Research Engineer, Civil Engineering

The Research Engineer-Nuclear Safety and Fuel Cycle Facilities is part of the CRESP center and Nuclear Environmental Engineering Research Group within the Civil Engineering Department in the School of Engineering at Vanderbilt University. This key individual contributor is responsible for research related to the following research areas: (1) investigating process optimization for nuclear fuel cycle facilities, including new reactors, and storage or disposal used nuclear fuel (UNF) and other waste streams; (2) safety analysis and performance characterization of nuclear fuel cycle facilities, including advanced nuclear fission reactors and proposed fusion power plants and test facilities; (3) risk-informed decision-making processes that can be integrated into existing U.S. DOE design and safety analysis frameworks; and, (4) development of professional continuing education class materials related to advanced nuclear fuel cycles and facilities, nuclear safety analyses, and, nuclear facilities siting. The position will be supported by external research funds provided through CRESP, the Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy, and the Electric Power Research Institute.

About the Work Unit:
Vanderbilt’s Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) department vision is to be one of the foremost Civil and Environmental Engineering programs in effecting tangible change to resolve problems of critical importance to humanity in the built environment and the natural world through inspired teaching, research, and service, and to maintain a culture of leadership within an educational setting that values research innovation and impact. CEE prepares students to be leaders in Civil and Environmental Engineering in an era of rapid evolution of the profession, to perform innovative basic and applied research that will meet critical challenges in infrastructure and natural resources and provides service to institutions and government agencies that assist in resolving societal problems.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:
• Develop and/or review advanced reactor and fuel cycle facilities system safety analyses created using process hazards analysis (PHA) methods
• Develop methodologies for and reviewing the results of applying model-based systems engineering methods to fuel cycle facilities and advanced reactor design.
• Assist in research to aggregate, analyze, and synthesize data regarding public sentiments regarding siting, licensing and operation of existing commercial independent spent fuel storage installations (ISFSIs) to inform future consent-based siting efforts for a federal CIS
• Serve as subject matter expert during interfaces with communities surrounding DOE sites currently storing defense- and research-related SNF to foster mutual learning on best and worst practices in risk-informed decision-making and to develop and test new decision-making methods based on this learning

Position Description
• Coordinate meetings and strategies between project partners,
• Assist in organizing public engagements, reporting project progress to DOE, technically evaluating project deliverables
• Collaboration to develop guidance for U.S. DOE’s Office of Environmental Management (EM) regarding the need to integrate risk-informed methods into safety and design decision-making.
• Performing case studies on relevant facilities using the established risk-informed decision-making methodology.
• Developing course materials for continuing professional education related to advanced nuclear fuel cycle facilities, nuclear safety systems, and nuclear facilities siting.

Supervisory Relationships:
This position does not have supervisory responsibility and reports administratively and functionally to the Principal Investigator.

Education and Certifications:
• Master’s degree in engineering is necessary.
• PhD in science or engineering is strongly preferred.

Experience and Skills:
• A minimum of two-four years of experience in safety analysis and risk-informed decision-making activities is necessary.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills working with

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.