Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions ITN Fellowship - EASITrain

Company Description

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions ITN: EASITrain

The EU-funded Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme has two main strategic objectives: to strengthen the scientific and technological base of European industry and to encourage its international competitiveness, while
promoting research that supports EU policies.

EASITrain is a 4-year project that started on 1 October 2017 providing a training network for the career development of 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) on superconducting wires, superconducting thin films, related manufacturing and processing techniques and innovative cryogenic refrigeration..

ASG Superconductors based in Genova, Italy has excellent skills in the design, development, production, installation and testing of superconducting magnet, cryogenic systems, resonant cavities, solenoids and superconducting coils, cyclotron magnets and components for custom applications.
With the merger of two Italian companies, Columbus Superconductors and Paramed, the Asg competences have been expanded to the manufacturing of superconducting wires and to the medical systems.
In particular, the main corporate structures responsible for R&D activities is "Columbus MgB2 Unit".
Activities refer to the manufacturing and characterization of Mgb2 superconducting wires.

Job Description

The challenge

The two greatest obstacles to a wide spread adoption of superconductivity remain the limited understanding of its fundamental principles and the yet insufficient capability for large-scale, cost-effective deployment of the technology.
This project integrates sound research projects aimed at establishing new technologies as the state of the art, assessing their innovation capacities and equipping a new generation of researchers with the unique skills required to convert knowledge into products.

EASITrain trains early stage scientists and engineers in all aspects related to the development of superconductors, their applications and refrigeration and cooling infrastructures.

EASITrain has four research and development areas:

1)    Advance next generation superconducting materials (Nb3Sn, MgB2, Tl-based compounds) for wire (magnets, motors, generators) and thin film applications (radiofrequency, electronics) .

2)    Improve innovative manufacturing techniques for superconductors to achieve high quality and lower costs (large batch wire production, thin film coatings, high-velocity forming).

3)    Demonstrate efficiency refrigeration and cooling technologies (Nelium refrigeration, optimised magnet cooling and cooling architectures, novel turbo compressors).

4)    Valorise the advancements to explore realistic market potentials and develop credible business cases (motors, generators, UPS, medical imaging, wireless and UWB, food safety and molecular analytics, gas liquefaction & transport).

The candidate will be employed by ASG, Genua, Italy and the job will entail to develop a novel MgB2 wire, which is suitable for use in high field magnets at required current densities in fields above 10 Tesla, operated at liquid helium temperature (~ 4 K), extending today’s state-of-the-art conductor only suitable for use in fields below 5 T. Assess the likelihood to extend operation up to 16 Tesla. Work in cooperation with TUW (ESR12, ESR13) to understand the key performance indicators determining the wire performances and optimise the production process.

Qualifications

Physicist/Engineer/Material scientist with experience/knowledge in deformation processes and/or heat treatments
Physicist/Engineer with experience/knowledge in laboratory characterization techniques, data analysis and post processing
Chemist with experience/ knowledge in powder synthesis and laboratory activities

The applicant must be at the time of recruitment

• (i) be in possession of a university degree, and (ii) have a maximum of four years of full-time research experience, including any period of research training, after obtaining the degree which formally allowed them to embark on a doctorate in the country in which the degree/diploma was obtained or in the host country (irrespective of whether or not a doctorate was envisaged).
• cannot be PhD holders at the start of their employment contract
• The European Commission's Mobility Rules state: At the time of recruitment by the host organisation, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date. Short stays such as holidays and/or compulsory national service are not taken into account date.

Additional Information

Documents required

Applications should include:

• a completed electronic application form;
• a Curriculum Vitae;
• a copy of the last (highest) qualification;
• a short letter of motivation;
• two letters of recommendation to give as broad as possible overview of your academic and/or professional achievements.

The application and ALL supporting documents should be submitted using the e-recruitment system by the application deadline.

Interviews will be held as soon as possible after the closing date and may include a video interview. You will find additional information on the EASITrain website: https://easitrain.web.cern.ch/  and you may contact the EASITrain project office: easitrain-office@cern.ch at CERN

In addition to the scientific research and training, secondments at industrial partners and complementary training will contribute to enhance your career prospects in the academic and non-academic sectors.

We offer an attractive remuneration under employment contract for 21 months. The contract is supposed to start on 1 October 2019.

In accordance with the European Commission's allowances for ITNs, there is an additional training allowance to cover training activities, conference attendance, etc.

In view of strengthening the participation of under-represented groups, this project strongly encourages the participation of female researchers. Particular attention will be given during the selection process to achieve a well-balanced team of researchers in terms of gender representation.

Closing date: 4 September 2019