Internship - Visualization and statistical analysis of nuclear reaction data
Support Nuclear Data Section with compilation and evaluation of reaction cross sections.
Overview
Support Nuclear Data Section with compilation and evaluation of reaction cross sections.
You have:
- University degree in nuclear physics, nuclear chemistry or relevant fields.
- Experience of isotope production cross section measurements.
- Experience with EXFOR library.
- Experience of EXFOR compilation is an asset.
- Programming skill is an asset.
- Candidates must be a minimum of 20 years of age and have completed at least three years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution towards the completion of a first degree.
- Candidates may apply up to one year after the completion of a bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree.
- Candidates must not have previously participated in the IAEA's internship programme.
- Excellent written and spoken English essential; fluency in any other IAEA official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) an asset.
Internships
The IAEA accepts a limited number of interns each year. The internships are awarded to persons studying towards a university degree or who have recently received a degree (see Internship web pages for further details).
The purpose of the programme is:
- To provide interns with the opportunity to gain practical work experience in line with their studies or interests, and expose them to the work of the IAEA and the United National as a whole;
- To benefit the IAEA's programmes through the assistance of qualified students specialized in various professional fields.
- The duration of an internship is normally not less than three months and not more than one year.
Organizational Setting
The Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications (NA) implements the IAEA's Major Programme 2, "Nuclear Techniques for Development and Environmental Protection". This Major Programme comprises individual programmes on food and agriculture, human health, water resources, environment and radiation technologies. These programmes are supported by laboratories in Seibersdorf, Monaco and Vienna. The Major Programme's objective is to enhance the capacity of Member States to meet basic human needs and to assess and manage the marine and terrestrial environments through the use of nuclear and isotopic techniques in sustainable development programmes.
The Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences is responsible for assisting and advising Member States in research and development for the nuclear sciences, especially the physical and chemical sciences. Specifically, the Division provides support to Member States in the following fields: production of radioisotopes and radiolabelled products for applications in health care and industry; radiation source applications; research reactor utilization; applications of accelerators and nuclear instrumentation; nuclear and atomic data for applications; controlled nuclear fusion and isotope hydrology and geochemistry.
Additionally, the nuclear science activities carried out by the Nuclear Data Section and Physics Section in the Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications fall under Major Programme 1.
The Nuclear Data Section (NDS) is primarily responsible for the generation and maintenance of a number of high-quality and fundamental nuclear and atomic databases and providing services to users worldwide. The main means of dissemination is via the NDS website, which provides interactive tools to present the required data.
Main Purpose
The main purpose of the internship is to support Nuclear Data Section with compilation and evaluation of charged-particle induced reaction cross sections.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Under the direct supervision of the Nuclear Data Physicists, the intern carries out the key tasks related to compilation and evaluation of charged-particle induced reaction cross sections:
- Compile experimental charged-particle reaction cross sections in EXFOR format;
- Update EXFOR entries compiling charged-particle reaction cross sections;
- Evaluate charged-particle induced radioisotope production cross sections using optimization/fitting tools, AL/ML or nuclear model codes (TALYS)
Qualifications and Experience
- University degree in nuclear physics, nuclear chemistry or relevant fields.
- Experience of isotope production cross section measurements.
- Experience with EXFOR library.
- Experience of EXFOR compilation is an asset.
- Programming skill is an asset.
Applicant Eligibility
- Candidates must be a minimum of 20 years of age and have completed at least three years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution towards the completion of a first degree.
- Candidates may apply up to one year after the completion of a bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree.
- Candidates must not have previously participated in the IAEA's internship programme.
- Excellent written and spoken English essential; fluency in any other IAEA official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) an asset.
- Candidates must attach two signed letters of recommendation to their application.
Potential interview questions
| Describe your experience with nuclear physics and its application in real-world scenarios. | The interviewer wants to understand your practical knowledge and how it applies to this internship's objectives. | Highlight specific projects or coursework that relate closely to nuclear physics applications. |
| What methods have you used to analyze nuclear data in your previous work or studies? | This assesses your familiarity and proficiency with data analysis techniques relevant to nuclear science. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you explain the importance of charged-particle induced reaction cross sections? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What programming languages are you familiar with that could assist you in this internship? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you approach compiling data from different sources? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Have you had any experience working with databases or libraries relevant to nuclear science? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What challenges have you faced in your academic or research work, and how did you overcome them? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Why are you interested in interning at the IAEA and what do you hope to gain from this experience? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |