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process.

It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant's consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

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Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

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Contract details

• Salary: Monthly salary according to KTH's doctoral student salary agreement
• Number of positions: 1
• First day of employment: According to agreement
• Location: Stockholm, Sweden
• Contact: Weimin Ma (weimin@kth.se)

Apply via the official KTH vacancy page. Incomplete applications and applications sent by email are typically not considered unless the vacancy states otherwise.

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master's degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge
• The applicant must have been awarded a Master’s degree in nuclear engineering or mechanical engineering.

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.