Postdoc Corrosion Chemistry in Molten Salt Reactors

Job description

Light water reactors (LWRs) are currently the reference in the nuclear industry, but the current fleet of reactors will reach in a few years the end of their operating licenses. Generation IV reactors, among which the Molten Salt Reactor (MSR), are currently being developed to provide more efficient, safer, and more sustainable reactor technologies.

One of the bottlenecks for the commercialisation of the technology in the near future is a thorough understanding and modelling of the corrosion chemistry of the molten salt nuclear fuel in contact with structural materials in the reactor core. The molten salt is a very corrosive medium at the high temperatures during reactor operation, and the long term integrity of those structural materials is of utmost importance for safety. The performance of those materials needs to be assessed, and innovative corrosion mitigation strategies need to be developed to extend their lifetime.

The goal of the Post Doc will be to improve our understanding of the corrosion chemistry in chloride based salts for a selection of cladding candidates. The project will involve static and dynamic corrosion testing, coupled with post examination of the salt and samples by means of techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, X-ray and neutron diffraction, calorimetry, INAA etc. Electrochemistry experiments will also be designed and performed.

As part of the Post Doc project, the candidate will supervise bachelor and/or master students, and will contribute to some educational activities.

This Post Doc position will contribute to activities in the PRONTO (RVO) project recently granted, and it will also involves a collaboration with Thorizon, a MSR startup company in the Netherlands.

Job requirements

We are looking for an outstanding candidate with a PhD degree in Nuclear materials Chemistry, Materials Science, Applied Science or a related field. Candidate should have an affinity for multidisciplinary fields of research and a hands-on attitude towards experimental work. Computer skills in simulation and modelling are also desirable. We expect creativity, flexibility and ability to co-operate within an interdisciplinary research group. Excellent communication skills, including good written and spoken English, as well as the ability to conduct independent scientific work are required. Delft University of Technology is a bilingual organisation; fluency in English is essential.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Applied Sciences

With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 2 years. Temporary.
• A job of 36-40 hours per week.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands. .

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Dr Anna L. Smith, associate professor, a.l.smith@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 14 October 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter

You can address your application to Dr Anna L. Smith.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.